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NASCAR, Truex Jr. return to Phoenix Raceway

BY ZAKKARY BROG Peoria Times 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 finished first and won the Instacart 500. He had a strong showing later that fall, finishing second. However, second place felt especially distant on that day, as the championship of the season was on the line.

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 confidence in each other and what we’re doing. We work well together, and I have all the confidence in the world that he’s going to figure 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 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

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

SEE RACEWAY PAGE 13

PBR unveils team series schedule

BY ZAKKARY BROG Peoria Times 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 final 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 officer 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. 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 • 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

RACEWAY FROM PAGE 12 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.” PT • Home team is the Arizona Ridge Riders

IF YOU GO...

WHAT: 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 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.

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