Key players in 2025-2026 Silly Season

NASCAR Silly Season 2025-2026 is in full swing as drivers and teams solidify their plans for next season. Rumors are still swirling, questions are being asked and we are keeping track of the latest developments as the season progresses.

Zane Smith signs multiyear contract extension with Front Row Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: Zane Smith is returning with Front Row Motorsports for multiple seasons in the Cup Series after signing a deal on Oct. 23. Staying with him is crew chief Ryan Bergenty. Front Row is where Smith won the Craftsman Truck Series crown in 2022.

Daniel Suárez moves to Spire Motorsports for 2026 to take over No. 7 ride of Justin Haley (NCS)

The scoop: Spire Motorsports announced on Oct. 22 that it was signing Suárez to take over the No. 7 Chevrolet in 2026. Previously, Trackhouse Racing revealed July 1 that the team and Suárez mutually agreed to part ways following the 2025 season. Suárez owns two Cup wins and reached the playoffs in 2022 and 2024.

Cole Custer returns to Haas Factory Team in 2026; organization switches to Chevrolet (NCS)

The scoop: Haas Factory Team announced Sept. 5 that Cole Custer will return to pilot the No. 41 machine in 2026, but that the organization will switch from Ford to Chevrolet.

Connor Zilisch moves up to Cup Series full-time with Trackhouse Racing (NCS)

The scoop: Trackhouse announced Aug. 23 that the 19-year-old phenom will pilot a full-time Cup Series car for the 2026 season. One month later, the team announced that Randall Burnett will join the organization and act as crew chief for the young star. The team announced Nov. 7 that Zilisch will drive the No. 88 in 2026, while Shane van Gisbergen will drive the No. 97.

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing announce multiyear contract extension (NCS)

The scoop: New Zealand's van Gisbergen will remain full-time at the Cup level after Trackhouse unveiled Aug. 8 that the 36-year-old driver will stay with the organization for the foreseeable future. Van Gisbergen scored his maiden Cup win in his first start at the Chicago Street Course in 2023. Van Gisbergen scored five Cup victories and Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2025.

Denny Hamlin signs multiyear extension with Joe Gibbs Racing (NCS)

The scoop: Hamlin isn't going away from JGR anytime soon as he and the organization announced July 25 that they agreed to a contract extension through 2027. Hamlin has 60 career Cup Series wins to his resume.

William Byron inks four-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: Byron will continue to pilot the No. 24 Chevrolet for years to come as Hendrick announced May 23 that he'll remain with the team through 2029. Byron is a 16-time Cup Series winner and has reached the Championship 4 in each of the last three seasons. 

Garrett Smithley to serve as primary driver for SS-Greenlight Racing's No. 0 Chevrolet (NOAPS)

The scoop: Smithley returns to the Bobby Dotter-owned operation for the second consecutive season, driving the new-look No. 0 Chevrolet part-time, the organization announced Dec. 10. In 2025, Smithley made 25 starts in the team's No. 14 entry and banked a top 10 at Daytona in August.

Austin Green to run full 2026 schedule with Peterson Racing (NOAPS)

The scoop: After spending two part-time campaigns in the circuit, Austin Green will get a crack at full-time O'Reilly Auto Parts Series racing in 2026, with the driver announcing Dec. 9 that he will pilot the No. 87 Chevrolet for Peterson Racing. Green has amassed two top fives and eight top 10s in 21 career contests in that series.   

Nick Sanchez, Big Machine Racing part ways (NOAPS)

The scoop: Nick Sanchez announced Dec. 8 that he will not return to Big Machine Racing in 2026 as full-time driver of the organization's No. 48 Chevrolet. Sanchez won at EchoPark Speedway during the 2025 campaign with the organization, making the playoffs and finishing 11th in the championship standings. 

Big Machine Racing signs Patrick Staropoli for 2026 (NOAPS)

The scoop: Big Machine Racing announced Dec. 23 that eye surgeon Patrick Staropoli will drive the team's No. 48 Chevrolet in 2026. Staropoli made four O'Reilly Auto Parts Series starts and four Craftsman Truck Series starts in 2025. 

Viking Motorsports expands to two teams with Alfredo driving No. 96 Chevrolet (NOAPS)

The scoop: Viking Motorsports announced Dec. 4 that the organization has expanded to two cars for the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Anthony Alfredo will drive the No. 96 Chevrolet with Josh Graham as his crew chief. Alfredo will join Parker Retzlaff, who will drive the No. 99 Chevrolet in 2026.  

