When Martin Truex Jr. looks at his younger brother it's like looking into a mirror only 12 years earlier.

A younger version of himself, 16-year-old Ryan Truex has the same dark features signature to the Truex lineage, he's almost always seen with a placid expression and he's quiet like Martin, always laid back.

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Ryan is every bit as good as Martin [Jr.] was at this same point in his career. What I have to keep telling myself is that he's only 16.

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MARTIN TRUEX

"I'm pretty much a little version of him, at least that's what everyone tells me," said Ryan, well on his way to accompanying big brother in the NASCAR ranks.

Their father, Martin Truex, says Ryan is a near photocopy of his first-born Martin Jr., and he's ready to roll.

"Ryan is every bit as good as Martin was at this same point in his career," the elder Truex said. "What I have to keep telling myself is that he's only 16. He's not 20-something. Sometimes I have to bite my tongue so I don't treat him like he's 25 years old."

Mature beyond their years. That's the quality required for youngsters these days looking to be future stars in NASCAR.

Maturity as well as humility both go a long way, Ryan believes. And it's a quality him and his older brother possess.

After Ryan made his recent NASCAR Camping World Series East debut at Stafford Motor Speedway, replacing Jeffrey Earnhardt in the Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, he called his big brother to apprise him of his near top-10 finish (results).

"I texted him after the race, he said, 'cool,'" Ryan recalled. "Everyone was pretty happy that I didn't tear up the car and that I kept my head on my shoulders, but Martin [Jr.] tries not to give me a big head or tell me I'm the best out there. He keeps me hungry."

Martin Jr. gets the philosophy honest. It's the same strategy used on him by his father when Martin Jr. was coming up through the Camping World Series and then went on to win back-to-back championships in the Nationwide Series.

Ryan hopes to follow those accomplishments and then some.

"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."