Furniture Row Racing teaming up with Toyota

Coming off the best season in team history, Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing are not happy yet.

“We expected last year to go out and win the (Sprint Cup Series) Championship.  (We) Finished 4^th, everyone thought it was awesome.  We were not happy,"  said Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 78 Car.  "There it was sitting on a platter, there’s 4 guys with a chance at this trophy.  Who’s going to come and get it? And we couldn’t get it."

The first change? Furniture Row Racing shifted gears from Chevrolet to Toyota.  The team also embarked on an alliance with the reigning Cup Champs Joe Gibbs Racing.

"I feel like we made the right decision after seeing all of that.  Joining Toyota, you can’t argue that.  Right?  We wanted to make this move to make the better and stronger on the racetrack," said Joe Garone, president of Furniture Row Racing.

Cole Pearn, crew chief for Furniture Row Racing, added, “We start with a better tool box, but it's all same key characters that we have to continue to optimize things.  Get the most our of everything.  If we start a high level and continue to do what we do.  I think we’ll have a good year."

With Bass Pro Shops on board as a sponsor for nine races, the Denver-based NASCAR Team is talking expansion. They’d like to add a second car soon.

“I think a decision can be made this year. A lot of structure of running two cars, we’re working on that right now," said Garone.

So there’s a new paint job, new partnership and new parts.  The only thing that hasn’t changed is Furniture Row Racing’s commitment to bring a Sprint Cup Championship back to Denver.

"We’re hungrier than ever to get to the top," said Garone.

"Hopefully we can get back there to the Final 4, and turn the tables," added Truex. "Be the guy that gets the job done.  That’s what we all want."