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NASCAR, Truex Jr. return to Phoenix Raceway

BY ZAKKARY BROG Glendale Star Staff Writer

After successful runs in 2021 at Phoenix Raceway, Martin Truex Jr. will return to the venue on Sunday, March 13, for the Ruoff Mortgage 500.

“I really enjoy going to Phoenix,” Truex Jr. said. “It’s a fun racetrack, and, honestly, I feel like it gets better every year with age. The racetrack was a blast to race on last year. Hopefully, we can continue the success.”

In the spring 2021 race, the 2017 Cup Series champion fi nished fi rst and won the Instacart 500. He had a strong showing later that fall, fi nishing second. However, second place felt especially distant on that day, as the championship of the season was on the line.

Martin Truex Jr. will return to Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 13, to compete in the Ruoff Mortgage 500. (Submitted photo)

Truex Jr. attributes his success to his chemistry with crew chief James Small, who worked as the lead engineer with his previous team, Furniture Row Racing, during Truex Jr.’s 2017 title run as the lead engineer.

“Coming so close last year, it took a lot to get there,” Truex Jr. said.

“I feel like he did a great job all year, and the team did as well. We’re in a great place, and we have a lot of confi dence in each other and what we’re doing. We work well together, and I have all the confi dence in the world that he’s going to fi gure this thing out pretty quickly and we’re going to get out there and win some races. I love having him on the team. His work ethic, his determination and his will to win is second to none. That’s what it takes at this level. I’m very lucky to have him and looking forward to hopefully having a great season together again.”

The 2022 races are different, as the

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PBR unveils team series schedule

BY ZAKKARY BROG Glendale Star Staff Writer

Professional Bull Riders has released the schedule for its inaugural team series.

Gila River Arena will host Team Series: the Arizona Ridge Riders from Friday, Oct. 14, to Sunday, Oct. 16, at Gila River Arena. Of the 11 events, eight will be hosted by teams in the league and three will be held at neutral sites. The fi nal of those three neutral site events will be the championship event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“The inaugural PBR Team Series season will play out across a very strong collection of cities, culminating in our Las Vegas Championship,” said Sean Gleason, PBR’s chief executive offi cer and commissioner.

“Each stop on the schedule will be a real happening, with plenty of fun events for fans and opportunities to come together to rally around their team. It will be exciting to watch each local fan base grow.”

The season will be as follows: Monday, July 25, to Tuesday, July 26 • Neutral site; Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyoming Friday, Aug. 5, to Sunday, Aug. 7 • T-Mobile Center, Kansas City • Home team is the Kansas City Outlaws

Friday, Aug. 12, to Saturday, Aug. 13 • Neutral site, Honda Center, Anaheim

Friday, Aug. 19, to Sunday, Aug. 21 • Bridgestone Arena • Home team is the Nashville Stampede

Friday, Aug. 26, to Sunday, Aug. 28 • Moody Center, Austin, Texas • Home team is the Austin Gamblers

Saturday, Sept. 3, to Monday, Sept. 5 • Thunder Ridge Amphitheater, Ridgedale, Missouri • Home team is the Missouri Thunder

Friday, Sept. 9, to Sunday, Sept. 11 • LJVM Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, North Carolina • Home team is the Carolina Cowboys

Friday, Sept. 16, to Sunday, Sept. 18 • Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Home team is the Oklahoma Freedom

Friday, Oct. 7, to Sunday, Oct. 9 • Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas • Home team is the Texas Rattlers

Friday, Oct. 14, to Sunday, Oct. 16 • Gila River Arena • Home team is the Arizona Ridge Riders

Friday, Nov. 4, to Sunday, Nov. 6 • T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Championship

Information on ticket sales will be announced soon.

The PBR Team Series Draft, during which teams will determine their rosters, is Monday, May 23.

Eddie Johnson shares stories at Glencroft

BY ZAKKARY BROG Glendale Star Staff Writer

Eddie Johnson spent 17 seasons playing in the National Basketball Association, including a tenure with the Phoenix Suns.

He hosts the “NBA Today” show on SiriusXM and has been a TV voice for the Suns for over 20 years. While his legacy as a basketball player is well known, it does not tell the full story of the man.

Johnson paid a visit to the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging to share parts of that story with residents. His message focused on never giving up, no matter what life throws at you. Johnson is grateful that he could share his message with others.

“I just love talking to people,” Johnson said.

