Similarities to brother put Ryan Truex on right path (cont'd)

"To tell you the truth, I was really impressed with him. I thought he could run well but you don't know until they actually do it," the elder Truex said. "Last time he was at Stafford he was 8 years old."

And that was as a spectator. Ryan's racing career began at a later age than that of his brother's.

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"I don't know if I want to live with Martin [Jr.]. ... I might get bossed around there a little too much."

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RYAN TRUEX

At 13, his father bought him a Bandolero Car to go race at Wall Township Speedway near the Jersey Shore. Ryan advanced to Legend Cars and won a speedway championship at Wall Township.

His most memorable race, though, was at Lowes Motor Speedway in the Winter Heat Series with Martin Jr. in attendance.

"Last year he came to my races and stood by the fence. I wanted to win but I finished second, but still it was the happiest I've ever seen my brother," Ryan recalled. "I've never seen him that happy."

It was the inspiration that fueled Ryan. By the time he was 15, he was racing Late Models for his brother's team in Virginia. Now he is looking for a sponsorship so he can run the DEI entry full-time next season in the Camping World Series.

"I have advanced pretty quickly but my dad wants to get me started early," Ryan said. "That's best and I think I'm adapting pretty quickly."

The elder Truex said he is progressing Ryan the same as he did with Martin Jr.

"If they get to point where they get used to winning that can change their attitude," he said. "They feel like it's easy. While they're young you have to keep a challenge in front of them. Running Late Models at Motor Mile [Speedway] there's some good competition and Ryan is running top-five finishes. I knew he was ready for the next step and DEI gave him an opportunity to try it out and he made most of it."

In the meantime, Ryan is trying to sort out his off season and where he might live next year and if he will move from his home state of New Jersey.

"I don't know if I want to live with Martin [Jr.]," Ryan said. "It's hard to say. I might get bossed around there a little too much."