Ryan Truex’s NASCAR Sprint Cup debut will have to wait.
Truex, who turned 21 last month, was scheduled to drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing at Richmond International Raceway on April 27. However, Truex broke his collarbone on Easter Sunday while riding a motorcycle at home in Mayetta, N.J.
The younger brother of Sprint Cup regular Martin Truex Jr. won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East titles in 2009 and 2010. He scored five wins, 15 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in 22 starts over that span. Truex had a limited three-race run in the Truck series that produced one top 10, at Phoenix.
His best finish in NASCAR’s top tours came last June while driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Nationwide Series at his home track – Dover International Speedway. Truex earned the pole and finished second.
Team owner James Finch said AJ Allmendinger is now scheduled to drive at Richmond. Finch is currently 11th in Sprint Cup owners points after fielding rides for Regan Smith, Austin Dillon and Allmendinger.
Allmendinger’s seat is also in the car for this weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, but details have not been finalized. Initially, Allmendinger, who is pulling double duty between the IndyCar and Sprint Cup series, was expected to attend rookie orientation for the Indianapolis 500, which was postponed due to weather.
Allmendinger was also expected to drive the car the following weekend at Kansas Speedway, but team owner Roger Penske confirmed on Saturday that Allmendinger will indeed race at Long Beach on April 21. The former open-wheeler made his IndyCar debut for Penske Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.
Allmendinger qualified 10th and ran as high as fifth before his car stalled in the pits. He finished 19th.
Smith is tentatively scheduled to drive the Phoenix Racing car at Kansas.
Truex now hopes to make his first Cup start at Dover on June 2.
