MIAMI — Martin Truex Jr. is hoping to give Furniture Row Racing the ultimate parting gift during Sunday’s season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
With team owner Barney Visser closing the doors to the Denver, Colo.-based team after this weekend, the defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion wants to send Visser into retirement with a second title and a myriad of memories from a journey that took a small team to the pinnacle of success.
Truex spoke fondly of Visser and of what he believes Furniture Row’s ultimate legacy is on the sport during Thursday’s Championship 4 Media Day at the Miami Beach Edition, dropping one word immediately as his main descriptor.
“Champions,” said Truex. “At the end of the day, that’s what you set out to do when you go race. That’s the ultimate prize. That’s what everybody … when the season starts, that’s what we’re all chasing and what everyone wants from day one. The fact that a team that has only been around for about 12 years has a championship is something that all these guys should really be proud of and it’s something that may never happen again. We don’t know.
“It’s a pretty awesome story, I think.”
Ahead of the team’s final race, Truex was asked what he’ll miss most as he heads to Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the No. 19 Toyota next year, with current crew chief Cole Pearn coming along to continue turning the wrenches.
It was a question that stopped the Mayetta, N.J., veteran in his tracks for a moment, with Truex struggling to compose his thoughts at first after an already-emotional start to his week with the team.
“Barney’s just been … you know, what a great guy,” Truex noted with a smile. “I really don’t know what I’m going to miss most about this team yet because I haven’t done it; I haven’t been away from them yet. I had never been on a team that I feel like makes me a better driver every single week until I got with this crew, these guys. They have made me better every day.
“I don’t know if I’ll have that again or if we’ll be able to put together another group like this one,” he added. “I know (crew chief) Cole (Pearn) is a big part of that and staying together with him is important, but there’s so many things beyond just that to have a championship-caliber team.
“I don’t know how the dynamic will change, but for four years I’ve felt like we have a shot to win every time we come to the race track and that’s been unbelievably fun. I know that much, for sure.”
Going into the weekend, Truex was firm in his plan to not change the same approach he’s carried through the first 35 races just because this weekend’s event decides a champion.
“It’s really just another race,” said Truex of Homestead. “I feel like that the more you can look at it that way and think about it that way, the better off you are. We’re going to go out, do exactly what we’ve done all year and see where the chips fall.
“I feel awesome; I’m ready to get out there and go and I think this is going to be a good weekend.”
As far as actually securing back to back titles, Truex hasn’t let those dreams seep too deeply into his thoughts just yet.
Instead, he’s living in the moment and enjoying the atmosphere of his final ride with the No. 78 team.
“I haven’t thought about not winning it, but I haven’t really thought about winning it all that much either,” noted Truex. “I’m just trying to relish the opportunity (of being back in the Championship 4) and trying to take advantage of the opportunity, so that we can have a chance to win it again.
“With the situation and with the team going away, I know that no matter what happens, we’re going to give it our all and we’re going to celebrate on Sunday night regardless, because of the journey we’ve been on the last five years and what an unbelievable ride it has been. As far as racing goes, this has been the time of my life and I’ve realized dreams that I’ve had since I was a kid because of this team.
“Hopefully, we can get back on stage one more time with a big trophy, but regardless, it has been a hell of a lot of fun with these guys.”
