Tommy Joe Martins nearly two-year sabbatical from NASCAR racing is about to end, CATCHFENCE.com has confirmed.
Martins who last competed in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Road (Wisc.) America in 2014 will compete for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) championship title behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado.
“I’m really excited to be back in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” Martins told CATCHFENCE.com in an exclusive interview. “It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever run. I’m disappointed at how things went in 2014, and I’m looking forward to another chance in NASCAR.”
Unlike a failed attempt to run a full XFINITY Series schedule in 2014 from Tennessee, Martins Motorsports is determined not to make the same mistakes twice and will operate their latest endeavor from Mooresville, North Carolina.
Martins, 29, has acquired the owner’s points from Billy Boat Motorsports’ No. 15 team and transferred them to the newly formed Martins Motorsports to secure a berth into the series-opener next month. The Como, Mississippi native also purchased the superspeedway truck that Mason Mingus soared to a career-best third place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last October for use next month at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Martins also said the team will form a technical alliance with GMS Racing for the 2016 season.
“As one of the preeminent teams in NASCAR, GMS Racing is proud to associate themselves with teams like Martin Motorsports,” GMS Racing confirmed in a statement to CATCHFENCE.com. “GMS Racing is positioning themselves to build solid relationships within the motorsports industry with the goal of enhancing the sport. In the coming weeks, a series of announcements will be made detailing the exciting future and projects centered around GMS Racing. GMS Racings goal is to continue to raise the organization’s level of competition and help the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series continue to provide some of the best racing in motorsports.”
Diamond Gusset Jeans who backed Martins for his career-best 14th place XFINITY run at Talladega in 2014 will back the team’s effort for the Feb. 19 NCWTS opener in a current one-race deal.
“I’m going to focus on being a driver and not all the other stuff that goes along with being a small team,” Martins added. “We’re gonna race hard all year and see where we wind up. We’re going to fight every week and hopefully, keep ourselves in the spotlight.”
Between 2009 and 2001, Martins, a predominate Late Model driver in the Midwest made five truck starts with a best finish of 21st at Chicagoland Speedway in 2009.
In addition to XFINITY and Truck competition, Martins also competed in two ARCA races with a best finish of eighth at Daytona in the 2010 Lucas Oil 200.
Longtime NASCAR member Kevin Eagle will serve as crew chief on the No. 44 Chevrolet.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
