NASCAR Nation Cheers as Martin Truex Jr. Eyes Daytona 500 Glory with Tricon Garage

Following the end of 2024, Martin Truex Jr. stepped away from the tracks. But as he tries to earn a spot at the Daytona 500, the former NASCAR champion is prepared to return. The 44-year-old will be driving Tricon Garage’s No. 56 Toyota. With the race, the Mooresville-based outlet will be making its Cup Series debut. Prior to retiring, Truex Jr. raced for four different teams: Furniture Row, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, and Dale Earnhardt Inc. He concluded his career racing for Joe Gibbs Racing. Using the phrase, “NEWS: He’s got another one in him!,” NASCAR announced his return in a tweet on X. In order to be eligible for the #DAYTONA500, @MartinTruex_Jr. in the No. 56 for @TRICONGarage.

Since he made a suggestion about a potential return in his June of last year retirement interview with NASCAR.com, Martin Truex Jr.’s return has been eagerly awaited. With Tricon Garage joining the Cup Series, which is supported by Toyota and Bass Pro Shops, he now has the chance to return. Fans’ reactions to the announcement of Truex’s comeback were not quite uniform. Others had a more critical opinion, while others were glad to see him again. “Yes, absolutely! “If he wins, be cool,” a supporter wrote on Twitter. Another person added, “Finally! 🙌🏻👍🏻🧡🖤” to encourage Truex’s comeback. “If only they got @theNAPAnetwork as a sponsor.” One more person said. Then someone added, “Massive W.” “Hell yeah finally @MartinTruex_Jr will be reunited with @colepearn for the #Daytona500.” Someone else tweeted But some fans weren’t sure he would succeed. One even called for him to retire.

“It’ll be a great continuation of his 2024 season when he fails to qualify.” one typed.

“Bro just retire already,” said a different fan on social media. Martin Truex Jr. is thrilled to be collaborating with Cole Pearn and Tricon Garage once more. “Working with Cole and having the number 56 again is going to be a really cool deal,” he told NASCAR.com. There’s never been a better moment for me to go win the thing. “This opportunity is a testament to the dedication of our entire organization and our partners at Toyota,” said David Gilliland, owner of Tricon Garage, who also expressed his confidence in having Truex Jr. race for him in the same interview. I can state with confidence that there isn’t a more formidable opponent than Martin for our maiden Cup Series entry, having competed against him for many years. “He said,”

Truex Jr., 44, has a stellar career with 34 Cup Series victories and a 2017 championship, but he has never won the Daytona 500. In 2016, he lost to Denny Hamlin by a mere 0.010 seconds, which was his closest finish in the race. Why “DEI fell apart” Martin Truex Jr. desired a single team to be his long-term partner. Due to frequent team transfers, Martin Truex Jr., who made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2006 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), had difficulties in his early career.

Truex Jr. struggled to find consistency before joining Furniture Row Racing (FRR), in contrast to NASCAR drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin, who stayed with single teams for extended periods of time. The breakthrough for Truex Jr. came at FRR, where he was paired with crew chief Cole Pearn. Together, they achieved multiple wins and a 2017 championship. Referring to his time at FRR, Truex Jr. often spoke about the advantages of long-term partnerships.

For instance, Kyle Busch’s success over 15 years with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Jimmie Johnson’s tenure with Hendrick Motorsports, which resulted in seven titles. Longtime JGR racer Denny Hamlin had 54 victories with the team. Truex Jr. discussed his previous career setbacks and the value of having a solid team in a 2016 interview with Motorsport, saying, “DEI fell apart.” I spent too much time there. It was a difficult circumstance. Observe Jimmie Johnson. You glance at Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. They form a team and simply continue to expand upon that base. They have something surrounding them, which makes them the guys to defeat year after year.The car is all they own, and the rules are subject to changes and those kind of things. They don’t have to figure out everything else that goes along with it,”

Martin Truex Jr.’s early career had only two Cup Series wins before he joined FRR. His first season (2014) with FRR ended without any wins, but in 2015, he had his first race with FRR, at the Pocono Raceway.