While every driver has hopes of winning the NASCAR Cup title, Martin Truex Jr. revealed his main motivation behind wanting to win the title after overcoming tough obstacles both professionally and personally.
Truex is no stranger to adversity as he has dealt with a professional fall out in 2013 when he was left with no team and no sponsors after Michael Waltrip Racing broke up. He did not win a race in six of his first seven Cup seasons and is the only one of the four remaining contenders without a Cup title.
On the personal side, Truex's fiancee, Sherry Pollex, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. Truex said the constant travel that comes with racing wears on him when he's not there while she goes through chemotherapy, but winning the title would put both of them on "top of the world."
“It would be awesome to be able to just be on the top of the world with her for a few days, you know,” Truex said, via Orlando-Sentinel. “Honestly, she's been through a lot, and I know she doesn't want this — she doesn't want me racing to get this championship for her, but I'm definitely going to try to get it for her.”
Pollex was able to travel to Phoenix last week and she will be at Homestead-Miami this weekend. While it is Truex's chance to win a title, Pollex has helped shape the driver into who he is today while being a big source of motivation behind his career.
"Nobody thought this team would ever compete for a championship. I want him to win it for all those reasons. I don't want it to be about my cancer," Pollex said, per ESPN.com.
Truex has certainly turned things around since 2013 with his Furniture Row Racing team as he has been one of the strongest drivers on the Monster Energy Cup circuit this season with seven victories. Truex just missed the pole on Friday behind Denny Hamlin, but he qualified best among the Championship 4 drivers.
