Martin Truex Jr. will participate in the 2025 Daytona 500 with a team effort. Tricon Garage, a NASCAR Truck Series team, will field the No. 56 car for Truex in his final race after retiring from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 Cup Series season. At 43, Truex expressed his desire to race in this iconic event.
The No. 56 car will be run through a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), a team that Truex has been affiliated with since 2019. Due to NASCAR’s four-team limit, JGR could not directly run the car, so Tricon Garage, owned by former Cup driver David Gilliland, will handle the entry. Truex will reunite with crew chief Cole Pearn, who was part of his team during his 2017 Cup Series championship with Furniture Row Motorsport and also worked with JGR before retiring prior to this comeback.
Longtime sponsor Bass Pro Shops will continue backing Truex, a relationship that began in his early career when he was sponsored by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Truex expressed excitement about teaming up again with Pearn and running the No. 56 car, emphasizing his appreciation for Bass Pro Shops, Tricon, and Toyota for making the opportunity possible.
In 2024, Truex finished 10th in the standings without any wins. Most of his 34 career victories came between 2015 and 2023, largely with JGR. The No. 56 car has historical significance for Truex, as it was his number at Michael Waltrip Racing from 2010 to 2013, where he secured his second career win in 2013 before moving to Furniture Row Motorsport in 2014.
Tricon’s No. 56 will be the 42nd car entered for the Daytona 500, which only has 40 starting spots. With 36 spots already filled by chartered teams, Truex must earn his place through qualifying speed or duel race performance.
Fan Take: This news is exciting for NASCAR fans because it marks the return of a beloved driver for one last high-profile race, bringing a combination of nostalgia and competitive spirit to the Daytona 500. Truex’s participation could boost interest and viewership, showcasing the sport’s respect for its veterans while maintaining fierce competition.
