NASCAR
Furniture Row Racing, 78 Team to Shut Down After 2018 Season
The little team that could will no longer exist after this season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Due to a lack of sponsorship, Furniture Row Racing will be shutting down for 2019. This comes after rumors of a team buyout that would see GMS Racing take control of the 2017 championship team.
Making their Cup Series debut back in 2005, Furniture Row Racing has always been an outsider team in the world of NASCAR. Rather than being located in the race team hub of Charlotte, Furniture Row has been in Denver, Colorado. The team earned their first win with Regan Smith at the 2011 Southern 500. They have also won 17 races since 2015 with Martin Truex Jr. Included in that success with Truex is the 2017 Cup Series Championship.
Statement from Furniture Row Racing Owner Barney Visser
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Furniture Row Racing team owner Barney Visser said the following. “I’ve always felt that we could be a competitive team and run for a championship even when it seemed like a pipe dream to many racing insiders. But to be successful in any business you need to assemble the right people and make a strong commitment to succeed. We achieved what we set out to do and feel like we climbed Mount Everest. To continue with anything less than a competitive team would not be acceptable. It’s been one incredible ride.”
A season ago, Furniture Row Racing was the most dominant team in the Cup Series. The 78 team won 8 races en route to their first championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. In their title defense, the Denver, Colorado-based team has hardly lost any performance or speed.
So far in 2018, Furniture Row Racing and Martin Truex Jr have defended their 2017 championship in winning form. Through 25 races, the 78 team has 4 wins, a mark equal to this point last season. However, last year at this time they were the points leader, as they would win the Regular Season championship. Truex Jr will likely finish 3rd in the Regular Season standings. He will also likely have the number 3 seed entering the Playoffs in 2 weeks.
Further Fallout From Furniture Row Racing’s Pullout
With one of the strongest teams in the sport closing, that leaves many unsure of their future. As of now, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the 2019 status of Martin Truex Jr, Cole Pearn, or anyone from the 78 team. It has been speculated in recent weeks that Joe Gibbs Racing will move Truex Jr to their 19 car. Their displaced driver, Daniel Suarez, would presumably inherit the 95 car vacated by the retiring Kasey Kahne. None of these driver swaps are currently confirmed, stay tuned for further silly season news.
Only time will tell if the 78 team is able to go out as repeat champions. They are in a great position to fight for another title. Will uncertainties about the team’s future lead to a meltdown, or to a vengeance-filled run again in Homestead? The coming 11 races are sure to be interesting to see how Furniture Row Racing fares in their swan song season.
