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Another NASCAR Cup Series Team Set to Leave Ford

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 05: Cody Ware, driver of the #51 Arby's New Angus Cheesesteak Ford, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Kauy Ostlien

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Royal T Grafix

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What’s Happening?

NASCAR Cup Series team Rick Ware Racing is reportedly making a switch from Ford to Chevrolet in 2026, making them the second NASCAR Cup Series team and third NASCAR National Series team to do so ahead of the new season.

As of press time, the team has yet to confirm this change, but if RWR makes the switch, the team will join the Haas Factory Team (NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series) and RSS Racing in joining Chevrolet.

Per the report from Lee Spencer of Catchfence, RWR will align with ECR Engines and Richard Childress Racing, the latter of which has an opening following the departure of long-time partner Kaulig Racing.

Kaulig is now aligned with Ram Trucks and parent company Stellantis, which will likely join the Cup Series in 2027 or 2028 with its brand, Dodge. They will likely not have any support from Chevrolet in 2026, despite running Chevrolet bodies and engines.

RWR has a scattered history with OEMs, racing a mix of Chevrolet, Toyotas, and Fords from 2017 to 2021. However, in 2022, the team made the official switch to Ford and even took on an alliance with RFK Racing in the recent season.

This change is part of the ever-evolving status of RWR in the NASCAR Cup Series. For the 2025 season, the team cut down its operation to one car, leasing a charter to RFK Racing for their then-new No. 60, something they will do once again in 2026.

The team will lose one of its charters for 2027, as it is set to transfer it to Legacy Motor Club, which, after a short lawsuit, purchased the charter for a record-breaking $45 million.

In June, former Spire Motorsports co-founder T.J. Puchyr announced his purchase of RWR and its charters. However, following the settlement of the lawsuit and sale of the LMC charter, there has been radio silence about Puchyr and RWR’s once lofty plans.

You can read more about this lawsuit, and its fallout, in the story linked below.

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

by Bryan Aguiar

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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