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NASCAR: 684-race streak to reach 685 (but only on one condition)

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Tricon Garage, backed by Joe Gibbs Racing, has announced their intention to field the No. 56 Toyota for Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, in the upcoming Daytona 500, which marks the start of the new season at Daytona International Speedway next month.

At the conclusion of the 2024 Cup Series season, Truex decided to step away from full-time racing. However, he emphasized his desire to keep competing part-time and hinted at ambitions for his initial triumph in the renowned “Great American Race”, a goal he has been working towards for some time.

Tricon Garage has yet to participate in any Cup Series race, and it’s essential to note that they might not be participating next month as well.

Martin Truex Jr. not locked into Daytona 500?

Since the beginning of the 2006 Cup Series season, Truex has participated in a remarkable 684 races without missing a single one, holding the longest active winning streak within this series. However, unlike previous years where he was guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500, it seems that’s not the case for the year 2025.

The unchartered Toyota model number 56 isn’t bound to the starting grid of 40 vehicles as the 36 chartered ones are. Instead, competition for the handful of available open spots exceeds them, with more than just four contenders vying for these positions.

Currently, seven cars are listed as open entries. Among them are Justin Allgaier’s No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, J.J. Yeley’s No. 44 NY Racing Team, Anthony Alfredo’s No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet, B.J. McLeod’s No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson’s No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, and Helio Castroneves’ No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.

It’s possible that Rick Ware Racing Ford (No. 15) and Garage 66 Ford (formerly MBM Motorsports, No. 66) could be joining the list. Initially, MBM Motorsports was on the list, but their driver Mike Wallace was disallowed from competition by NASCAR. Other possible additions are Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (No. 33) and Team AmeriVet Chevrolet.

In simple terms, the top two positions from the single-car qualifying round are reserved for the highest ranked open entries. The remaining two spots go to the top finishers in each of the Bluegreen Vacations Duel races. If a driver manages to secure a spot twice, the next fastest driver from the qualifying round will take their place.

There’s a possibility that five drivers instead of four might qualify for the event, thanks to Castroneves being given a “special driver” provisional. If he competes, it will fill one of the four available spots, keeping the total number of racers at 40. However, if he chooses not to compete, the field would then consist of 41 cars, with Castroneves already guaranteed a spot.

Instead of Truex, he understands that he might encounter a tough fight to continue his winning streak of Cup Series races if it reaches 685. If he can’t do it during the solo qualifying round, then he must accomplish it during his Duel race instead.

As a dedicated racer in the Cup Series, I’ve been keeping up my streak for 684 races straight, which places me sixth on the all-time list. If fortune favors me and I make it to 685 starts, that run could well end the very next weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

On Wednesday, February 12, Daytona 500 single-car qualifying will occur, with the Bluegreen Vacations Duel races happening on Thursday, February 13 at 7:00 PM ET (on Fox). The 67th edition of the renowned “Great American Race” is set for Sunday, February 16, airing at 2:30 PM ET also on Fox.

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2025-01-21 17:02

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