Tryson officially named crew chief for Truex in '10

Michael Waltrip Racing has grown in stature this year, and one reason for the organization's enhanced level of success is the addition of quality people.

MWR continued that trend Monday with the announcement that Pat Tryson will join the organization in 2010 as crew chief for Martin Truex Jr., who is leaving Earnhardt Ganassi Racing at the end of the season to drive the No. 56 NAPA Toyota.

Truex

"Pat is a passionate competitor, a winner and a championship contender," team owner Michael Waltrip said Monday in a release. "Those were the traits we were looking for in a crew chief that would help Martin deliver on the track for NAPA for years to come. We couldn't be more proud to add a person of Pat's caliber to our organization."

Tryson chose to leave Penske Racing, where he has enjoyed considerable success with driver Kurt Busch since joining the No. 2 Dodge team in the summer of 2007. Busch and Tryson subsequently delivered victories at Pocono and Michigan as Busch rallied to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Busch is the seventh seed in the Chase this year after missing the playoffs in 2008.

"Michael Waltrip Racing has really come onto the scene this year, and the progress they have made over a very short time is impressive," Tryson said. "I believe that I can contribute. MWR is doing everything they can to get the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota back into Victory Lane, and that's what my focus will be. Martin is a talented driver, and we'll be doing everything we can to make that happen."

While at Roush Racing, Tryson guided Mark Martin to the Chase three consecutive years (2004-2006). Only two other crew chiefs, Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth) and Chad Knaus (Jimmie Johnson), were part of the Chase in each of the first three seasons of the new format.