Peoria Times
14 SPORTS
November 4, 2021
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Truex Jr. steers support to cancer patients BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
To Martin Truex Jr., racing in the NASCAR circuit means more than jockeying between competitors. The New Jersey native and his longtime partner, Sherry Pollex, use his position to support the community with causes like ovarian and childhood cancers. “We were so fortunate as kids to be healthy and to have great families and access to things to be successful,” Truex Jr. said. “We felt very fortunate, and we do our part to help give back to kids.” Truex Jr. and Pollex established the foundation in 2007, which started as a way to help children in need. In 2014, Pollex was diagnosed with stage-three 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. Pollex’s cancer recurred in December, according to her Instagram. “Unfortunately, my cancer is back (which is expected with Stage 3C recurrent ovarian cancer as the cancer begins to outsmart the drugs we are on),” Pollex said in her posted message, which included photos of her and Truex Jr. in her hospital room. “So here I am going to battle again. “Praying my doctors can remove all of the disease so I can start chemo again soon and be out there fighting for all of you soon! Much love to all of you out there fighting or caring for a loved one that is.” The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation recently broke ground on the pediatric emergency department at Novant Health in Huntersville, North Carolina. NBC Sports reported the foun-
was one of my better tracks until they repaved it in 2011.” Then known as Phoenix International Raceway, the track was repaved into a reconfigured 1-mile oval for about $10 million. “It’s been hit or miss since they repaved it,” said Truex Jr., the driver of the No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. “The last couple of years have been tough on us. We’re definitely feeling really good about it now.” Besides Avondale, he won Martinsville I, Darlington 1 and Richmond II this season. He is one of seven Cup Series drivers Martin Truex Jr. uses his position to support the community with causes like ovarian and to have won multiple races this childhood cancers. (Photos courtesy of Getty Images) year (Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, dation is well known within Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott). racing circles for its Catwalk For the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series, for a Cause in Statesville, which starts at the Daytona 500, fans North Carolina. It has steered will see cars that are more cost effec$600,000 toward cancer initia- tive for teams and safer for drivers. It tives at Atrium Health and No- will also reportedly intensify the qualvant Health in Charlotte. ity of racing, The foundation and Pollex’s “It’s going to be a big learning curve organization, Sherry Strong, for us,” he said. “The new car is so difcelebrated the grand open- ferent, compared to what we’ve done ing of the Sherry Strong In- in the past. It’ll be interesting.” tegrative Medicine Oncology Clinic at Novant Health’s new Weisinger Cancer Institute in IF YOU GO... Charlotte, North Carolina. WHAT: NASCAR Xfinity Series Truex will put rubber to Championship Race the road on Saturday, Nov. 6, WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 during the NASCAR Xfinity WHERE: Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Series Championship Race at Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale Phoenix Raceway. Truex won COST: Tickets start at $35 the first race of the 2021 season in Avondale in March. INFO: phoenixraceway.com Martin Truex Jr. and his longtime partner, Sher“That was my first win at the ry Pollex, established a foundation in 2007 to track,” he said. “I always feel help children in need. like it’s a good track for me. It
