Bob Pockrass uncovers why Martin Truex Jr.’s Tricon partnership makes ‘more sense’ than with 23XI amid ‘expected’ JGR support

Journalist Bob Pockrass has dropped more news on Martin Truex Jr.’s entry in this year’s Daytona 500. The former Joe Gibbs Racing driver will race for Tricon Garage, a debuting Cup Series team, instead of 23XI Racing. Now, let’s find out why.

Initially, the plan was to have Truex Jr. drive a car under the banner of 23XI Racing. However, given that the North Carolina-based outfit is in a legal battle with NASCAR, a different situation has been set up for the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion.

On that note, Pockrass wrote (via X),

“It is expected that JGR likely would do much of the heavy lifting for the Truex entry. Obviously originally was going to be 23XI but with the lawsuit and not knowing for sure if they'd be charter or open, it made more sense for it to be done through Tricon.”

23XI Racing has a lot on its plate right now and can do without the added pressure of fielding an open car. And due to NASCAR’s current rules, Joe Gibbs Racing cannot field a fifth car either. So it does make more sense for Tricon to fill in.

Notably, Tricon Garage, which runs full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series, will receive extensive assistance from Joe Gibbs Racing. Some fans had been pondering whether Truex Jr. would race for Legacy Motor Club, which switched to Toyotas just last season. If Truex Jr. were to be tabbed by LMC, Joe Gibbs Racing would perhaps not have entered the picture at all.

Fans can watch the crown jewel race on Sunday, February 16, at 2:30 PM ET onwards, only on FOX. Radio updates will also be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

---

Martin Truex Jr. to pair with former crew chief for the 2025 Daytona 500

Martin Truex Jr. (right) and crew chief Cole Pearn (left) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2018.- Source: Imagn

Martin Truex Jr. will be joined by Cole Pearn for his one-off appearance in the Daytona 500. Together, the duo is known to have amassed 24 wins at the Cup level besides bagging the series title in 2017.

Pearn, who served as Truex Jr.’s crew chief for five seasons (2015-2019), retired in 2019 and has come back atop the pit box only twice since then. He spotted Truex Jr. during a race at Charlotte in 2021, and the following year, he served as the fill-in race engineer for Truex Jr. at Sonoma Raceway.

“He can pretty much read me like a book,” Martin Truex Jr. said of Pearn (as quoted by NASCAR). “He knows exactly what I’m thinking. I don’t know, it’s just, he’s a special guy. He’s different than anyone I’ve ever known. He knows everything. He knows the answer to everything. And he tells you things, you’re like, how’d you know that?”

Although the team and crew chief for Michael Truex Jr.’s NASCAR return is confirmed, the car number is yet to be decided. It could either be 78, Truex Jr.’s championship-winning number, or 56, which was his car number during his tenure at Michael Waltrip Racing from 2010 to 2013.