The Complete 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Roster (So Far)
What’s Happening? The 2026 NASCAR Season is fast approaching, and teams are setting their lineups for the coming season. This article…
Former Kaulig Racing driver Christian Eckes will not return to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, as McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has confirmed. He will drive the team’s No. 91 truck next season.
Eckes returns to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing after a year away in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing.
Although most figured this would be a long-term effort, questions about his future with the team began to arise following the team’s announcement that they would enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026.
Despite initial claims from Kaulig CEO Chris Rice that the team’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program would not shut down and that Eckes was there on a “long-term deal,” the team announced a “pause” on its Xfinity team at the end of the season.
In the aftermath of this decision, Eckes’ full-time teammate, Daniel Dye, landed with the team’s new Ram Truck Series team, with Eckes rumored to return to MHR.
After years of bouncing around the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Eckes landed at MHR in 2023, quickly scoring the team’s first win and three more after that.
In 2024, Eckes added four more wins to a championship-caliber season, during which he piloted the No. 19 truck to 22 top tens in 23 races, finally earning his short-lived promotion to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig.
Eckes will not return to the team’s No. 19 next season. MHR has yet to announce who will drive that truck, though many expect Daniel Hemric to return for a second season of action. Instead, Eckes will drive the No. 91, which was previously driven by Jack Wood in 2025; Wood’s plans for 2026 are currently unknown.
What’s Happening? The 2026 NASCAR Season is fast approaching, and teams are setting their lineups for the coming season. This article…
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NASCAR’s 2026 All-Star format has fans going from “hell yeah” to “what the hell” in record time. With a 350-lap, three-segment race at Dover Motor Speedway and no Open or LCQ, the exhibition’s identity suddenly feels very different — and not everyone is thrilled about it.
The new structure locks in recent winners, past champions, and a fan vote — leaving limited spots available through the segments. It’s structured. It’s legitimate. But it trades exclusivity and simple, high-stakes transfer battles for something that feels more procedural than electric. For many fans, the All-Star race used to mean night racing, short bursts, bold strategy, and desperation. Now, with a longer format and no true “win-and-you’re-in” showdown, Jaret believes it risks feeling like an obligation rather than a spectacle.
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NASCAR’s All-Star shakeup, a growing legal fight in the garage, and major early-season momentum swings have all collided at once. With COTA up next, the timing couldn’t be more dramatic, and the ripple effects might be bigger than they first appear.
This isn’t just about one exhibition race or one court filing. It’s about direction, leverage, and momentum at a critical point in the season. The format decisions affect the show. The lawsuit could affect how teams operate. And COTA might start separating early contenders from everyone else.
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iRacing’s new arcade-style racer, titled iRacing Arcade, has released a new trailer ahead of its highly anticipated release next week.
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