DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Martin Truex Jr. is staying put.
Truex and Joe Gibbs Racing announced an extension of the Mayetta, N.J., native’s contract with the team Wednesday morning ahead of pole qualifying for the 63rd Daytona 500.
Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but a new agreement means the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion will remain the driver of JGR’s No. 19 Toyota Camry through at least 2022.
Truex joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019 after Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing — the team he won the Cup title with — closed its doors.
“Extending Martin’s agreement has been a big priority for us this off season,” said NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Joe Gibbs. “Martin brings so much to our organization. Obviously, he’s talented and shown he can win at any race track but his insight also helps to make all our teams better.”
Truex, who is set for his 550th career Cup Series start during Sunday’s Daytona 500, has raced full time at NASCAR’s top level since 2006.
He has 27 victories and 19 poles during that time, along with 116 top-five results and 228 top-10 finishes. Over the last six years, Truex has made the Championship 4 four times, including his ’17 title.
Since joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019, Truex has driven the No. 19 Toyota Camry to eight victories, 29 top-five and 47 top-10 finishes, as well as more than 2,000 laps led.
“I’m happy to get this news out there so we can focus on this season and the future with Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Truex. “This is where I wanted to be and to continue building on the success we have had together the past two years. I appreciate Coach, my team, everyone at JGR and all of our partners like Bass Pro Shops, Auto-Owners Insurance, Reser’s Fine Foods, Stanley Black & Decker and Toyota for making this possible and I look forward to continuing those relationships as we move forward.”
Truex, 40, is seeking his first Daytona 500 victory this weekend. His best finish in the event is second, which he posted in 2016 in a photo finish with three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin.
Truex is the second JGR Cup Series driver to sign a contract extension with JGR in the past week and a half, joining Hamlin, who will continue to pilot the No. 11 FedEx Toyota.