DOVER, De – One is great, two may even be better.
The possibility of expanding Furniture Row Racing to a second car team has been discussed Martin Truex Jr. said Friday from Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s too early to start thinking about it,” said Truex.
Toying with the notion of expanding the Denver, Colorado-based team to two cars is nothing new, but with the championship-like charge of the No. 78 team this season, the topic is back on the radar.
Undoubtedly, the idea opens the discussion of how adding a second team could negatively affect the fundamentals of Truex’s No. 78 team, but with the lone powerhouse single car team surrounded by an empire of multi-car foundations, it would be hard to counter-argue that a teammate could potentially elevate the team to a whole new level.
“I think that Barney (Visser, team owner) and Joe (Garone, general manager) have been thinking about it for a while,” added Truex. “It’s just a matter of when is the time right. If the situation and everything works out the way they want it to, the way they want it to look I think it would be a good thing.”
After lackluster results in their first year together last year, where just one top-five and five top-10s were achieved, hard work and leadership of new crew chief Cole Pearn has certainly paid its dividends a year later.
The Barney Visser-owned team is showing a similar mojo of what Kurt Busch proved in 2013 that a single-car team outside the circle can compete at NASCAR’s highest level.
Tied with reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, the two Chevrolet teams carry the most top-10 so far this season with 11. The lone race entering Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks where the duo drivers didn’t capture a top-10?
Bristol Motor Speedway in April. The other concrete track on the tour.
Yes, it’s safe to say that you can’t compare Bristol and Dover’s Monster Mile, but the ability to have a teammate does. A luxury that’s certainly available and favorable now for Harvick, but not Truex.
Yet.
Of course, the team’s relationship with Richard Childress Racing has some advantage, but RCR is a championship battle of their own.
“I really like what we have right now,” added Truex. “It’s working well and it’s hard to think about changing something. I think it would be a good thing for the team and certainly they have the capabilities of making it work I believe.
“I don’t think there is anywhere we can go and not be competitive. Martinsville is one of my worst tracks and I think we ran sixth there. It’s just a credit to the team and what they’re doing and yeah, I feel like we can go anywhere and have a shot at winning right now. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep that around until Chase time, when it matters.”
In the past two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS has led the most laps, but had to settle for ninth and fifth respectively.
And while the best car doesn’t always win the race, Truex has raised his clout with the overall performance of his team.
“Dover is definitely a comfort zone for me,” sounded Truex. “But again, there have been years when we’ve come here and not run well. It takes the whole package. It takes a great team effort. Right now we have momentum where our cars are working well. We really understand, I think, that what our cars are doing and what to expect for the weekend so far. But there’s a new tire here this weekend and we’ll have to figure that out.
“So, this sport is really difficult. It changes a lot. And, this is a place that can catch you off-guard. We’re super optimistic, but our eyes aren’t closed. And we’re working hard and are going to make sure we do the right things this weekend to be competitive.”
Truex scored his first career Sprint Cup Series win at Dover in 2007. Entering Sunday’s race, the 35-year old is a favorite to win again at Miles’ place, but for now we are left to wonder how much a second team could benefit them when the series returns in early October during the third installment of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
