Furniture Row Racing will be ceasing operations following the 2018 season. Due to lack of funding a competitive team, the organization will close its doors once the 2018 season comes to a close."This is not good for anybody," said team owner Barney Visser. "The numbers just don't add up. I would have to borrow money to continue as a competitive team and I'm not going to do that. This was obviously a painful decision to arrive at knowing how it will affect a number of quality and talented people.
"We've been aggressively seeking sponsorship to replace 5-hour ENERGY and to offset the rising costs of continuing a team alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing but haven't had any success. I feel that it's only proper to make the decision at this time to allow all team members to start seeking employment for next year. I strongly believe that all of our people have enhanced their careers by working at Furniture Row Racing."
Martin Truex Jr. had won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2017, the culmination of the teams' hard work since it's inception in the 2005 season. As a result, Truex Jr. now becomes the newest free-agent on the table joining other top tier drivers like Kurt Busch.
"While I am saddened by today's announcement, I totally understand the decision," said Martin Truex Jr. in the press release. "Barney Visser, Joe Garone and the entire Furniture Row Racing team took me in while my career was in a bad place, and together we reached the pinnacle of the sport. I will forever be grateful to each and every one of them, and also to Furniture Row, Denver Mattress and the Visser family.
"But make no mistake this is not the immediate end. We still have unfinished business to attend to and that's to give everything we have to successfully defend our Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship. Right now that is foremost on my mind as it is with the entire team."
Since 2005, Furniture Row Racing has been a member of the NASCAR community first coming onto the scene with an XFINITY team, and then later that season with a Cup Series team. The team based in Denver, Colorado faced its struggles through the years but ultimately became the top team in 2017.
Also in 2017, Furniture Row Racing ran a second entry in the series with Erik Jones in the No. 77 but when Jones moved to the No. 20, the No. 77 team ceased operations after just one season.
The team has 18 career victories in the Cup Series with Regan Smith picking up the first victory in the 2011 Southern 500 at Darlington. Truex has picked up the remaining 17 victories for the organization all coming since 2015.
The organization has made it clear that they will be provided with the best equipment as the organization looks to successfully defend their 2017 title in the playoffs. (Koelle,2018)
Photo Credit: Brandon Wright/Brandon Wright Photography
Press Release Credit: Furniture Row Racing
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