Martin Truex Jr. will try the 67th operating of the Daytona 500 within the No. 56 Toyota — a throwback to his Michael Waltrip Racing days. He might be driving for TRICON Storage within the Truck Collection staff’s Cup debut. Longtime associate Bass Professional Outlets will sponsor the trouble, Joe Gibbs Racing will provide technical help, and Truex will reunite with former crew chief Cole Pearn.
Truex has began almost 700 Cup races in his illustrious profession, which incorporates 20 Daytona 500s. Nonetheless, none of his 34 Cup wins embody the five hundred itself. He is gained crown jewel occasions such because the Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500, however Daytona nonetheless eludes him. Actually, he has by no means gained at a superspeedway race as a Cup driver.
However this yr’s try places Truex into uncharted territory. Dale Earnhardt Sr. famously gained his solely Daytona 500 after “20 years of attempting and 20 years of frustration,” which is probably the most makes an attempt of any driver in Cup historical past earlier than lastly accumulating the Harley J. Earl Trophy. Ought to Truex make the race, 2025 might be his twenty first Daytona 500 begin. At this level in his profession, a win within the 500 could be each unprecedented and record-breaking.
The 2017 NASCAR Cup Collection champion could also be winless in pack racing occasions, however that does not imply he hasn’t been near the largest prize in NASCAR. Actually, he is gotten nearer than another driver who has but to win it. In 2016, Truex misplaced the Daytona 500 to Denny Hamlin within the closest end within the race’s historical past – 0.010s.
Checkered flag: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Motion Sports activities Images
“It’s going to be a extremely cool deal to have the ability to work with Cole and have the quantity 56 once more,” stated Truex in response to the information. “I actually respect everybody at Bass Professional Outlets, TRICON and Toyota serving to put this collectively to go have some enjoyable, and I can’t consider a greater time to go win the factor for [Bass Pro Shops CEO] Johnny Morris.”
A surprisingly aggressive open discipline
There at the moment are six open entries set in stone for the five hundred with Truex becoming a member of the No. 44 of J.J. Yeley, No. 62 of Anthony Alfredo, No. 78 of BJ McLeod, No. 91 of Helio Castroneves, and the just lately introduced No. 40 JR Motorsports entry with defending NASCAR Xfinity Collection champion Justin Allgaier. Solely 4 spots stay on the grid, together with the newly added Open Exemption Provisional that’s solely accessible to Castroneves ought to he want it, doubtlessly increasing the sphere to 41 vehicles.
It is anticipated that seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson will enter the occasion and there is additionally the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing entry, which leased its constitution to the RFK No. 60 and is now an open staff with unclear plans. The No. 66 MBM Motorsports staff deliberate to run the occasion with Mike Wallace however after he did not get approval, the staff is scrambling to discover a driver and sponsor for the five hundred.
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