New details have emerged about the NAPA Auto Parts deal with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) confirming previous reports. Martin Truex Jr., who finished in fourth place at the AdvoCare 500 on Sept. 2, has signed a three-year contract with MWR. There has been some contradictory information about the amount of money involved in the deal with NAPA Auto Parts, but the details have recently been confirmed.
A Contract Extension for Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. is currently in fifth place in the Sprint Cup standings with 838 points. He received a contract extension with Michael Waltrip Racing for three years and will continue to have NAPA Auto Parts as a sponsor. The original announcement was made on Aug. 31, but the full financial details of the deal remained unknown. Now, multiple sources have confirmed that NAPA has agreed to a $16 million deal with the team.
The NAPA Auto Parts Deal
The unwillingness of Michael Waltrip Racing to release complete details of the deal with NAPA Auto Parts has generated many rumors. Coupled with conflicting reports, the information on NAPA's commitment to MWR has been contradictory in some online forums. However, the original figure of $16 million has been confirmed.
NAPA has announced its decision to stay with MWR and extend the contract for three years while other companies are leaving NASCAR. Although Michael Waltrip considers the company "family," other teams are losing sponsors faster than they can replace them. NAPA Auto Parts remains as one of only a few companies willing to sponsor a driver for the entire Sprint Cup Series next season.
Martin Truex Jr.'s Role in the Deal
NAPA is rumored to have considered multiple offers from other teams before its final decision to stay with Michael Waltrip Racing. Paul Donahue's comments make it clear that Martin Truex Jr.'s improvement this season and ability to be a part of the Chase played a large role in the company's decision. Donahue mentioned, "We have been very pleased with the performance of Martin Truex, Jr. and the entire No. 56 NAPA team." If Truex had not shown a dramatic improvement in 2012, it is possible that NAPA could have searched for alternative teams to support.
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Growing up in Indiana, Lana developed a love for motorsports at an early age. She follows NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula One. Follow @Lana_Bandoim on Twitter.
