For Martin, watching Ryan race an emotional ride

Forget all the jokes about Ryan Truex coming up the ladder to kick his brother's butt -- whether it's in a Nationwide or a Sprint Cup Series ride.

By the time he gets there -- with dad, Martin Truex, plotting every single step -- Ryan's elder sibling, Martin Truex Jr., won't know whether to play big brother, father or competitor.

Rookie's for real

Ryan Truex posted three wins and eight top-10s in the 11-race season to capture the Camping World Series East title.

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Heck, he might even have to retire before his little brother -- about 12 years younger than he -- even gets there.

Because whatever the path, the emotional stress will be inscrutably incredible; even as Truex Jr. holds his 2010 Cup ride with Michael Waltrip Racing at arm's length as he finishes 2009.

"I had to get up on top of the truck [in the East series garage], I just couldn't stand it anymore on top of the pit box -- I had to see what was going on," Truex Jr. said when he finally appeared in the infield media center with the championship entourage. "It just kills me."

It's nothing like when "Little Martin" was just a kid, watching his father and uncle Barney from countless dusty short-track infields -- when life, and even racing, was nothin' but a party.

"There's no comparison at all, and I'm not sure why," Martin Jr. said, as he sat quietly in the middle of the media center, watching Ryan field questions from national media corps. "But for some reason when I watch [Ryan], I don't know, it's like I'm a parent, and I want to get on the radio and tell him -- because I've been in all these positions.

"When I watched my dad, I loved to go to the races and watch him -- but it wasn't like I knew what he was doing out there -- I couldn't help him. And when I'm watching Ryan I constantly want to help; but you've got to refrain from putting your two cents in."

Mind-numbingly nerve-wracking? It certainly is. But last Friday evening in Dover -- the joy was almost indescribable.

Ryan, just 17, clinched the family's first Camping World East title; after his father and brother had both won series races before him. It was the first championship of any kind for Michael Waltrip Racing.

And as it became official with the youngest racing Truex's eighth-place finish in the Sunoco 150, what had become a virtual all-star team gathered at the MWR pit stall as the race's final laps wound down, exploded in celebration.

Mikey himself was there, along with MWR executives Ty Norris, Cal Wells and Bobby Kennedy. Crew chief Mike Greci, who'd had prior East success with the Truex family, not to mention his championship pedigree with his own cars, was biting his lip as he watched the laps wind down surrounded by a bunch of others, like Clyde McLeod, with DEI backgrounds.

The Truex family was well represented, including uncle Barney, who'd had plenty of time behind the wheel of Modified stock cars banging wheels with his younger brother -- forecasting what the family has to look forward to in stock-car racing's biggest big time. (Continued)