Martin Truex Jr. will attempt the 2025 Daytona 500 for TRICON Garage, TRICON announced Jan. 16.
Truex will drive the No. 56 in TRICON’s first foray into the NASCAR Cup Series.
Cole Pearn will reunite with Truex as his crew chief, while TRICON will receive technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing.
Bass Pro Shops is back with Truex as his sponsor.
“It’s going to be a really cool deal to be able to work with Cole and have the No. 56 again,” Truex said in a team release. “I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun, and I can’t think of a better time to go win the thing for [Bass Pro Shops founder] Johnny Morris.”
“This opportunity is a testament to the dedication of our entire organization and our partners at Toyota,” TRICON owner David Gilliland added. “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.
“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. I’ve had the privilege of sitting on the pole at Daytona [International Speedway], but my next goal is to celebrate in victory lane.”
The Daytona 500 will be Truex’s first Cup appearance since retiring from full-time competition at the end of 2024. He earned five top fives and 11 top 10s driving for JGR last year.
TRICON fields five full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries.
The No. 56 is the seventh open team to officially declare their intentions to run the Daytona 500, giving the race 43 entries as of now.
Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
So, a fifth JGR entry, just like Jr’s fifth Hendrick entry, though the charter system limits them to four. Wink,wink.