Martin Truex Jr. enters NASCAR Daytona 500 with Tricon Garage

Martin Truex Jr. has been added to the 2025 Daytona 500 entry list in the NASCAR Cup Series season opener.

Truex will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 with Tricon Garage, a team owned by former NASCAR Cup Series driver David Gilliland.

The No. 56 Toyota will be sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, which has been a long-time sponsor for Truex going back to his rookie season in 2004.

Tricon Garage will have technical support from Toyota affiliate team Joe Gibbs Racing, Truex’s former team.

The unchartered entry is not guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500. Truex will have to qualify based on his qualifying race in the Daytona Duels, set for Thursday, Feb. 13.

Truex, the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2024 season after 715 career races.

The New Jersey native ended his full-time Cup Series career with Joe Gibbs Racing from 2019-24 after stints with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (2004-08), Earnhardt Ganassi Racing (2009), Michael Waltrip Racing (2010-13) and Furniture Row Racing (2014-18).

Truex has never won the “Great American Race” but had a close call in 2016, finishing second to Denny Hamlin by 0.010 seconds.

Cole Pearn, who was Truex’s crew chief from 2014-19, will work as crew chief on the No. 56 car for the Daytona 500.

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During a media day prior to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Truex confirmed he was planning to enter the Daytona 500 with Pearn as his crew chief.

Pearn resigned from the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team after the 2019 season to pursue other opportunities and spend more time with his family. Pearn was Truex’s crew chief during their time together at Furniture Row Racing and made the move to JGR after the 2018 season.

In 179 races together, Pearn and Truex combined to reach the Championship 4 race four different times, winning one championship in 2017, two runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019, 24 wins, 70 top fives, 110 top 10s and 12 poles.

Truex has 34 career victories in the NASCAR Cup Series.

After stepping away from full-time racing, Truex will serve as an ambassador for Joe Gibbs Racing and work with the team. He also has the possibility of running select races with the team in the future.

Chase Briscoe was announced as the replacement driver in the No. 19 car beginning next season.

Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at achastain@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Daytona 500: Martin Truex Jr. to race for Tricon Garage in 2025 NASCAR race