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Gibbs Racing Picks Up Bass Pro Shop With Martin Truex Move

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drivers move, and in this Nascar case so do sponsors.

 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards Celebration
LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 29: Martin Truex Jr. attends the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards Celebration at the Wynn Las Vegas on November 29, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

 

Martin Truex Jr. landed Bass Pro Shops as sponsor for 24 races this season with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Bass Pro first partnered with Truex in 2001 and was on his car when he won the 2017 Cup Series championship with Furniture Row Racing. That team folded at the end of November because another sponsor left NASCAR and Furniture Row could not replace the funding.

 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, takes part in pre-race ceremonies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

 

It made Truex available to move to JGR, and Bass Pro will follow as his primary sponsor.

Bass Pro was primary sponsor for Truex during his two Xfinity Series championships in 2004 and 2005, his first three seasons in NASCAR's Cup Series, the 2017 championship season and last year's title campaign.

 

 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, pulls out of his pit box during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

 

Truex will drive the No. 19 Toyota in Gibbs' four-car lineup.

 

© 2018 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 

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