Martin Truex Jr is smiling a lot these days as he looks ahead in 2015. Photo – Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Let’s go back to 2013, the fall Richmond race that is usually the last race before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. A race that saw Clint Bowyer spin late to cause a caution benefiting his Michael Waltrip Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. A race that saw Truex race his way in; and a race that saw Jeff Gordon miss the Chase largely because of that incident. Ultimately, it was a race that started the downward spiral of Martin Truex Jr’s career.

Although having nothing to do with the situation Truex’s sponsor NAPA Auto Parts, which served as his primary sponsor for almost every race, issued a statement saying,

“NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR”.

Making their decision to leave Michael Waltrip Racing, NAPA Auto Parts choose to sponsor up and coming driver Chase Elliott in the XFINITY Series, leaving Martin Truex Jr without a sponsor and ultimately a ride for the 2014 Sprint Cup season. Truly a difficult situation for a driver as talented as Truex, to find a ride so late in the year.

Then comes along Furniture Row Racing.

You see, Furniture Row Racing saw its best year in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013 due to the rejuvenated effort by former champion Kurt Busch who decided to leave for Stewart-Haas racing in 2014. That ultimately led to the signing of Truex Jr, who seems a perfect fit for a surging single-car team.

But Truex struggled tremendously.

A car that saw Kurt Busch earn 11 top-fives and 16 top-tens in 2013, only saw Truex Jr earn one top-five and five top-tens.

On top of that, his longtime girlfriend Sherry Pollex found herself diagnosed with cancer in August. Truly sad to see a man who has done essentially nothing wrong have terrible situations such as these happen in his life.

Truex, is a simple true blooded American man, who enjoys taking his dog fishing on his boat in his free time. He’s someone people relate to as a person; and someone who although he wouldn’t want the situation – people truly and sincerely felt sorry for his circumstances.

Personally, I thought it was a matter of time before his career was over. Terrible to see someone’s career potentially end with the events that took place.

But I mistakenly was unaware of the tremendous mental toughness of Martin Truex Jr.

Truex is starting his tenth full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series, and to make it this far in top-tier rides, requires that one have a great mental toughness. But Truex has shown he is on the next level.

Truex has seen his best career start in 2015 with one top-five and three top-tens in three races. Amazingly those numbers almost match his stats last year!

Furniture Row Racing takes part in a Richard Childress Racing alliance. And, with all honesty, I think their equipment is a step below the guys at Hendrick Motorsports and their alliance with Stewart Haas Racing. I will even throw Team Penske into that equation as well.

That hasn’t stopped Truex from competing for the win in every race he has been in this year. Furniture Row does give him good cars, but Truex has taken them to the next level with his continuous contention for the win. The best thing about him is that he still is not 100% happy unless he can get the win.

It has only been three races, I understand, but when you see a guy get on a streak like Truex is on, it is rare that you see him slow down.

I for one, have found myself cheering more and more for him to pull off a victory in this new 2015 season; and I would not be surprised if he gets one soon.

To see Martin Truex Jr. turn his last year challenges into success this season, is something fans appreciate in any sport. As a fan of NASCAR, please allow me to say,

“Thank you Martin Truex Jr, for letting us witness this tremendous career comeback.  Now go get a win at Phoenix.”