BROOKLYN, Mich. – Given his recent success, Martin Truex Jr. might seem an unlikely candidate to welcome a significant change to the rules package for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car.
After all, Truex has led the most laps in each of the last four points races and scored a breakthrough victory last Sunday at Pocono.
Truex, however, is confident his Furniture Row Racing team has the wherewithal to deal with any potential change NASCAR happens to make.
Earlier this week at Darlington Raceway, Jimmie Johnson tested a competition package that featured less downforce and drag, the result of a substantial reduction in the height of the rear spoiler. Several reports have suggested a change to the package could be made in time for the Kentucky race weekend in mid-July.
“I have as many questions about it as everybody else,” Truex said on Friday at Michigan International Speedway’s media center. “What’s it going to be like? Is it going to do what they think? Is it going to do what some of the drivers think it’s going to do?
“Honestly, I think you could pretty much throw any rules package at this team, and we’d be able to figure it out. We’ve got a lot of confidence in what we’re doing, the way we work together, our resources, how we use those resources. It’s going to be different for everyone, and it’s just a matter of who can figure it out quickest.”
Carl Edwards, a long-time proponent of lower downforce, said he would welcome a change to the package, even if it occurred during the season.
“Are you kidding me?” Edwards exclaimed. “I’d be in favor of anything that makes the cars able to race around each other and to put more of the speed into the drivers’ hands. I know NASCAR is all for the same thing. Everybody wants this to be the best possible show for the fans, and I don’t think NASCAR is scared to make changes.”
Recently, a number of drivers convened to form a representative council, which met with NASCAR officials two weeks ago at Dover.
“I think it’s really cool that they’ve been talking with the drivers more,” Edwards said, “and they’ve been more involved with it, and without knowing really the details, I think we’re heading in the right direction.
“I have a sense that there will be some neat things coming up.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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