Ryan Truex

Despite being raised around the sport and watching his older brother Martin Truex, Jr. ascend to the top level of NASCAR, Ryan Truex, 19, started his racing career a bit later than most.  He first stepped behind the wheel of a Bandolero car at the age of 13 in his hometown of Mayetta, NJ and it quickly showcased the talent that has long been associated with his family which dates back to his father’s racing career in the Busch North Series.  Truex advanced to Legend Cars where he would go on to win the speedway championship at Wall Township. At  15, he would continue to hone his skills in Late Models for his brother’s team in Virginia.

In 2009, Truex would move to NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East on put together an impressive rookie campaign with three wins, seven top-5s and eight top-10s.  He was awarded Rookie-of-the-Year honors and won the championship to give Michael Waltrip Racing its first NASCAR championship. Truex became only the second driver in Series history to win both honors in the same year, with now JGR teammate Joey Logano having accomplished the feat two years prior.

Truex would win a second consecutive K&N Pro Series East championship in 2010 with two wins, eight top-5s and nine top-10 finishes.  During the same 2010 season, Truex would launch his NASCAR Nationwide Series career, achieving an outside pole at Michigan International Speedway and earning three top-15 finishes in his first seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts for Michael Waltrip Racing.

In 2011, NASCAR honored Truex as one of the “Top 10 Drivers of the First 25 Years of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East;” he is the youngest driver ever to make this prestigious list.