The 2026 NASCAR Season is fast approaching, and teams are setting their lineups for the coming season. This article highlights the full-time drivers who will compete in the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule.
Spencer Boyd | 2026 No. 76 | 2026 Team: Freedom Racing Enterprises | 2025 No. 76 | 2025 Team: Freedom Racing Enterprises
Toni Breidinger | 2026 No. 27 | 2026 Team: Rackley WAR | 2025 No. 5 | 2025 Team: TRICON Garage
Connor Mosack | 2026 No. 7 | 2026 Team: Spire Motorsports | 2025 No. 81 | 2025 Team: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Jake Garcia | 2026 No. 98 | 2026 Team: ThorSport Racing | 2025 No. 13 | 2025 Team: ThorSport Racing
Kaden Honeycutt | 2026 No. 11 | 2026 Team: ThorSport Racing | 2025 No. 45/No. 02/No. 52 | 2025 Team: 2025 Team: Niece Motorsports, Young’s Motorsports, and Halmar Friesen Racing
Ty Majeski | 2026 No. 88 | 2026 Team: ThorSport Racing | 2025 No. 98 | 2025 Team: ThorSport Racing
Thorsport Racing No. 13 | 2025 Driver: Jake Garcia
Spire Motorsports No. 71 | 2025 Driver: Rajah Caruth
Thorsport Racing No. 88 | 2025 Driver: Matt Crafton
Thorsport Racing No. 98 | 2025 Driver: Ty Majeski
TRICON Garage No. 11 | Corey Heim
No. 9 | Grant Enfinger | CR7 Motorsports
Enfinger returns to the Craftsman Truck Series for his ninth run at the series championship, and third season at CR7 Motorsports. In 2025, the team and driver made it back to the playoffs, though they would fail to win a race throughout the season, ultimately finishing seventh in points.
No. 10 | Daniel Dye | Kaulig Racing
What’s Happening? One major storyline to follow during the 2025 and 2026 NASCAR seasons is the ongoing saga of Dodge and…
Following an unlikely run to the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, Daniel Dye signed on for full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series action in 2025. Although his season was somewhat disappointing, the reshuffling at Kaulig will now see the young driver return to the truck series in 2026.
No. 11 | Kaden Honeycutt | TRICON Garage
What’s Happening? TRICON Garage has signed 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Four driver Kaden Honeycutt to drive their No. 11…
Following his shocking departure from Niece Motorsports in August 2024, fans now know the reason behind this change. Honeycutt is indeed headed to his long-rumored new home with Toyota at TRICON Garage, driving the No. 11 Corey Heim piloted to the 2026 series championship.
No. 12 | Brenden Queen | Kaulig Racing
What’s Happening? Kaulig Racing has announced that 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden “Butterbean” Queen will drive one of the team’s…
After a breakout season in the ARCA Menards Series, Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen is making his full-time Truck Series debut as part of Kaulig’s inaugural season in the Series. He, along with at least two to three other drivers, will have the honor of helping Ram make its way back into the sport.
No. 13 | Cole Butcher | ThorSport Racing
What’s Happening? Part-time Truck Series and well-known Late Model driver Cole Butcher is set to compete full-time with ThorSport Racing in…
Butcher is a well-known late model driver who raced part-time with Halmar-Friesen Racing in 2025. The former Winchester 400 champion takes over for Jake Garcia, who was part of the major reshuffling at ThorSport following Matt Crafton’s retirement from full-time racing.
No. 14 | Mini Tyrrell | Kaulig Racing
Mini Tyrrell scores his first full-time NASCAR ride following an impressive performance in the RAM: Race For the Seat TV Show. Tyrrell is a veteran of the short track scene, winning three races in the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour last season.
No. 15 | Tanner Gray | TRICON Garage
Tanner Gray is set to tackle his seventh season of full-time action at TRICON Garage. In 2025, the 26-year-old saw a decline in his average finish but an increase in counting stats from 2024. This included three top-fives and six top tens, tying his career high in points of 13th.
No. 16 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing
What’s Happening? Justin Haley and Daniel Dye will return to full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series action in 2026 as part of…
One of the most shocking moves of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season was the release of Justin Haley after just one full-time season racing with Spire Motorsports. Now, he finds himself back at Kaulig Racing, and though this ride is not in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, it is still a healdiner ride with the team’s new Ram truck program.
No. 17 | Giovanni Ruggiero | TRICON Garage
What’s Happening? Gio Ruggiero, the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year, alongside his teammate Tanner Gray, has signed…
During his first season of competition in the series, Ruggeiro looked to be a clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors and a race, two goals the Toyota driver would accomplish. Ruggeiro will back up his 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year campaign with a sophomore effort at Tricon.
