As rumor had it, Martin Truex Jr. will join Michael Waltrip Racing next season as driver of the #56 NAPA sponsored Toyota. The official announcement was made earlier today from MWR headquarters in Cornelius, NC.

“The car number 56 has been in my family for a long time”, Truex explained. “My dad raced it some back in the ’80s. I’ve raced it until I moved down to North Carolina. The Busch series had the No. 56 on it, so it’s a number I’ve had a lot of success with. It’s one I used from the time I raced my first go kart all the way up through the ranks. It’s always been my number and it’s special, you know, that everybody here let me use my number, and the folks at NAPA were kind enough to help us make it happen.  So it’s really significant for me and it’s really cool.”

Photo Credit: MichaelWaltrip.com

Rumors have been running rampant over the past couple months that Truex’s future would be at MWR. His younger brother, Ryan, was seen hanging out recently in the Cup Garage at Loudon which additionally sparked more rumors. Ryan is a MWR developmental driver with NAPA as his sponsor. Waltrip, himself, told the press weeks ago that an official announcement would be soon forthcoming. We know it takes time for ink to dry on multi-million dollar contracts in order to make such an official announcement. It also, perhaps took a bit more for Waltrip. He announced today that he was stepping down to make room for Truex in his stable of drivers.

“I’m proud and happy.  I’m turning my car over to a guy that I think can go win the championship in it”, Waltrip said. “I’ve always said I’ve been racing these cars for a long time, as we all well know.  If I thought I wasn’t the best man for the job, I wouldn’t have had a ride for this long.  If I wasn’t the guy to go race it on Sunday, somebody else would take my place. And I believe at this time in my career that Martin is the right guy to take over my car and go win races in it.  I’m sitting here happy about the fact that Martin is taking over my car.  I didn’t have to quit, I didn’t need to quit. I just wanted to do this for me. It’s always been about the sponsors, and NAPA has been the greatest sponsor I could ever have, and I thought this was an opportunity to put them in victory lane on a regular basis, and that’s why we’re sitting here today.  I couldn’t be happier or prouder.  I’m really thankful.”

Waltrip will move the points for his #55 to the #56 to start next season. MWR will hold on to the number 55, but Michael will likely drive the #55 in at least four races next season and maybe more pending sponsorship.

Truex is currently 24th in the Sprint Cup point standings, driving the #1 for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. “I’m 100% committed to the EGR team for driving the No. 1 car,” Truex said. “We haven’t had any discussions further than that, but that’s the plan.  We’re all on the same page with Chip over there, that I’m 100% committed to them and trying to get back to victory lane.”   Truex signed with Chance 2 Motorsports in 2003, a division of Dale Earnhardt Inc. He won 2 back-to-back Nationwide Series Championships before moving full-time to the Sprint Cup Series in 2006.

Truex will join MWR drivers David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose next season.

Rumors are suggesting Aric Almirola, who’s still under contract with EGR even though sponsorship fell through this year for his ride, will move up to a full-time ride in either EGR’s #1 or #8.