 | | Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. share a laugh during preseason testing at Daytona. Credit: Don Bok/Motorsports Images and Archives |
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
March 2, 2006
09:50 AM EST (14:50 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Martin Truex Jr. made one of the biggest statements of his second consecutive Busch Series championship campaigns last year at Mexico City. Truex, not known for being an exemplary road racer, easily handled a field that included the best of the Busch Series, a number of "road course ringers" and of course, several Nextel Cup interlopers. Truex has moved up to the Nextel Cup Series full-time this season and will only make a limited number of Busch Series starts. 1. Who is the most impressive person, celebrity or otherwise, that you've met? Truex Jr.: Well, I haven't met too many celebrities, but I'd probably have to say Dale [Earnhardt] Jr., because he's so popular and he knows so many people and everybody knows who he is. And yet he's so down to earth. He's been such a good friend to me and that's pretty impressive, to me. Q: Do you feel like you're a particularly lucky individual, because everybody wants to meet Junior, and you guys are just buddies and you're apt to see him every day? Truex Jr.: I feel lucky, obviously, just to be where I'm at, and to get a chance to race for a living in the premier series in the world. You know, there are millions of people out there that could probably do this, if they had the shot -- and I feel fortunate that I've had my chance. 2. What's your favorite outdoor activity? Truex Jr.: It would definitely be fishing. I grew up fishing and I worked on boats and things, and I grew up on the water. So I just love to fish. Q: So what's your favorite model boat, and what's it like having an unlimited tackle supply? Truex Jr.: I don't have a favorite model of fishing boat. To be honest, I grew up mostly fishing on salt water and all the Tracker stuff is fresh-water craft. So they gave me an awesome Nitro bass boat that is pretty cool. I really appreciate that a lot and it's been a lot of fun to tool around in it. It's fast. 3. What sports do you most enjoy watching on television? Truex Jr.: Watching football is what I enjoy the most. Monday Night Football is always fun. It's good to sit on the couch, relax and have a beer or something. You just hang out with your buddies and watch the game. But I'm a big Philadelphia Eagles fan, and I'm pretty disappointed with the way their season went. They fell apart pretty quick, so I'm looking forward to next year. 4. What kind of vehicle are you driving these days? Truex Jr.: I still have a Chevrolet pickup truck that I drive most of the time. And I got a Corvette this past year, so I've been driving that a lot, too. Q: What model did you get? Is it a newer one, or a vintage version? Truex Jr.: It's a 2005, I think; and actually I'm getting a brand new Z06, so I'm pretty excited about that. That's the high-dollar, high-speed model so I'm pretty excited about getting that. I should be getting it any day now, and I can't wait. 5. What is your No. 1 guilty pleasure? Truex Jr.: Oh, that's tough. I don't know. Hmm. What did you think I would say for that one? Maybe playing my X-box, but let's just skip that one. Q: What was your first car? Truex Jr.: It was actually a Jeep. When I was about 15 or so, me and my dad bought a jeep to go hunting with, out in the woods by our house. I used to mess around in the woods with it, before I got my license. I guess I was about 16 1/2 and he gave it to me to be my first vehicle. So I worked on it for a couple of months and put big tires on it, and jacked it up and all that good stuff. I spent all my money that I made working, on that thing. 6. What was your worst subject in school? Truex Jr.: All of 'em. No, I would say my worst subject was probably English. That was only because I really didn't enjoy it. It was really boring to me and so I didn't really enjoy it too much. 7: Which celebrity would you most like to hang out with? Truex Jr.: I've been asked that a few times and I don't have any that really come to mind, as far as who I would like to hang out with. I don't get awe-struck too often, so I guess that's part of it. 8. If someone played you in a movie, who would be in that role? Truex Jr.: Wow, that's a good question. I don't know, but somebody -- man, that's tough. I don't have, like, favorite actors, but there are a few that are really good and that I think would do a good job. Tom Hanks is definitely a great actor and he's one of my favorites. I would say a couple of other guys, but they really wouldn't fit the part, so I'm not sure -- and that's a good question. 9. What is must-see TV for you? Truex Jr.: None. I'm not a big TV fan, and I don't watch it much. But I like to watch movies, though. Q: What was the last movie you went to the theater to see? Truex Jr.: Wedding Crashers. It was one of the coolest movies I've ever seen in my life. It was good. If you haven't seen it, you need to. 10. What have you learned about yourself in the last year? Truex Jr.: I guess that I'm pretty good at dealing with pressure. And I'm pretty good at living my own life, with people watching me and expecting things of me. I don't really pay much attention to it. I put a lot of pressure and expectations on myself, and if I don't accomplish those goals, or feel confident in myself, that's the only thing that matters to me -- not other people's opinions. It's been tough to race and to have expectations -- people expecting you to do these things -- and then going out and doing them. I guess you're not really happy until you're happy with yourself, and I learned that I'm pretty happy with myself and my life. I've been pretty fortunate and I've had a lot of fun doing this. | 
