NASCAR Busch Series Champion's Week - Day 2

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer proclaims “NASCAR Busch Series Champion’s Week”

Martin Truex Jr.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2004) – It’s no wonder 2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. (No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) hasn’t finished his speech for Friday night’s awards ceremony.

Truex has been busy from morning until night over the past three days handling media opportunities in Tampa and Orlando as a precursor to tomorrow evening’s culmination of NASCAR Busch Series Champion’s Week.

“The speech isn’t even started,” Truex said after taking the mayor of Orlando, the Honorable Buddy Dyer, for laps around the Richard Petty Driving Experience Thursday afternoon. Dyer was the featured guest as Truex and five other members of the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 gathered to hear him officially proclaim “NASCAR Busch Series Champion’s Week” in Orlando.

“I have to sit down, relax by myself and think of some things to say,” Truex said. “Hopefully I can get up in front of the spotlight and say it all without stuttering too bad.”

Truex was joined for Thursday’s morning media activities by Kyle Busch (No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet), Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet), David Green (No. 37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet), Ashton Lewis Jr. (No. 46 Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet) and David Stremme (No. 14 U.S. NAVY Chevrolet). The Top 10 drivers spent the morning at local television and radio outlets, then gathered for the mayor’s announcement. They also took turns driving media members around the track, turning laps of 33 seconds on the 1.1-mile track, at an estimated speed of 150 mph.

Dyer let out a resounding “That was great!” as he exited the “04” NASCAR Busch Series Champion Chevrolet.

“It was fun,” Truex said of his laps with the Orlando mayor. “I wish we could have taken out the rev limiter so we could go faster, though. It looked like [the mayor] had fun. He was holding on pretty tightly, so I think it was fast enough for him.”

With all the week’s activity, Truex not only has a speech to finish, but hasn’t found time to allow the whole championship experience to set in.

“I think after we get that trophy and get done with that speech [Friday night], that’s when it will all set in,” he said. “I’ll listen to everybody talk – listen to “Bono’s” (Kevin Manion, crew chief) speech, listen to what Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. (Chance 2 Motorsports co-owner) has to say, and just go through all the rituals that happen at the end of every season. I think that’ll do a lot for me. Then I can go home and think about it.”

Day 2 ends with Champion’s Dinner, SeaWorld celebration … NASCAR President Mike Helton, other NASCAR executives and executives from series sponsor Anheuser-Busch will be joined by 2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr., team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and others for the traditional Champion’s Dinner later Thursday. Following the dinner, the group can join the other members of the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 – Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle (No. 60 Charter Communications Ford), Ron Hornaday, Mike Bliss (No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet), Jason Keller (No. 22 Miller High Life Ford), David Green, Ashton Lewis and Kenny Wallace (No. 23 Stacker 2 Chevrolet) along with their families and employees from NASCAR and Anheuser-Busch for a celebration at SeaWorld that includes a private show featuring Shamu the killer whale at Shamu Stadium.

Friday culminates NASCAR Busch Series Champion’s Week with Awards Ceremony … The 2004 NASCAR season officially ends Friday night with the NASCAR Busch Series Awards Ceremony. Prior to the event, Martin Truex Jr. and crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion will take part in a national teleconference at 11:30 a.m. Drivers also will put final touches on speeches and a last practice will be held for those taking part in on-stage activities. The award ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in the Tuscan Ballroom of the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando.