Martin Truex Jr. formally announced his plans Thursday to race in next month’s season-opening Daytona 500, with the 2017 Cup Series champion set to drive the No. 56 Toyota fielded by Tricon Garage.
Although Truex retired from full-time competition following the 2024 season, he has made it known he still wanted to race sporadically and that the Daytona 500 was a top priority. Truex has never won NASCAR’s signature race, with his best result a second to Denny Hamlin in 2016 — the 0.010 seconds margin of victory was the closest in Daytona 500 history.
Truex is reuniting with former crew chief Cole Pearn, who will lead the team. Truex and Pearn worked together for five years, winning 24 races, the 2017 title and twice finishing championship runner-up. Pearn stepped away as crew chief after the 2019 season.
We’re going beyond the limits of the Truck Series.
TRICON will attempt the Daytona 500 in our @NASCAR Cup debut alongside @MartinTruex_Jr and @BassProShops ‼️ pic.twitter.com/FyevxKi2E0
— TRICON (@TRICONGarage) January 16, 2025
Further giving this a throwback feel is that Bass Pro Shops, Truex’s longtime sponsor, will back the effort and Truex will carry No. 56, the number he raced with during his formative years.
“It’s going to be a really cool deal to be able to work with Cole and have the number 56 again,” said Truex Jr. “I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun.”
Daytona marks the first time Tricon has entered a Cup race. Tricon, owned by David Gilliland, is Toyota’s flagship team in NASCAR’s third-tier Truck Series. Tricon will have technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota’s flagship Cup team.
Because Tricon does not own a charter that guarantees a team a starting spot in the Daytona 500, Truex must either post a fast speed in qualifying or secure the transfer position in his qualifying race to claim one of four available spots.
“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,” said Gilliland, the 2007 Daytona pole winner. “I’ve had the privilege of sitting on the pole at Daytona, but my next goal is to celebrate in victory lane.”
The Truex-Tricon entry is the seventh to file as an “open” team for the Feb. 16 race at Daytona International Speedway.
On Wednesday, JR. Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced it would field a car for Justin Allgaier. Last week, Trackhouse Racing revealed that four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves would attempt to make his NASCAR debut at Daytona.
The other “open” entries are Beard Motorsports (driver Anthony Alfredo), Live Fast Motorsports (B.J. McLeod), MBM Motorsports (to be announced), and NY Racing (J.J. Yeley). Legacy Motor Club (Jimmie Johnson) and Rick Ware Racing (to be announced) are also expected to enter, though neither team has yet confirmed its plans.
Required reading
(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)
