That belief led to a rapid rise when Pearn ascended to the pit box to kick off the 2015 season.
He and Truex dominated together during the early summer stretch, leading the most laps in four-straight races before finally breaking through and getting to victory lane at Pocono Raceway in June.
The win ultimately catapulted them not only into the playoffs that year, but all the way through them, as Truex made the Championship 4 and finished a career-best fourth in points.
Had it not been for the shift in personnel and a renewed attitude from within, Pearn believes that Furniture Row’s current success might not have ever begun.
“At the end of the day when we came together in 2015 as a group, with the hires we made and the team that we have … I don’t know, it’s just truly special,” Pearn said. “I look back on that winter a lot and say, ‘Man, if we’d have made this decision or that decision, would we be as good today?’ It just kind of all fell together.”
In total, NASCAR’s newest dynamic duo has tallied 11 wins, 30 top-fives, 60 top-10s, seven poles and an average finish of 12.2 in their time together so far.
Yes, it’s a far cry from the seven championships and 81 wins that Johnson and Knaus have put up, but it’s a solid foothold to build off of — especially considering Truex and Pearn are only 37 and 34, respectively.
But despite all their recent success and subsequent momentum, there’s one other quality that Truex believes has made all the difference in his and Pearn’s relationship at the track and away from it: respect.
“Cole has done an amazing job, and I have a lot of respect for him,” Truex said. “I try to show that, and he shows it back to me. You know, that’s why it works, I guess. He impresses me all the time, so I’m definitely a lucky guy to have him as a crew chief. It means a lot to me when he compliments me and shows that he has that confidence and that care and how much he cares about me and my family and all those things.”
“All in all, it’s just a great relationship on and off the track. You know, I definitely owe a lot to him for what he’s done for me and our race team.”
And if current performance is any indication, Pearn isn’t anywhere close to being done doing things for Truex and for Furniture Row Racing just yet.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
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