With less than 31 days to go, we were meant to be bombarded with major bombshells and headlines regarding the Daytona 500. The closer we get to NASCAR’s crown jewel event, the hotter the headlines get. ‘The Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing’ has been providing us with one surprise after another. Yesterday we got confirmation of JRM and Justin Allgaier’s Cup Series debut.

Today, there is confirmation of the return of another former NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. is getting behind the wheel at Tricon Garage in a Joe Gibbs Racing chassis

After keeping fans in a speculation mill for a month, Martin Truex Jr has finally confirmed his ride for his Daytona return. The 44-year-old retired from full-time racing but is still keen on racing at NASCAR’s premium events here and there. This whole time, he kept everyone in the blind as to whom he would be racing for. Following speculations about his return to Dale Jr.’s JRM and rumors of him replacing Mike Wallace at MBM, his true partnership has been confirmed.

Tricon Motorsports announced their Cup Series debut plans just today, and their face for the Daytona 500 on Feb 16th will be none other than Martin Truex Jr. The tweet by Tricon read: “We’re going beyond the limits of the Truck Series. TRICON will attempt the Daytona 500 in our @NASCAR Cup debut alongside @MartinTruex_Jr and @BassProShops” confirming the Truck Series team’s ambitions for NASCAR’s top tier. And the face who will kick-start their dream is going to Martin Truex Jr himself, along with the backing of the popular brand Bass Pro Shops.

TRICON Garage, which has made significant strides before Martin Truex Jr in the NASCAR Truck Series since partnering with Toyota in 2023, is now poised to take on the challenges of the Cup Series. In just two seasons, TRICON has got nine victories, 50 top-five finishes, and consecutive Championship 4 appearances in the Truck Series. These accomplishments have set the stage for the organization’s inevitable progression into NASCAR’s top tier.

What was perhaps the biggest surprise for fans was not being able to see Martin Truex Jr. back in a Joe Gibbs Racing car for the event. In the weeks leading up to the announcement, there was a lot of speculation about the possibilities. Fans believed the choice was between Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, and JR Motorsports; his former team, his ex-teammate’s team, and his mentor’s team. Needless to say, Gibbs had plenty of options. However, the most realistic choice, JGR, seemed like an unlikely option after Truex Jr. admitted it was the route he wanted to take. Yet, the team came through for him one last time. Because of a technical alliance between Joe Gibbs Racing and Tricon Garage, Truex Jr. will be back in a JGR in a way, since the chassis was developed by JGR.

For Tricon Garage, the addition of a veteran like MTJ at their ‘The Great American Race’ debut could be the perfect start

TRICON’s vision post-Martin Truex Jr

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“This opportunity is a testament to the dedication of our entire organization and our partners at Toyota,” said David Gilliland, partner at TRICON Garage. “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.”

Gilliland, a former Daytona 500 pole sitter, is aiming for nothing short of a victory in the prestigious race. With Toyota’s continued support and technical expertise from JGR, TRICON is well-positioned to make a splash at Daytona. The team’s determination to excel in NASCAR’s top tier is clear, as they embark on this ambitious journey with a championship-caliber driver at the helm.

The 67th running of the Daytona 500 promises to be an unforgettable event. Fans will watch closely as Truex Jr. and TRICON aim to secure a starting position in the field through practice and qualifying sessions beginning on Wednesday, February 12. The high-stakes Bluegreen Vacations Duels will follow on Thursday, February 13, setting the stage for “The Great American Race” on Sunday, February 16.