As a new NASCAR season approaches, the Silly Season announcements have begun. Here are all the changes we can look forward to in 2026.
NASCAR Cup Series
On Sept. 5, Haas Factory Team announced that it will switch from Ford to Chevrolet beginning in 2026 – The team will also have a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports for its full-time Cup Series and Xfinity Series programs. Cole Custer will be back to drive the No. 41 entry in the Cup Series. Sheldon Creed (No. 00) and Sam Mayer (No. 41) will also return to the team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Jimmie Johnson will be back behind the wheel in 2026 – On Nov. 5, it was announced that Jimmie Johnson will drive the Legacy Motor Club No. 84 Toyota in the Inaugural race at the San Diego Naval Base, Coronado, in 2026.
Zane Smith signs contract extension with Front Row Motorsports – Smith signed a multi-year extension on Oct. 23 with Front Row Motorsports in the Cup Series. Crew chief Ryan Bergenty will also be back on the pit box for Smith.
Daniel Suárez will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports next season – Spire Motorsports announced on Oct. 22 that Suárez will drive the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet in 2026. Suárez posted on social media that the decision to leave his former team, Trackhouse Racing, was a mutual agreement. On Dec. 12, it was announced that Ryan Sparks will be Suárez’s crew chief.
Connor Zilisch will drive full-time in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing in 2026 – On August 23, Trackhouse Racing announced that Zilisch will transition from the Xfinity Series to drive full-time for the team in the Cup Series in 2026. It was later revealed that he will drive the No. 88 and that Randall Burnett will join the team as his crew chief.
Denny Hamlin signs 2-year extension with Joe Gibbs Racing – On July 9, Hamlin signed a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2027.
William Byron signs 4-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports – On May 23, Byron signed an extension to drive the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet through 2029.
Kaulig Racing confirms that AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon will return in 2026 – On June 1, Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice stated that “100 percent” Allmendinger will return in 2026 as the driver of the team’s No. 16 Cup Chevrolet. On Dec. 3, the team announced that Ty Dillon will also be back to drive the No. 10 Chevrolet.
Shane van Gisbergen signs multiyear extension with Trackhouse Racing – Shane van Gisbergen signed a multiyear extension with Trackhouse on Aug. 8 to continue to compete full-time in the Cup Series with the team. On Nov. 7, it was announced that he will drive the No. 97, a number he previously used in the Supercars series. The length of the extension was not revealed.
On Sept. 5, Haas Factory Team announced that it will switch from Ford to Chevrolet beginning in 2026 – The team will also have a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports for its full-time Cup Series and Xfinity Series programs. Cole Custer will be back to drive the No. 41 entry in the Cup Series. Sheldon Creed (No. 00) and Sam Mayer (No. 41) will also return to the team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Ross Chastain will have a new crew chief in 2026 – Brandon McSwain joins Trackhouse Racing (formerly lead engineer for William Byron). Chastain’s previous crew chief, Phil Surgen, will move to another role within the company.
JR Motorsports to attempt 2026 Daytona 500
On Nov. 14, JR Motorsports confirmed that Justin Allgaier will attempt to qualify for and compete in the 2026 Daytona 500.
Rick Ware Racing will partner with Chevrolet in 2026 – On Dec. 8, the team revealed it will switch to Chevrolet in 2026. They will also have a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Cody Ware will return as the driver of the No. 51.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
On Sept. 5, Haas Factory Team announced that it will switch from Ford to Chevrolet beginning in 2026 – The team will also have a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports for its full-time Cup Series and Xfinity Series programs. Cole Custer will be back to drive the No. 41 entry in the Cup Series. Sheldon Creed (No. 00) and Sam Mayer (No. 41) will also return to the team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Jesse Love will be back with Richard Childers Racing for the 2026 season – On Oct. 24, it was revealed that Love will return for a third season to drive the No. 2 Chevrolet. Whelen will also return as the primary sponsor.
Sam Hunt Racing will have two full-time drivers in 2026 – Harrison Burton, formerly with AM Racing, will drive the No. 24 Toyota. He will join Dean Thompson, driver of the No. 26 Toyota.
Sammy Smith will return to JR Motorsports in 2026 – Smith will continue as the driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet in 2026 for his third year with the team.