No. 18 | Tyler Ankrum | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
What’s Happening? McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has announced that Tyler Ankrum will return to the team’s No. 18 truck in 2026, marking the…
Tyler Ankrum had a career season in 2025, breaking a multiyear losing streak and setting new career highs in almost every statistical category. He returns to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for a third straight season, which also breaks a streak of switching teams after one or two seasons.
No. 19 | Daniel Hemric | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Daniel Hemric will race a second season at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2026. Last season Hemric ran at the front of the field with MHR throughout the season, ultimately falling short of a Championship Four appearance.
No. 26 | Dawson Sutton | Rackley WAR
What’s Happening? Following his rookie season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Rackley W.A.R. has confirmed that Dawson Sutton will return…
Following a disappointing rookie season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Dawson Sutton will return to the No. 26 Truck for 2026. The 19-year-old was consistent in qualifying throughout the 2025 season, but struggled with inconsistency during the race.
No. 33 | Frankie Muniz | Team Reaume
What’s Happening? Despite saying he “thought I was done,” actor turned NASCAR Driver Frankie Muniz has confirmed he will return to…
Muniz returns to full-time action in 2026 with the newly rebranded Team Reaume (formerly Reaume Brothers Racing). Despite a late-season injury and lack of speed, Muniz consistently finished higher than his starting position in the No. 33 throughout his 2025 rookie season.
No. 34 | Layne Riggs | Front Row Motorsports
Much like last season, Riggs’ 2025 season didn’t end the way he’d like it to, falling short of the championship four. However, that doesn’t mean the year was a loss, as he had a career year for the No. 34 team, setting the stage for 2026 to be a potential championship run.
No. 38 | Chandler Smith | Front Row Motorsports
Smith will return to FRM for a second season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Last year, Smith looked like a potential championship contender in the No. 38, winning two races. Unfortunately, a slow start ot the playoffs resulted in an early exit for the 23-year-old.
No. 44 | Andrés Pérez de Lara | Niece Motorsports
What’s Happening? Andrés Pérez de Lara will race full-time with Niece Motorsports in their No. 44 throughout 2026, as the team’s…
Pérez de Lara, a former ARCA Menards Series champion, is set to return for his second full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and his first as a full-time driver for Niece. Last season, the native of Mexico City, Mexico, started the year with Spire Motorsports, but moved to Niece late in the season following a reshuffling at both organizations.
No. 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing
What’s Happening? NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series veteran Stewart Friesen is getting back behind the wheel of his No. 52 truck following…
Friesen is coming off an injury-shortened season with his family-owned team. Despite his injuries, suffered in a dirt racing accident this past summer, he will get back behind the wheel of his No. 62 truck.
No. 81 | Kris Wright | McAnally–Hilgemann Racing
What’s Happening? Kris Wright will return to full-time action in 2026, racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Chevrolet’s McAnally–Hilgemann…
Wright finds himself back in full-time action after the abrupt closure of his 2025 effort at Our Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the truck formerly driven by Connor Mosack. In 49 career Truck Series starts, Wright has a best career finish of 11th and a career average finish of 25.3.
No. 88 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing
What’s Happening? Matt Crafton is stepping away from ThorSport Racing’s No. 88 entry at the end of the season, and Ty…
Ty Majeski did not go back-to-back in 2025, though a late caution flag left him mere feet from doing so in October. Now, Majeski takes on a new role as the leader of ThorSport Racing in their most iconic ride, the No. 88.
No. 91 | Christian Eckes | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
What’s Happening? Former Kaulig Racing driver Christian Eckes will not return to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, as…
Eckes returns to MHR after a year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. Though he did not win in the series, Eckes showed speed late in the season. In returning to MHR, Eckes seemingly unseats Jack Wood, who has yet to announce his plans for the 2026 season.
No. 98 | Jake Garcia | ThorSport Racing
Garcia moves from ThorSport’s No. 13 to the No. 98 following a rebound year in which he had his most career top-ten finishes and improved on his average finish from 2024.
No. 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing
Rhodes is coming off his 11th season with ThorSport and will return in 2026. Despite a two-year losing streak, the 29-year-old series veteran and former champion is still a consistent driver and likely Chase contender in the new year.
This article will be updated throughout the 2025 season and off-season, should any roster or driver changes/signings happen.
After two weeks of drafting this week the NASCAR Cup Series goes road course racing at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This will be the second year running this specific layout. Starting in 2025 NASCAR is running on a shorter 18-turn, 2.356-mile circuit rather than the full 3.426-mile 20-turn loop. Goodyear is also bringing back the same tire that debuted here last season.
