It’s official. Martin Truex and Furniture Row Racing formally announced on Friday that the two have entered into a multi-year contract beginning in 2014.
Truex has been driving the No. 56 Toyota Camry at Michael Waltrip Racing but as the team downsizes from the fallout from Richmond it was recently announced that he would not return for next season.
Enter Furniture Row Racing who will lose driver Kurt Busch at the end of the season. Busch, who is headed to Stewart Hass Racing, earned FRR its first appearance in the NASCAR Chase in his lone season behind the wheel of the No. 78 Chevrolet SS.
“We couldn’t be happier to have landed one of the top drivers in NASCAR,” said FRR general manager Joe Garone. “Martin’s talents – both on and off the track — have been well documented and everyone at Furniture Row Racing feels that he is an excellent fit to continue the success that we have enjoyed this season.”
Truex has been in the Sprint Cup Series since 2006. After two consecutive Nationwide Series titles, he made the move to the Cup Series with Dale Earnhardt Inc and raced there though the 2009 season before joining MWR.
“Furniture Row Racing has been high on my radar,” said Truex. “The team has done a great job this year. It’s a talented organization and it has been impressive to see what they’ve accomplished over the past few seasons. What influenced my decision is team owner Barney Visser and that the team really wants me as its driver. Everything else is important, but I really felt like Furniture Row Racing genuinely wanted me to drive for them.”
Truex thanked his current team at MWR for allowing him to race there since 2010.
“While I am thrilled to be the new driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, I want to express a sincere thank you to Michael Waltrip, Rob Kauffman and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing team for supporting my career over the past four seasons,” said Truex.
In turn MWR released the following statement saying “We are very happy to see him in a competitive ride next year and appreciate the professionalism everyone showed throughout this entire process.”