Corey Day to drive full-time for Hendrick Motorsports – On Nov. 7, Hendrick Motorsports revealed that Corey Day will drive the No. 17 Chevrolet full-time in 2026 with Adam Wall as his crew chief. It will be the first full season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the organization since 2006.
Viking Motorsports will expand to a two-car team in 2026 with the addition of Parker Retzlaff – On Dec. 4, Viking Motorsports announced that Retzlaff will drive the No. 99 for the team in 2026 with crew chief Danny Efland as the organization expands to two teams. He joins Anthony Alfredo, driver of the No. 96 Chevrolet and his crew chief, Josh Graham. On Nov. 17, the team also disclosed a new technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
Ryan Ellis to Young’s Motorsport in 2026 – On Nov. 10, it was announced that Ellis has signed a multi-year agreement with Young’s Motorsports to drive the No. 02 full-time.
Josh Bilicki will join SS GreenLight Racing in 2026 – On Nov. 29, SS GreenLight Racing announced that Bilicki, formerly a driver for DGM Racing, will join the organization in 2026 as the full-time driver of the No. 07 Chevrolet.
Josh Williams back for fifth season with DGM Racing in 2026 – It was announced on Nov. 14 that Williams will continue to drive the No. 92 Chevrolet full-time. It will be his fifth full-time season with the organization. Steve Addington will be the full-time crew chief of the No. 92 Chevrolet
Jeremy Clements Racing announces a technical partnership with Haas Factory Team in 2026 – On November 17, Jeremy Clements Racing revealed that the team has entered into a technical alliance with Haas Factory Team, effective in 2026.
Brennan Poole returns to Alpha Prime Racing in 2026 – On Nov. 18, the team confirmed that Poole will be back to drive the No. 44 Chevrolet for his third consecutive year with the team, in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Alpha Prime Racing adds Lavar Scott to its 2026 lineup – On Dec. 8, the team announced that it will have two full-time drivers next season. Scott will join current driver, Brennan Poole (No. 44) and drive the No. 45 Chevrolet full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. They also revealed that a third entry will run a partial schedule with more details to be added at a later date.
Jordan Anderson Racing will form an alliance with Richard Childress Racing in 2026, fielding three cars. Blaine Perkins will drive the No. 31 entry, and Jeb Burton will drive the No. 27. The third car will serve as an All-Star car (32), featuring rotating drivers. On Dec. 4, it was revealed that Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 32 Chevrolet for 10 races in 2026. He will also drive the JR Motorsports No. 88 part-time to complete a full schedule in the series.
RSS Racing will align with Chevrolet in 2026 – RSS Racing will continue its partnership with the Haas Factory Team next year in the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. They will, however, change manufacturers in 2026 and compete in Chevrolets for the first time since 2020. Ryan Seig (No. 39) and his brother Kyle (No. 28) will return as the team’s drivers. Matt Noyce will serve as the crew chief for Ryan and Aedan McHugh will join the No. 28 team. Both teams will operate out of North Carolina. SciAps will be back as Ryan’s sponsor for the 2026 season.
Joe Gibbs Racing announces addition of Brent Crews to the team next season – On Nov. 24, the team announced that Toyota Development driver Brent Crews will drive the No. 19 Toyota in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for 29 races in 2026. His first race of the season will be at Circuit of the Americas on Feb. 28.
Cope Family Racing partners with Stanton Barrett Motorsports – Barrett announced the news on Dec. 2, saying, “I am excited to have the opportunity to partner with CFR and continue the long history of SBM.” The driver and sponsor(s) will be revealed at a later date.
Nick Sanchez will not return to Big Machine Racing in 2026 – On Dec. 8, Sanchez posted on X that Big Machine Racing informed him that he will not drive the No. 48 for the team in 2026. He currently has no plans for the upcoming season.
Austin Green will compete full-time for Peterson Racing in 2026 – On Dec. 9, it was announced that Green will drive the No. 87 Chevrolet full-time for Peterson Racing. The team will also have a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
Frankie Muniz returns as full-time driver for Team Reaume (formerly Reaume Brothers Racing) – On Dec. 8, the team announced that Muniz will return as the full-time driver of the No. 33 Ford. The organization will also field the No. 2 and No. 22.
