Furniture Row Racing announced that Truex Jr. has signed a new two-year agreement to drive the team’s No. 78 Toyota Camry in NASCAR’s Cup Series, Furniture Row Racing PR reports.
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Furniture Row Racing formally introduced young NASCAR star Erik Jones as driver of a second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series vehicle the team will field in 2017.
The team announced Thursday that Truex would have sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats, which will increase its number of races from 12 this year to 16 starting in 2017. “Martin has proved over and over that he is one of the blue chip drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we are elated that he will continue to drive our No. 78 Toyota”.
Truex, 36, said there wasn’t any question about what team and what auto he wanted to drive going forward. A second auto could be a way for Erik Jones to get a Sprint Cup ride given there’s no spot at JGR available.
After an uneven 2014 season, Truex emerged as a title contender previous year. And with Furniture Row, a team that has proven in can run up front, he might just be the next big star.
Jones, 20, is the 2015 truck series champion and is now fourth in the second-tier Xfinity Series after finishing 12th on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. “I think for us, and the long-term future of our company it’s a good thing”. It’s been over this journey we started off and Barney (Visser, team-owner), his company has funded our vehicle all along and are still there. “Since we started our NASCAR journey 11 years ago it was our goal as a single-car team to reach a competitive level that would allow us to be in position to win races and compete for championships”.
Garone added the support Furniture Row is experiencing from Toyota and Gibbs was a major factor in the expansion and hiring of Jones. The team has said it’s open to doing so if sponsorship is found.
Visser said the team would secure a charter for next year’s Cup season.
“I want to thank Barney and Joe Garone for the confidence that they have placed in me and also want to thank my good friend and hunting/fishing partner Johnny Morris for the continued support from Bass Pro Shops”. “This is where I want to be, driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota”. The Mayetta, N.J. native won back-to-back Xfinity Series championships before joining the Cup series full time in 2006.
Truex Jr. has been one of the more consistent drivers in 2016, as he sits eighth in points with one win.
The falloff, if you can call it that, in Xfinity has 32 top-10s in 45 races to go along with five trips to the winner’s circle and nine poles.
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Furniture Row operates more than 330 stores in 30 states, making it one of America’s largest, family-owned and operated specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers.
