Martin Truex Jr. is back, almost like he never left. I mean, he kind of hasn’t as his retirement from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition hasn’t even made it one points-paying race before he has announced his next start. On Thursday, Truex announced he will attempt to lock into the field for the 2025 Daytona 500 with TRICON Garage.
Truex will pilot a No. 56 Toyota Camry XSE for the team that is a staple in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and is attempting its first NASCAR Cup Series start. Bass Pro Shops will serve as the primary sponsor for the entry, and TRICON Garage will receive technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing, and Cole Pearn, who was Truex’s crew chief during his magical 2017 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning season, will return to be the crew chief for the Daytona 500 attempt.
“It’s going to be a really cool deal to be able to work with Cole and have the number 56 again,” said Truex in a team press release. “I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun, and I can’t think of a better time to go win the thing for Johnny Morris.”
For TRICON Garage, the chance to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series, and to do so with a NASCAR Cup Series champion behind the wheel is a little unreal, but earmarks how hard the team has worked to get to this point.
“This opportunity is a testament to the dedication of our entire organization and our partners at Toyota. Having raced against Martin for many years, I can confidently say there’s no stronger competitor I’d want behind the wheel for our first Cup Series entry at the sport’s most prestigious race,” said David Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage.
While it’ll be cool to watch his team chase a starting spot in the Daytona 500, Gilliland knows there is work to be done as there will be a stout field of “Open” entries vying for the four remaining positions in the Daytona 500 field, including JR Motorsports which announced a Daytona 500 entry on Wednesday.
“As an open entry, we know the road ahead will be challenging, but I have no doubt that Martin will put us in the best position to succeed. I’ve had the privilege of sitting on the pole at Daytona, but my next goal is to celebrate in victory lane.”
Truex has yet to reach victory lane in The Great American Race, but he came as close as you possibly can get without winning the race back in 2016 as he lost out to Denny Hamlin in a photo finish by just 0.010 seconds. Truex will look to make the field, and then he will go to work on attempting to collect the Harley J. Earl trophy.