“I love motivating, because I know how blessed I was in life and to even be at this point. But, I’m also infatuated with the fact that people actually want to hear what I have to say. I think that drives me, and because they are interested, I want to talk. I just talk for a living. I’ve talked since I came out of the womb. I just believe now that my calling is just to have an impact on people, because I think I’ve gone through a lot in my life.”

Johnson particularly enjoys speaking to seniors, which is why he jumped at the chance to speak at Glencroft.

“Especially older people — that’s who really drives me,” Johnson said.

“If you have me break down the categories of people that I talk to, it’s the older generation. When you’re on the other side of 50, on the other side of 60, you start counting. I just don’t want people to count. I just want them to wake up and say, ‘OK, boom. This is another great day. I’m going to have fun. I’m going to put the full 24 in, and I’m going to make this the best day.’ Because, ultimately, we’re all going to leave, whether we like it or not. Now, it’s just enjoying what time you have. For me, coming to talk to older generations is something that I strive to do.” Johnson’s faith plays a large role in his task to share his message. “I think God has a mission for me. I fell, and I fall down like everybody else,” he said. “But, I do know why I’m here. I know God is in my life. I know he guides me. Obviously, I disappoint him at times, and I let him know. But I don’t just let him know by saying it; I let him know by my works. Going out and being Eddie Johnson hosts the “NBA Today” show on SiriusXM and has been a TV voice for the Suns for over 20 years. He recently visited Glencroft. (Submitted photo)

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TRUEX FROM PAGE 12 athletes are driving the new Next Gen car, which replaced the preview car that was used from 2013 to 2021. For all drivers on the grid, it’s a new obstacle to overcome.

“It’s been a lot of fun to race with it so far,” Truex Jr. said. “It’s been a learning process. We haven’t had a whole lot of practice with this new schedule. You’re kind of stuck with what you show up with. The guys have done a good job throughout the winter in preparation, working on simulation, and just trying to narrow down the options of what we can do. Coming up with a good kind of baseline to start with.”

Truex Jr. has been focused on more than the race, as he helms the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. He and his partner, Sherry Pollex, founded it in 2007, starting it as a way to help children in need.

In 2014, Pollex was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and the couple refocused their mission to raise awareness, boost advocacy and generate financial support for underfunded cancer initiatives specific to childhood and ovarian cancers.

“We just try to do everything we can to raise a lot of money so we can put it to work,” Truex Jr. said.

“We had our first Catwalk for a Cause down in Daytona before the Daytona 500. That went really well. I’m not sure how much money we raised, but it was neat to have that event. A lot of people from the industry were there. We got to show them what our foundation is all about. Proceeds from that will be going to build a new integrative clinic right there in Daytona at Advent Health. That’s our latest project, and something we’re really proud of. It’s going to do a lot to help women battling cancer like Sherry is.”

Ruoff Mortgage 500

WHEN: Sunday, March 13 WHERE: Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale COST: Tickets start at $42 INFO: 1-866-408-7223, phoenixraceway.com

JOHNSON FROM PAGE 13 courteous to people, motivating them. But, also, not forgetting that I need to get to know him better as well. … I just can’t believe it. I come from the inner city of Chicago. I always say to myself, ‘Why me?’ I saw so many friends pass away, killed, go to jail, succumb to drugs, and I always ask, ‘Why me? Why did I get through?’ It just falls back that this is my path that God set for me. Because of that, I push, I work, I try to make people smile. I meet people. I try to give people as much time as I can. It disappoints me sometimes when I am in a rush and people want to get my attention. But, that’s just the way I am. I love to motivate. I love to talk.”

Glencroft resident Edell Rowe attended Johnson’s talk. She related greatly to what Johnson had to say.

“He spoke about not giving up and to keep trying to find that one thing that excites you that you want to do,” Rowe said.

“Since I’ve come to Glencroft, I’ve been able to be involved in art and work with people in art. That’s made a big impact on me. I’ve dealt with things like depression, but being able to work with residents who are finding that they have a creative bone in their body has really made a major impact on me and my attitude.

“I appreciate everything that Eddie was saying. … I’ve gone through a lot of the things mentioned as he was speaking. Being different and all of that. But, I never gave up on being able to share my love of art with people. He inspires me to keep going and that my age is not the important thing, it’s my attitude toward it.”

Johnson also helps those in need with Helping Hands for Single Moms, a nonprofit that assists mothers while they attend college.

“It’s my wife Joy and I’s organization. The CEO is Chris Coffman. He had a great plan to build this organization. He’s done a tremendous job. It’s just catered to making single moms the hero in their household, get their degree, and get them a tremendous job. That’s our motto. We raised over $20,000 last year, and we hope to double that this year.”

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