News Article

17-year-old Brett Moffitt wins Sunoco 150; Ryan Truex crowned 2009 NASCAR Camping World East Series champion

September 25, 2009
Dover PR

Click here for "Sunoco 150" NASCAR Camping World East Series unofficial race results.

Dover International Speedway has been a special race track for the Truex family through the years, and today it became even a little more special.

Ryan and Martin Truex with the East Series champion's trophy Photo by Getty Images

Ryan Truex finished off his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World East Series by claiming the series championship with an eighth-place finish in the Sunoco 150 at Dover on Friday afternoon.

Truex, 17, driver of the No. 00 NAPA Toyota, did so two-and-a-half years after his older brother Martin won his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at the Monster Mile, which the family from Mayetta, N.J. has long considered their home track.

“We didn’t have the best car today, but I think we showed why we’re the champions, said the new 17-year-old champion. "We can adjust on a car and make it better. We were running good for a while up in second, and then the car just got away from me there. I was running as hard as I could, and I was just trying to keep my car in one piece. This track’s really tough. We just ran a smart race and it worked out for us.”

Brett Moffit claimed the Sunoco 150 in what he called “the best win so far” in his young career. Moffitt, driver of the No.44 Red Line Oil Chevrolet, led the majority of the race.

Race winner Moffitt, 17, gazes at his new toy - the Sunoco 150 monster trophy.

Truex came into the race 30 points ahead of Eddie MacDonald and ended up winning the championship by 36 points. MacDonald finished in ninth, four seconds behind Truex.

“We knew going in that we had probably one car we had to race against, which was Eddie MacDonald,” said crew chief Mike Grecci. “So we went into the race with the plan to race against one car. We were able to come out with a pretty good finish.”

Truex held off a charge from MacDonald over the past couple of weeks. MacDonald won last week at New Hampshire, but Truex finished third to maintain his points lead.

“After qualifying I was a little nervous because he was second and we were sixth,” Truex said. “But I just went out there and raced. I knew we’d be all right.”

Meanwhile, a proud big brother was beaming in the infield media center after the race.

“It’s very exciting,” said NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Martin Truex Jr. “I’m so proud of him not only from what he’s done today, but through the whole season. I’m thankful to Michael Waltrip Racing for giving him this opportunity. It’s been a lot of fun to watch.”

Ryan Gifford finished second, 2.5 seconds behind Moffit. “I’m almost speechless being here,” said Gifford. “Three years ago I never would have saw myself in this position. I was just home dirt-track racing and now I’m here running at Dover. This really is a dream come true for me.” 

Corey LaJoie, son of NASCAR veteran Randy LaJoie, was third, followed by David Mayhew and rookie Alan Tardiff, who rounded out the top five.

For more about the NASCAR Camping World East Series click here.