Garrett Smithley to serve as primary driver for SS-Greenlight Racing’s No. 0 Chevrolet – On Dec. 10, the team announced that Smithley will return as the primary driver of the No. 0 Chevrolet for 25 starts. The remaining driver lineup will be confirmed at a later date.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Kaulig Racing will partner with Ram for 2026 Truck Series debut – On Aug. 23, Kaulig Racing announced that it will partner with Ram in its return to NASCAR in 2026. Kaulig Racing will have five teams in its Truck Series debut.
Kaulig Racing releases details of its 2026 free agent program – On Nov. 17, Kaulig Racing revealed details on its Free Agent Driver Program. The No. 25 Ram will feature rotating drivers from a variety of motorsports backgrounds. The Free Agent driver will be announced on the Monday before each race.
Brenden Queen to join Kaulig Racing’s Truck Series program – On Oct. 16, Kaulig Racing revealed that Brendan “Butterbean” Queen will drive for the team in 2026. He will be one of five Craftsman Truck Series drivers and will drive the No. 12.
Justin Haley returns to Truck Series with Kaulig Racing – On Oct. 29, the team announced that Haley will drive for Kaulig Racing in 2026 in the No. 16 RAM Truck in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Daniel Dye to drive a Kaulig Racing Truck Series entry in 2026 – As announced on Aug. 29, Dye will compete in the Craftsman Truck Series in the No. 10 RAM Truck.
Matt Crafton will retire after the 2025 season – On August 18, ThorSport Racing announced that Crafton will retire at the end of the 2025 season.
Ty Majeski will drive the No. 88 for ThorSport Racing in 2026 – ThorSport Racing announced that Majeski will take over as the driver of the No. 88 next year.
Tyler Ankrum returns to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing – On Nov. 6, the team announced that Ankrum will continue to drive the No. 18 Chevrolet for the team in 2026. It will be his third full-time season with the team.
Layne Riggs signs multi-year contract extension with Front Row Motorsports – On Oct. 29, Front Row Motorsports confirmed that Layne Riggs will drive the No. 34 Ford in 2026 for his third full-time season with the team.
Dawson Sutton will be back in the Truck Series with Rackley W.A.R in 2026 – It was announced on Nov. 17 that Sutton will return to drive the No. 26 full-time for the team.
Christian Eckes will drive full-time in the Truck Series in 2026 – McAnally-Hilgemann Racing confirmed on Nov. 20 that Eckes will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing full-time in the Truck Series in 2026 with crew chief Dave Elenz.
Niece Motorsports selects Tyler Reif as the anchor driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet in 2026 – On Nov. 19, the team announced Reif as the anchor driver for the team’s Truck Series No. 42 Chevrolet. His schedule will include the majority of the races, with other drivers filling in throughout the season.
TRICON Garage announces that Kaden Honeycutt will drive full-time for the team in 2026 – On Dec. 5, the team disclosed that Honeycutt will drive the No. 11 Toyota with crew chief Scott Zipadelli.
Kris Wright will race full-time for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2026 – On Dec. 9, the team announced that Wright will compete in the No. 81 Chevrolet for his first full-time season in the series. He will be paired with Darren Fraley as his crew chief.
Daniel Hemric signs multi-year agreement with McAnally-Hilgermann Racing – It was confirmed on Dec. 10 that Hemric will return for his second season in the No. 19 Chevrolet.
Spire Motorsports confirms return to the Craftsman Truck Series – Spire Motorsports verified its return to the Truck Series on Dec. 12, but has not announced the driver lineup for the No. 7 and No. 77 entries. Brian Pattie (No.7) and Chad Walter (No. 77) will continue in their roles as crew chiefs. Matt McCall, previously the team’s director of vehicle performance, will move to the role of the Cup Series competition director. Bono Manion, previously crew chief of the No. 71 entry, will transition to the role of Truck competition director.
Chandler Smith will return to Front Row Motorsports in 2026 – On Nov. 16, the team confirmed that Smith will be back to drive the No. 38 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. Jon Leonard will also return as Smith’s crew chief.
The NASCAR 2026 season begins February 1 with the Cup Series Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Check back often for all your racing news and updates.
