Professional race car driver Martin Truex Sr., patriarch of a legendary Jersey Shore NASCAR racing family, died Saturday, the family announced in a statement.
Truex Sr., 66, was a native and longtime resident of Stafford, where he raised his daughter, Marsha McVey, and sons Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Truex, both of whom grew up to also become professional racers. NASCAR.
Details about Truex Sr.’s death were not immediately released.
“We are devastated by the loss of our father,” Truex Sr.’s children said in a statement. “Simply put, he was our hero and a great man. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask for privacy at this time.
Truex Sr. made 135 starts on the Busch North Series circuit from 1989 to 1998 and 15 starts in the Busch Grand National Series. He won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway at Busch North Speedway, and his best finish was a 12th place finish at Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania’s Busch Grand National Speedway, both in 1994.
“He was a gentleman racer, it was fun to race with him,” Four-time Busch North champion Andy Santerre told NASCAR.com. “I don’t remember all my races, but I remember Martin Sr. beat me at New Hampshire in 1994, I think, and I finished second, and I was as happy for him as I was to finish second – and I don’t think I won a race at that point.
“(Truex Sr.) was a great driver himself,” former Busch North champion Mike Olsen told NASCAR.com. “Certainly the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and Martin Sr. has done a great job introducing Martin Jr. to the ranks.”
The elder Truex retired in the late 1990s as Martin Truex Jr.’s career began to take off. For a brief period, they both competed on the NASCAR Busch North Tour after Truex Jr. graduated from Southern Regional High School.
Truex Jr., 44, won the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017 and retired from active competition last yearwith 34 victories to his name. On Thursday, he announced that he try to qualify for the Daytona 500 next month with Tricon Garage and technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing. Tricon is an unsanctioned racing team, so Truex Jr. must qualify for the race via pole qualifying or a heat race on February 13.
As of 2017: With the NASCAR championship, Truex Jr. gets what he deserves
Truex Jr. finished in second place in the 2016 Daytona 500, losing by just 0.01 seconds, the closest finish in the race’s 67-year history.
Truex Sr.’s younger son, Ryan, is a reserve and development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Mike Davis has spent the last decade covering local New Jersey news, marijuana legalization, transportation and a little bit of everything else. Contact him at [email protected] or @byMikeDavis on Twitter.
This article was originally published on the Asbury Park Press: Martin Truex Sr. dies at 66, patriarch of NASCAR Jersey Shore racing
