Ryan Truex embracing opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing, subbing for Denny Hamlin at Mexico

This weekend is a big one for Ryan Truex as he takes over the No. 11 Toyota Camry for Denny Hamlin, who is back home. Hamlin chose to stay home after his fiancée Jordan Fish gave birth to their third child on Wednesday, their first baby boy. A massive opportunity for Truex in the NASCAR Mexico City race.

Ryan Truex raced in the Cup Series back in 2014 with BK Racing. That season, he didn’t do very well on the track with a season-best of P20. He has not made a Cup Series field since then, despite attempting to qualify for the 2019 Daytona 500.

The NASCAR race at Mexico City is going to provide the 33-year-old with a great opportunity. He currently works as the simulator driver and backup driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. Today in Mexico, he talked to the media about racing in the No. 11 car.

“It’s been a crazy few weeks. Basically, since Charlotte, I’ve been on standby,” Truex said. “So, yeah, I’m glad it’s at a track where I can practice and have time, and no one’s been except for a few guys. Yeah, it’s, I found out Wednesday night. So, it’s been kind of chaotic getting here and putting all of that together, but I’m just, you know, grateful for the experience and grateful to be here. Really just want to enjoy it. I don’t have, I don’t really have any set goals or expectations. I just want to enjoy the weekend.

“I’m driving a Cup car for Joe Gibbs at an international race. You know, this is not something I ever dreamed of doing. I just want to take it all in and have a good time.”

While Ryan Truex has won three races in the last two seasons in the Xfinity Series, he has not made but one start this season. He raced to a P17 finish at Daytona to start the season. Looking back on his 2014 season in Cup, Truex is hoping to have more fun.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s, my last time in Cup was not a fun experience. It didn’t go well for me, I didn’t enjoy it,” Truex admitted. “That was probably not the right move for me career-wise, and kind of been fighting back since then, a little bit. But I enjoy what I do with JGR. You know, I’ve been able to race part-time the past few years and do all of my stuff away from the track, and it’s been nice. It’s fun to race part-time and get Saturdays at home, but it’s also fun to be at the track.”

While Ryan Truex hasn’t raced in Cup for over a decade, he has tons of simulator time. The simulations have been a big part of getting NASCAR teams prepared for races in the Next Gen car. When Truex hits the track, he will have dozens, if not hundreds, of laps under his belt. On this new track, for most of the field, that could make all the difference.