DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2015) — “So far, so good,” said Martin Truex Jr. about the way Daytona Speedweeks is shaping up for his Furniture Row Racing team. “We need to continue what we’ve come down here for and that’s to win the Daytona 500. I truly believe we have the car that can make that happen.”
Truex, who is in his second season with the single-car team based out of Denver, Colorado, got off to a roaring start with a strong performance in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited non-points race at Daytona International Speedway.
He led a race high 28 laps and finished runner-up to Matt Kenseth. That was 27 more laps than he led the entire 2014 season. The following day Truex’s No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet advanced to the third and final round of Pole Day qualifying, posting the 12th best speed.
“What we did in the Sprint Unlimited is no guarantee of what’s going to happen this week, but the one thing we know is that we are capable of being a contender, barring any misfortunes,” said Truex. “But first things first, meaning our focus is on Thursday’s qualifying race. Right now the majority of the teams, including our Furniture Row team, have not yet clinched a berth in the 500.”
The always complicated qualifying format for Sunday’s Daytona 500 does indeed have teams on the edge heading into Thursday night’s Budweiser Duel 150-mile qualifying races. Truex will start sixth in the second qualifier.
“We’re confident and ready to roll,” stated Truex. “Typically the 150 race is the measuring stick of what you will have on Sunday for the 500. The only thing I know at this point is that we have a fast Furniture Row Chevrolet and the key in the 150 and the 500 is to stay out of harm’s way and be in the hunt at the end.”
Truex is looking for a number of turnarounds in 2015, including a major reversal in the season-opening Daytona 500. After qualifying on the outside pole for last year’s 500, Truex saw a golden opportunity go amiss when he was forced to retire from the Sprint Cup race on Lap 30 of 200 due to an oil pump issue.
“Last year is in the rearview mirror,” said Truex. “We’re looking ahead and I feel good about the direction for this season as far as building cars and what we need to go fast. We’ve made a number of changes and things seem to be clicking. Cole (Pearn, crew chief) and I are on the same page and that’s important for obtaining success. Right now, all systems are go.”
Truex has competed in 10 Daytona 500s. His best finish was sixth in 2010.
Furniture Row Racing Traveling Crew, 2015
No. 78 Over-the-Wall Crew
Front-tire changer
Dave Collins, Hayden Lake, Idaho
Front-tire carrier
Craig Curione, Sanborn, N.Y.
Rear-tire changer
Kyle Turner, Yorktown, Va.
Rear-tire carrier
Adam Mosher, Fort Mill, S.C.
Jackman
Carey Wimbish, Granite Falls, N.C.
Gasman
Brian Dheel, Akron, Ohio
No. 78 Road Crew
General Manager
Joe Garone, Denver, Colo.
Crew Chief
Cole Pearn, London, Ontario, Canada
Car Chief
Blake Harris, Maypearl, Texas
Engineers
Jeff Curtis, Fairfax Station, Va.
Pete Craik, Melbourne, Australia
Spotter
Clayton Hughes, Thomasville, N.C.
Engine Specialist
Craig Griffitts, Thomasville, N.C.
Engine Builder
Earnhardt-Childress Racing
Shock Specialist
Nick Kerlin, Old Fort, Ohio
Tire Specialist
Tommy DiBlasi, Annapolis, Md.
Mechanic
Gary Frost, Romeo, Mich.,
Austin Frankart, Fort Seneca, Ohio
Technical Support
Ryan Kelly, London, Ontario
Transportation
Chuck Lemay, DeKalb, IL, Chris Burton, Cincinnati, Barry Huston, Bloomingdale, Mich., Roy Miller, Elkridge, Md., Henry Benfield, Statesville, N.C.
