Kansas Speedway has been witness to a spectacle like no other! The murmurs in the pit lanes suggested that the limited number of Camrys on the Cup Series field might just be a blessing in disguise for Toyota. With fewer cooks in the kitchen, notes flow between Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing like a well-oiled pit stop.

Recently, the ‘Door Bumper Clear’ podcast crew, consisting of Brett Griffin, Freddie Kraft, TJ Majors, and Casey Boat, engaged in a discussion about Toyota’s significant presence and maneuvers in the NASCAR Cup Series over the past few years.

A Game of Dollars and Championships

During the podcast, Brett, Freddie, TJ, and Casey were not just discussing the latest race results; also spilled the beans on a millionaire boss who wanted more than your average paycheck. Joe Gibbs, a force to be reckoned with, reportedly dropped jaws by demanding an extraordinary sum to maintain an alliance with Toyota. Why? Because the underdog 78 car was leaving them in the dust.

“Toyota’s made a lot of moves in the last three years in the Cup Series.” Brett started off the conversation. “They make a lot of moves every year,” TJ answered sarcastically. “I mean, when you look at those, they lost the #78 car, which was a championship-caliber team rumored to be because Joe Gibbs wanted an excessive amount of money to continue that alliance,” Brett added. 

“Because they were beating him.” TJ chimed in with a laugh. “Toyota realized we’ve got all these young talented drivers that we’ve got years behind, millions of dollars behind. How do we get them up to the Cup Series if there’s only four seats?” Griffin added. 

Brett further speculated that there are only three Toyota teams at the moment. Brett cited the recent success of 23XI Racing, which had just secured their second win of the year and had both drivers in the playoffs. This accomplishment, achieved by a relatively young team, highlighted Toyota’s strong presence in the Cup Series and its determination to continue making an impact.

WATCH THIS STORY: Kyle Busch Mocks Joe Gibbs With Sarcastic Remark

But what exactly happened with the #78 Toyota car and Joe Gibbs racing? 

How did Joe Gibbs Racing manage the 78-car pit crew?

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In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. took the wheel of the #78 car, an emblem of Furniture Row Racing’s audacious ambition and a Toyota-backed dream. Against all odds, they clinched the NASCAR Cup Series championship, proving that even underdogs can have their day in the sun.

But as the confetti settled, dark clouds gathered. The #78 team faced sponsorship woes, losing their primary backer, 5-hour Energy, after 2018. Securing a new sponsor became a herculean task. Without financial backing, their competitive edge began to wane.

Running a Cup Series team isn’t a leisurely Sunday drive; it’s a high-octane financial marathon. FR Racing struggled to keep up with rising costs, leading to an inevitable crossroads.

Their technical partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing was a lifeline, but it was like bringing a knife to a gunfight. The multi-car giants had resources Furniture Row could only dream of. The playing field wasn’t level. Then came the bombshell. After the 2018 season, Furniture Row Racing closed shop. Martin Truex Jr. and crew chief Cole Pearn joined Joe Gibbs Racing, signaling the end of a Cinderella story.

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An astonishing twist revealed that Furniture Row Racing’s pit crew was actually hired, trained, and managed by Joe Gibbs Racing, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the NASCAR soap opera.