In a bombshell announcement that sent shockwaves through the NASCAR world, 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. revealed he will pause his retirement to pursue the sport’s most coveted prize – a Daytona 500 victory. The 44-year-old New Jersey native will attempt to qualify for February’s season-opening race with upstart organization Tricon Garage.
Truex Teams With NASCAR’s Newest Contender
Truex’s bid for Daytona glory comes with the backing of Tricon Garage, a team making its Cup Series debut in 2025 under the leadership of former driver turned owner David Gilliland. The #56 Toyota Camry will carry the iconic colors of Bass Pro Shops, Truex’s longtime sponsor.
Having raced against Martin for many years, I can confidently say there’s no stronger competitor I’d want behind the wheel for our first Cup Series entry at the sport’s most prestigious race.
– David Gilliland, Owner of Tricon Garage
The Road To The Great American Race
As an open, non-chartered entry, Truex faces a challenging path to the Daytona 500 starting grid. His fate will be decided in one of the two Bluegreen Vacations Duels, a pair of 150-mile qualifying races held on February 13th that will set the bulk of the 40-car field.
Despite 20 previous attempts, Truex has never pulled into Daytona’s hallowed Victory Lane. He came agonizingly close in 2016, losing to Denny Hamlin by a scant 0.010 seconds in the closest finish in the race’s storied history.
Chasing A Legacy-Defining Triumph
While he retired following the 2024 season with 34 race wins and a series title, conquering The Great American Race is the one glaring omission on Truex’s Hall of Fame résumé. Now he’s seizing what could be his final opportunity to join the exclusive list of Daytona 500 champions.
The Daytona 500 is the one race every driver dreams of winning. I’ve come so close before, and I knew I couldn’t step away from racing without taking one more shot at it.
– Martin Truex Jr., 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Contending In A Stacked Field
Truex will have to beat out a star-studded field brimming with young talent and seasoned veterans to earn his spot in the Daytona 500. Defending race winner Colt Keselowski leads a new generation of contenders, while wily former champs like Errol Lockwood and Victoria Gibbons still pose a formidable threat.
- Only 4 open slots are available in the 40-car Daytona 500 field
- Truex has a 9.5 average finish in his 20 Daytona 500 starts
- His 18 laps led in last year’s race were 3rd most all-time
One Last Ride For Glory
Can Truex cap his illustrious career by finally visiting Daytona 500 Victory Lane? The popular veteran knows it will take every ounce of speed and savvy accumulated over two decades of top-level experience. But he’s ready for the challenge, driven by an unrelenting competitive fire and singularly focused on staking his claim to NASCAR immortality.
The 67th running of the Daytona 500 goes green on February 16th. When the engines roar to life, all eyes will be fixed on the black and red #56, hoping to witness Martin Truex Jr. rewrite the final chapter of his NASCAR legacy in triumphant fashion. The countdown is on to motorsports’ grandest stage, where a determined champion chases his date with destiny one last time.
