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Professional racecar driver Martin Truex Sr., patriarch of a legendary Jersey Shore NASCAR racing family, died Saturday, the family announced in a statement.
Truex Sr., 66, was a native and longtime resident of Stafford, where he raised his daughter, Marsha McVey, and sons Martin Truex Jr., and Ryan Truex, both of whom grew up to become professional NASCAR racers, as well.
Details about Truex Sr.’s death were not immediately disclosed.
“We are devastated by the loss of our father,” Truex Sr.’s children said in a statement. “Simply put, he was our hero and a great man. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask for privacy at this time.”
Truex Sr. made 135 starts on the Busch North Series circuit from 1989 to 1998 and 15 starts in the Busch Grand National Series. He won at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on the Busch North circuit, and his best finish was 12th place at the Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania, on the Busch Grand National circuit, both in 1994.
“He was a gentleman racer, fun to race with,” four-time Busch North champion Andy Santerre told NASCAR.com. “I don’t remember all my races, but I do remember that Martin Sr. beat me at New Hampshire in, I think, ’94 and I finished second, and I was as happy for him as I was to finish second — and I don’t think I’d won a race at that point.”
“(Truex Sr.) was a great racer himself,” former Busch North champion Mike Olsen told NASCAR.com. “Definitely the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and Martin Sr. did a great job in bringing Martin Jr. into the ranks.”
The elder Truex eased into retirement in the late 1990s as Martin Truex Jr.’s career began taking off. For a brief time, they both competed on the NASCAR Busch North tour after Truex Jr. graduated from Southern Regional High School.
Truex Jr., 44, won the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017 and retired from active competition last year, with 34 victories under his belt. On Thursday, announced he’d attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 next month with Tricon Garage and technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing. Tricon is a non-chartered racing team, so Truex Jr. must qualify for the race through pole qualifying or a Feb. 13 qualifying race.
From 2017: With NASCAR championship, Truex Jr. gets what he deserves
Truex Jr. finished in second place in the 2016 Daytona 500, losing by just 0.01 seconds, the closest finish in the race’s 67-year history.
Truex Sr.’s younger son, Ryan, is a reserve and development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Mike Davis has spent the last decade covering New Jersey local news, marijuana legalization, transportation and a little bit of everything else. Contact him at mdavis@gannettnj.com or @byMikeDavis on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Martin Truex Sr. dies at 66, NASCAR Jersey Shore racing patriarch
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