CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The perception was DEI would fall apart without Dale Earnhardt Jr. The reality is Martin Truex Jr. appears ready, willing and able to step into a starring role with the team.

Truex finished third in New Hampshire to continue a strong string of runs that began shortly after Earnhardt’s May 10 announcement that he will leave DEI at the end of this season. In the seven races since, Truex scored his first career Nextel Cup victory, notched four finishes of third or better, and has only been lower than 16th once.

Truex has been on such a roll, he had to couch his disappointment Sunday after failing to win at New Hampshire. He led 46 laps, was beat out of the pits by eventual winner Denny Hamlin on the final stop, and gave up second-place to Jeff Gordon in the closing laps.

“Hey, we’ll take third,” Truex said after. “Six months ago, I would’ve begged you for a third-place finish.”

So true.

Six months ago, Truex was a bit player at Dale Earnhardt Inc. despite consecutive Busch Series titles in 2004 and 2005. Earnhardt was the star, and nothing Truex did was good enough to take the shine off his teammate.

Even his January run-in with Daytona Beach, Fla., police failed to generate much buzz. Truex was charged with disorderly intoxication after he was caught urinating on his car in a parking garage, then allegedly tried to pay the $100 fine in cash when confronted by police.

The incident might have earned bold headlines for most drivers, but Truex flew way under the radar because the police report came out on the same day Earnhardt gave an update on his contract negotiations with stepmother, Teresa.

Asked that day if he disliked being stuck in Earnhardt’s shadow, Truex explained that attention is earned through performance. If he could pick it up on the race track, the spotlight would find its way toward him.

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That’s exactly what’s happened, said Max Siegel, president of DEI’s global operations.

“I think that probably the most difficult thing for all of us is trying to battle public perception ... and if you look at the focus of what people talked about at DEI, it was always Dale Jr. vs. Teresa,” Siegel said. “When you perform on the track, it pushes away all the personal issues.”

Truex stayed out of Earnhardt’s contract squabble, and learned at the same time as everyone else that Junior was leaving when he watched the announcement on live TV.

As DEI’s demise was instantly predicted, Truex buckled down and reconfirmed his commitment to the organization. His contract runs through 2008, and sponsor Bass Pro Shops last week extended its deal with DEI.

“People think I’m crazy when I say this, but I really don’t think it’s a big deal,” Truex said a day after Earnhardt’s announcement. “Just ’cause Junior isn’t driving for us, I don’t see it making that big of an impact. Maybe long-term, but not in the next couple years.

“I’ve got to give it a fair shake. They gave me my opportunity, and I’ve decided I’m going to finish out the year and honor my contract because of all the things they’ve done for me.”