The news that Ryan Truex won't return to Hattori Racing in the Camping World Truck Series took the NASCAR world by surprise.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was clearly one of those people, and he made his feelings crystal clear.
In responding to a tweet by ESPN's Bob Pockrass, Dale Jr. tweeted out a video of a man slamming his computer, which breaks up and explodes on his desk.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 4, 2018
He followed it up with this: "I know it's a business, but these are my feelings on this particular matter."
I know it?s a business, but these are my feelings on this particular matter. @Ryan_Truex #GoRyan #NotJr https://t.co/3t7o4SM1Ra
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 4, 2018
He's not going to be alone on that one.
In an absolute stunner, Hattori Racing Enterprises announced that Ryan Truex, the brother of NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr., won't return to the Camping World Truck series team in 2018.
The circumstances that lead to the announcement are confusing. Hattori, in a statement, said "it's difficult to move on after the effort Ryan (Truex) put in and everything he did to grow our program to where it is now." But then Motorsports.com, in a tweet, said it was Truex's decision to leave the team.
Just got off the phone with @Hattori_Racing Competition Director, Mike Greci. To clarify: 1) @Ryan_Truex was not released. The family told HRE before Xmas he wouldn't be back. 2) Greci had hoped to have a replacement driver before now, still looking #NASCAR
— Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) January 5, 2018
Regardless, it's a dramatic turn for a driver who Truex, who had a career-best ninth in the series. He also won two poles, had eight top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, and that included a second place finish at New Hampshire.
Truex is the second driver with championship pedigree to lose his ride in the last month. Jeffrey Earnhardt, nephew of Dale Jr., lost his Cup Series ride and is still jobless.
The team, in its press release, said it would make announcement on its driver and sponsor at a later date.
This is the full press release, from the Hattori website: