Catchfence

CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 56 Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. and the NAPA Racing team left Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday pleased they battled for lead in the final laps before earning a 10th-place finish. The Michael Waltrip Racing team now turns its attention from the 2.66-mile Talladega track to the flat, half-mile Martinsville Speedway. Truex calls the Virginia short track his “toughest track” on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.

With four races remaining in the 2011 season, Truex admits “I hate to see the season end” but says his team is hoping for a win as well as focusing on 2012 preparation.

Martin Truex Jr. On Returning to Martinsville: “Martinsville has been one of my toughest race tracks just to get good results. I’ve had good cars there. I’ve ran up front there a lot. I just don’t have a lot of good finishes. I’ve had a lot of trouble. In the spring, we were in the top 10 all day and then had the throttle issue. It was a big crash. It’s been a weird place for me so hopefully we can change that up and not only have a strong run this weekend, but a strong result too in the NAPA Toyota.”

On Flat-Track Program: “We’ve gotten a lot better with our flat-track program but Martinsville is completely different from any where we go. The team has some good ideas with what we need to go there with. I feel like my team has confidence with what we are going to go there and do. It would be nice to come out of there with a top-five and hopefully a shot at winning it. In my opinion, it would be a really good place to win because of all the history Martinsville holds. It would be nice to conquer it.”

On Looking Ahead: “I obviously love racing and in a way, I hate to see the season end. I wouldn’t mind racing more. With just four races to go and where we are in points, our focus now is trying to get a win and preparing for 2012. We are going to debut a new chassis at Texas. That will help us determine the direction we need to go and help prepare for next year. We just need to do the little things right and that’s one of the key areas we still need to get accomplished in order for us to get better. We’ve shown our potential. Now, it’s about getting it done and delivering the results.”

NOTES

•  Sunday’s race marks Truex’s 222nd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. In 11 Cup starts at Martinsville Speedway, he has one top-five and two top-10 finishes. His average start is 18th and finish is 24th.

• NAPA Racing will host Honorary Pit Crew Member Billy Roach. He operates Bessemer Tire and Auto in Greensboro, N.C. Roach will be honored in NAPA pre-race festivities and have his name decaled on the No. 56 NAPA Toyota.

• Check out NAPA Reserve Online. Visit www.napaonline.comto make shopping for an auto part easier. Order online and pick up at your favorite NAPA AUTO PARTS store.