FORT WORTH, Texas (April 5, 2009) – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Martin Truex Jr. finished 25th in Sunday’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Truex qualified 31st for the event but he and his team had reason to be hopeful, especially after posting the 10th fastest time in Saturday’s final practice. Unfortunately, handling issues plagued the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats car for the majority of the race. Crew chief Kevin Manion called for major adjustments on each of the team’s pit stops, hoping to improve the car’s ability to get through the corners.
The optimum setup remained elusive, however, and long green-flag runs enabled the leaders to put Truex two laps down before the checkered flag fell.
Truex did manage to move up four spots in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings and now sits in 24th, 482 points behind leader Jeff Gordon.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes the week off before heading out to Phoenix International Raceway for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500. The race will be televised live on Saturday, April 18th. Coverage begins on FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET.
