The NASCAR paddock heads to the Sonoma Raceway this weekend. However, the #19 camp of Martin Truex Jr. will be a man down. This is because one of his engineers is unavailable due to a wedding commitment. Fortunately, the Joe Gibbs Racing outfit has a backup plan, and it is none other than his former crew chief Cole Pearn.

Naturally, this will be a very exciting prospect for the fans as they proved to be a winning combination in the past. To be precise, Pearn helped guide Truex Jr. to the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Of course, it would be tough for them to rekindle that kind of success this time, as Pearn is filing in for just one race.

READ MORE: Former NASCAR Crew Chief Cole Pearn Talks About What He Misses About NASCAR

We can be sure that from Nashville onwards, Truex Jr’s regular engineer will be back once again. Until then, the #19 driver will be keen to make up for lost time with his former crew chief, who last worked with him in 2019.

What to expect from Martin Truex Jr?

The veteran driver may be under a bit of pressure as both his teammates (Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch) have already qualified for the Playoffs. Hendrick Motorsports have already got all four of their drivers in the Playoffs, with Team Penske having two in. So, the Joe Gibbs Racing organization will want all of their drivers in the mix as well.

On the bright side, as Martin Truex Jr is lying fifth in the standings, there is a chance that he can get in on points alone. However, the flip side of the coin is that other drivers could win the remaining regular-season races and fill up the slots.

WATCH STORY: Team Owner Joe Gibbs Vows to Confront NASCAR Over Kyle Busch Sanctions in Richmond

So, it will be a real race to try to win. Fortunately, as the 2017 champion has won twice at Sonoma, including one win with Joe Gibbs Racing, he could be one of the favorites to win once again.