Truex Shows DEI's More Than Just Junior

NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. waits in his car to take to the track during a practice session for the Autism Speaks 400 auto race at the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., Saturday, June 2, 2007.(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster - AP)

"I think we are at the point now where we feel we can run in the top 10 every week," said crew chief Kevin Manion.

For Truex, the Mayetta, N.J. native who considers Dover his home track, the win in his second Cup season was long overdue.

"I can count so many times where things didn't go our way or went bad for us that we could really be up there in the standings," he said.

More strong finishes only will raise Truex's profile. One lesson he learned from Earnhardt, long NASCAR's most popular driver, is how to position himself as a popular pitchman.

Now, Truex the driver wants to become Truex the brand name.

"In some ways I think it will open some new doors for me as far as becoming more involved with sponsors and making my name bigger," he said. "I kind of just want to come up with a marketing strategy for me and try to get more popular, I guess."

"But I put more effort into being successful on the track before any of that. That's the main thing right now."

Three days before he won, Truex sat in his hauler trying to put into words what it would mean to finally win a Cup race. Truex had not seen his Busch Series success _ consecutive championships in 2004 and 2005 _ carry over, and he was anxious for his first win.

"Once you know you can get over that wall and you know how to do it, then you don't worry about it as much because you know you've done it," he said.

Now Truex can worry a little less about winning and a little more about making that first Chase.