This week Shane Van Gisbergen has opened as a heavy favorite at all books. Last year he won the last five road/street courses of the season. However, at COTA Van Gisbergen had what was, by his standards, a disappointing weekend. Van Gisbergen qualified and finished sixth.
After COTA however, Van Gisbergen ran off five straight road/street course wins. So respect is certainly deserved, but at least in my simulations, not at the level the books are giving. This does open up theoretical value on outright bets, that said, I’m looking for markets where I don’t have to directly bet against Van Gisbergen.
Chase Briscoe’s first four seasons at the Cup level while driving for Stewart-Haas Racing were not inspiring. Over 21 road/street course races he had only six Top 10 finishes and no Top 5 finishes. However, last season, driving with Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe had three Top 10 finishes and two Top 5 finishes. Briscoe’s success with Joe Gibbs Racing is hardly surprising though. In 11 road course starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series while driving top tier equipment Briscoe had eight Top 10 finishes, four Top 5 finishes, and two wins.
In addition to his 50% Top 10 finish rate in 2025, Briscoe’s in race performance was outstanding in 2025. He completed nearly 60% of his laps on road/street courses inside the Top 10. That includes running over 50% of his laps at COTA inside the Top 10.
At Win The Race our 100,000 simulations have Chase Briscoe finishing in the Top 10 this weekend over 54% of the time. That translates to fair odds of -118. At Caesars Briscoe is +110 to finish inside the Top 10 which translates to implied odds of 47.62%. This means that we have quite a lot of room to be over optimistic on Briscoe and still have value on this bet. I would bet this down to even money.
NASCAR is making even more changes to its All-Star race ahead of the event’s inaugural running at Dover Motor Speedway this season, with a new format that includes a full field of cars.
Ahead of the 2026 season, NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports have reshuffled the deck when it came to their All-Star event, again moving the race to a new track, Dover Motor Speedway, while lending Dover’s race weekend to the event’s former host, North Wilkesboro Speedway.
This move was controversial for a number of reasons, as it gave another points-paying race weekend to a North Carolina race track, stripped Dover of its final points race, and essentially confirmed the race would take place during the daytime, as Dover does not have track lights.
The changes haven’t stopped here, with NASCAR announcing a drastically altered and somewhat complex format for the 2026 All-Star Race on Wednesday afternoon.
This year, NASCAR’s All-Star Race features three key events: Qualifying, the Pit Crew Challenge, and the All-Star Race.
Qualifying will take place on Saturday, May 1, concurrent with the Pit Crew Challenge. Drivers will take three laps, a hot lap, a pit stop on the second lap, and then a final lap, with their qualifying time the combined total from start to finish.
The pit Crew Challenge pit stop on lap two will be four tires, no fuel, and will determine Pit stall selection for Sunday’s All-Star Race.
The full field of qualifiers will make the 350-lap main event on Sunday. This means that drivers make the race regardless of their resume; however, after two 75-lap segments, after segment one, the Top 26 drivers are inverted.
After segment two, only former Cup Series Champions, 2025/20226 race winners, All-Star Race winners, the fan vote winner, and any remaining slots in the 26-car final segment will be filled by the lowest combined finishes of segment one and two.
Very little of the event from 2025, and even those races before then, remain, as NASCAR has scrapped things such as the open race and even expanded the field to 26 drivers, and technically beyond that (which we will get to in a moment).
A welcome return from NASCAR fans is the Pit Crew Challenge, which has led to some interesting battles in the years the race occurred at North Wilkesboro, and with the Next Gen car’s issues on short tracks, pit stall selection could be a make-or-break for any driver.
There is a lot of new information about this format, most of which is controversial.
Many fans are already focusing on the removal of the All-Star Open (a last chance qualifier race for non-qualifying cars), the expansion of the race from 125 miles in 2025 to 350 miles in 2026, and, most importantly, the expansion of the field.
While some are calling this the “All-Car Race” and mocking the end of the race’s “elite” nature, others are pointing out that NASCAR has essentially created another full race weekend that is packed with gimmicks and will not award any championship points.
Nonetheless, others are theorizing that NASCAR could have something else in the works, using this exhibition race as a testing ground for new setups or a new package to help its improving yet still ailing short track package.
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Eric Estepp is joined by Ryan Stevens from WinTheRace.info as left turns give way to left and right this weekend as the Cup Series heads to Circuit of the Americas. With road course racing back on the schedule, the big question is simple: Can anyone stop Shane van Gisbergen?
There are proven winners here, rising stars with massive upside, and veterans looking to reclaim momentum. Add in extra horsepower this year and meaningful practice and qualifying, and the variables only stack higher. From data-driven projections to bold predictions, this COTA preview covers the favorites, the sneaky contenders, and the drivers who could shake up the early-season narrative.
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