Despite hanging up his boots from full-time last year, Martin Truex Jr. returned to NASCAR in 2025. While he has reached the highest of the highs, winning the championship in 2017, the Harley J. Earl Trophy eluded him throughout his illustrious career. So he did have some unfinished business he needed to take care of and he partnered with Tricon Garage to have another shot at the Daytona 500 triumph. But even before he could have a genuine shot at fulfilling his dream, the veteran driver was caught in an early crash.

The stack-up happened on the Lap 71 of the race on the restart with Joey Logano having engine trouble on his race car. Well, a lot of drivers behind Logano checked up to avoid the crash but the cycle eventually broke and the No. 56 Tricon Garage Camry got the worst of it along with several other cars. This was a heartbreaking moment for Martin Truex Jr. as this race was seen as his last shot to claim an iconic trophy. But, it looks like there’s enough reason for his supporters to be optimistic as he might return to more Cup Series races in 2025.

Truex Jr. has plans to return to Cup racing after Daytona heartbreak

The 2025 Daytona 500 was a special one for the former JGR driver. Apart from aiming for personal glory, he was paying tribute to his late father, Truex Sr. A day after MTJ formally announced his entry to the Great American Race, his father died unexpectedly at the age of 66. This was the prime reason why Truex Jr. opted to race in the No. 56 car, but unfortunately, he couldn’t see the end of the race on Sunday.

This result was a bitter blow to the 44-year-old driver and it felt as if it was his final race in the premier series, but it looks like he still has some fuel left in the tank. As he walked out of the care center, battered but in high spirits, Truex Jr. provided the type of news that brought the NASCAR world to a halt. “Outside the care center, Truex Jr. just informed me that he’ll run Cup again this season. Just not sure when and where,” said Alan Cavanna.

Well, a lot of Martin Truex Jr. fans took a huge sigh of relief, especially after his initial response in the aftermath of the big one. “It’s always disappointing when you don’t finish no matter what the situation. Especially in a race like this where it’s probably our only shot this year. So thanks to Bass Pro and Tricon and everybody that helped us put this together. It was fun while it lasted but unfortunately, we were just at the wrong place, wrong time.”

Even after walking away from full-time racing in late 2023, Truex Jr. never completely dismissed coming back for the right offer. And now, it appears, that offer is arriving earlier than anybody thought. Truex’s return to a Cup car raises an infinite number of questions. Where will he be racing? Who will he be racing for? A potential option is back to Joe Gibbs Racing, where he was for the final five years before calling it quits. Would he find himself in a relief role should the need arise, or is there a particular race marked on his calendar?

Another interesting possibility might be a road course stint. Truex Jr. has been one of the strongest on road courses for years, and with the current Cup car biased in favor of road racing experts, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him tackle Sonoma or Watkins Glen. Or perhaps, just perhaps, Truex has some residual business at a track like Darlington or Martinsville—places where he’s made his presence known in ways that won’t soon be forgotten.

All we can say for certain is what he told us: He’ll race again in 2025. We just don’t know where or when. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that when Martin Truex Jr. climbs into the driver’s seat, he’s not just arriving—he’s arriving to win.

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Team Toyota brought the big guns for the Daytona 500

On one hand, where one Toyota driver’s Daytona dream didn’t come to fruition when the dust settled it was a league of other Toyota drivers who showcased the manufacturer’s might. In an incredible display of engineering and cohesiveness, Toyota swept the 2025 Daytona 500, claiming four of the first five spots in NASCAR’s grandest event. The feat is all the more impressive considering Toyota’s dull record in the crown jewel event. Three-time Daytona 500 winner is the only driver who has managed to park the Toyota Camry in the victory lane. Had it not been for the last-lap carnage, the JGR driver could’ve added a fourth Daytona 500 trophy to his name.

Headlining the Toyota group was Tyler Reddick, who produced a standout performance to take second place. Reddick, racing for 23XI Racing, demonstrated his resilience and ability, surviving the race’s many adversities to register his best Daytona finish to date. Coming in third was veteran Jimmie Johnson, making a huge statement about turning the corner with Legacy Motor Club and their partnership with Toyota. Chase Briscoe, who gained the pole position in qualifying for the first time for Toyota in the Daytona 500, transformed his better start into an impressive fourth-place finish.  Completing the top five was John Hunter Nemechek, whose fifth-place finish was a milestone in his young career.

This commanding performance not only upsets the conventional Ford and Chevrolet dominance at Daytona but also establishes an ambitious tone for Toyota’s 2025 campaign. As the season unfolds, competitors will certainly be on their guard against Toyota’s improved capabilities and the momentum created by their drivers’ exceptional performances in “The Great American Race.”