It was an early beginning for 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Chevrolet) during the first full day of his media activities during NASCAR Busch Series Champions Week. Truexs schedule actually began on Tuesday when he arrived in Tampa the nations second-largest NASCAR Busch Series television market in 2005 to visit two of the Bay areas media outlets, including a live 11 p.m. sports program in advance of the start of todays full schedule. Truex kicked off his day in Tampa with an appearance on one of the areas top morning television shows, then was interviewed in-studio at four of the Bay areas top radio outlets, including the nationally-syndicated FOX sports radio network show, Race Day on FOX, which reaches over 150 stations throughout the county. Following his busy morning, Truex met with more of the Tampa Bay and national media at the Rock N Sports Bar and Grill, a popular restaurant in the historic Ybor City section of Tampa. Over 20 print, broadcast, radio and internet media were on hand to speak with Truex, who this season became the sixth driver in NASCAR Busch Series history to win consecutive championships. Tampa is one of the biggest markets for the NASCAR Busch Series, so its always great to come to this city and visit with the media, he said during his morning show appearance. Im living the dream. This is something Ive always wanted to do, he said during a radio interview when asked about his two titles in the NASCAR Busch Series and his move in 2006 to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Truex will team with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the premier series next season; Earnhardt co-owns Truexs Chance 2 Motorsports team with his stepmother, Teresa, and the team also claimed its second consecutive owners championship this year. Truex shared some of his off-season plans as well. I did some fishing after the Homestead race. Ill be going home (Mayetta, N.J.) for Christmas. Then Ill spend a week in Colorado, he said. Truex departed for Orlando, the next and final stop on his Champions Week tour. He will be joined by other members of the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 on Thursday for another round of media interviews in the morning before heading to Fantasia Gardens at Disney World for a media event in the afternoon. The week culminates on Friday night with the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Awards Ceremony at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando. (NASCAR PR)(12-07-2005)
