NORWICH – With the 166th annual Chenango County Fair right around the corner, fair coordinators are drumming up some local excitement with the promise of a new face this year: professional NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr.

Truex, a 12-year NASCAR veteran and two-time Nationwide Series champion, touts an impressive resume in the racing world that includes 19 top-10 finishes in 2012 alone, in addition as his current 11th place ranking in the championship standings.

Truex is set to appear in the grandstands at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich for a special community meet and greet between 5 and 7 p.m. on Aug. 8.

The event – sponsored by Gillee’s and Napa auto parts stores, and co-sponsored by the Chenango County Agricultural Society, River Road Auto, Chenango Welding Supply, North Norwich Motors and Trailer Sales, Chenango Asphalt, and Golden’s Body Shop – is the first of its kind, said organizers, and great way to rev up some enthusiasm for this year’s fair.

“We have never had anyone like this before,” explained Jason Lawrence, longtime member of the Chenango county Agricultural Society. “We’re very excited to get a name like this in our area. We think it’s really going to get a lot of people excited about the fair this year.”