Martin Truex Jr. Bids Farewell to Full-Time Racing, Eyes 2025 Daytona 500 Return with a Familiar Face
Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, completed his final full-time season with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2024, wrapping up a stellar career with 34 wins, 147 top-five finishes, and 25 pole positions across 693 races. Earlier this year, Truex Jr. announced his departure from full-time racing but revealed plans to compete in the 2025 Daytona 500, reuniting with his championship-winning crew chief, Cole Pearn.
Possible Teams for Truex Jr.’s Daytona 500 Bid
Here are three potential teams that could host Truex Jr. for his one-off Daytona 500 race:
1. Legacy Motor Club
Legacy Motor Club, which fields two full-time cars for Erik Jones (No. 43) and John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42) and a part-time entry for Jimmie Johnson (No. 84), could add Truex Jr. as a fourth entry. Although adding an extra car might be logistically challenging, Legacy’s strong partnership with Toyota makes them a viable contender for Truex Jr.’s services.
2. Trackhouse Racing
Despite being a Chevrolet team, Trackhouse Racing, which runs three full-time drivers (Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Shane van Gisbergen), could consider a one-off entry for Truex Jr. Toyota could potentially collaborate with Trackhouse to enable the veteran to compete in the Daytona 500 under their banner.
3. A New Toyota Team
Toyota could establish a new team specifically for Truex Jr.’s Daytona 500 entry. This special arrangement could provide him with a competitive car for the February 16 race without disrupting existing team lineups.
JGR’s Role in Facilitating Truex Jr.’s Daytona Plans
Initially, 23XI Racing, a Toyota-affiliated team, was speculated to be Truex Jr.’s landing spot for the Daytona 500. However, the team is unlikely to add a fourth car in 2025. Instead, JGR, with its extensive resources and connections, is expected to organize a competitive team for Truex Jr.
“There are more than eight open spots for the 2025 Daytona 500, double the usual number,” Truex Jr. noted, expressing optimism about finding a suitable entry. Regarding the uncertainty surrounding his 23XI Racing involvement, he added, “I’m not sure what they’re [23XI Racing] doing, honestly. Kind of up in the air. I just told Gibbs, JGR is doing it somehow, so, we’ll see” (via Jayski.com).
Reuniting with Cole Pearn
The 2025 Daytona 500 will see Truex Jr. reunite with Cole Pearn, his crew chief during their dominant run from 2015 to 2019, which included 24 wins and a championship in 2017. Pearn retired from NASCAR in 2019 to pursue other ventures but has since worked as a consultant for JGR. His recent contributions include roles as a spotter for Truex Jr. in 2021 and an engineer in 2022.
Speaking about the reunion, Truex Jr. expressed excitement at rekindling the successful partnership that played a pivotal role in his NASCAR career.
Looking Ahead
As Truex Jr. gears up for his one-off return to the Daytona 500, fans eagerly await to see which team will provide him the opportunity to compete in one of NASCAR’s most prestigious races. With Cole Pearn by his side and Toyota’s support, the 44-year-old racing veteran aims to make a memorable final lap in his illustrious career.