Josh Bilicki joins SS GreenLight Racing for full-time ride in 2026 (NOAPS)

The scoop: SS GreenLight Racing announced Nov. 29 that Josh Bilicki will join the organization in 2026 as full-time driver of the No. 07 Chevrolet. Bilicki comes over from DGM Racing, where Bilicki competed in 20 races as driver of the No. 91 Chevrolet in 2025.

Brent Crews to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2026 (NOAPS)

The scoop: On Nov. 24, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Brent Crews will graduate to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, with plans to compete in 29 of 33 races. Crews is set to drive the No. 19 Toyota full-time after his 18th birthday on March 30, 2026.

RSS Racing switches to Chevrolet for 2026; team continues technical alliance with Haas Factory Team (NOAPS)

The scoop: RSS Racing announced Nov. 18 that the organization will continue its alliance with Haas Factory Team but switch to Chevrolet for the 2026 campaign. RSS Racing had previously been with the bowtie brand through the 2020 season. Ryan Sieg and Kyle Sieg will continue to pilot the Nos. 39 and 28 machines, respectively.

Jeb Burton returns to Jordan Anderson Racing in 2026; team to have technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing (NOAPS)

The scoop: Jordan Anderson Racing announced Nov. 18 that Jeb Burton will return to the team for a fourth consecutive season, piloting the No. 27 Chevy. The team additionally announced Nov. 20 that there will be a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing in 2026, with the organization additionally expanding to three full-time cars. 

Josh Williams returns to DGM Racing for full-time stint in 2026 (NOAPS) 

The scoop: Josh Williams will race with a familiar organization come 2026 as the 32-year-old Florida native rejoins the DGM Racing ranks, with the team announcing the multiyear move Nov. 14. Of his 249 Xfinity Series starts, 170 have come under the DGM Racing banner. Williams will pilot the No. 92 Chevrolet, with Steve Addington elevated to crew chief. 

Ryan Ellis signs with Young's Motorsports for 2026 season (NOAPS)

The scoop: Young's Motorsports announced Nov. 10 that Ryan Ellis will drive the No. 02 Chevrolet for the 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. With the addition of Ellis, the team will expand to a two-car operation.

Hendrick Motorsports goes full-time with Corey Day in No. 17 for 2026 (NOAPS)

The scoop: Hendrick Motorsports announced Nov. 7 that 19-year-old Day will compete full-time in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in the No. 17 Chevrolet. It will be Hendrick's first full-season entry in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series since 2006. Crew chief Adam Wall will lead the team. 

Parker Retzlaff joins Viking Motorsports for 2026 season (NOAPS)

The scoop: Viking Motorsports announced Nov. 7 that Retzlaff will pilot the No. 99 Chevrolet for the 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Danny Efland will serve as crew chief for Retzlaff. Efland was most recently Harrison Burton's crew chief at AM Racing during the 2025 season.

Jesse Love returns to Richard Childress Racing for 2026 season (NOAPS)

The scoop: RCR announced Oct. 24 that Love will return as driver of the No. 2 Chevrolet for 2026, with Whelen Engineering remaining the team's primary sponsor. Through two seasons with RCR, Love has scored three wins, claimed 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and captured the 2025 Xfinity Series championship crown.

Dean Thompson and Harrison Burton named full-time drivers for Sam Hunt Racing in 2026 season (NOAPS)

The scoop: SHR announced Oct. 25 it would expand its full-time driver lineup, adding Harrison Burton to pilot the No. 24 Toyota alongside the No. 26 Toyota driven by Dean Thompson. SHR entered the racing fold in 2019 as a single-car operation. It now adds Burton, who has won four races in the Xfinity Series and qualified for the playoffs in 2025.  

Sammy Smith returns to JR Motorsports for 2026 season (NOAPS)

The scoop: JR Motorsports annouced Sept. 8 that Smith will return as the driver of No. 8 Chevrolet for his third year with the organization. The team also annouced that Pilot, TMC and the Peterbilt Group will continue to support Smith in the newly branded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer return to Haas Factory Team in 2026; organization switches to Chevrolet (NOAPS)

The scoop: Haas Factory Team announced Sept. 5 that Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer will return to pilot the Nos. 00 and 41 machines, respectively, in 2026, but that the organization will switch from Ford to Chevrolet.

Daniel Hemric returns to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for 2026 campaign (NCTS)

The scoop: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced Dec. 10 that Daniel Hemric will return as pilot of the No. 19 Chevrolet. Hemric tallied one win, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s with the team in 2025, making the playoffs and finishing ninth in the final standings. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing additionally announced a multiyear partnership with NAPA to coincide with the news.

Kris Wright takes over No. 81 truck for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: MHR announced on Dec. 9 that Kris Wright will become the new full-time driver of the No. 81 Chevrolet in 2026. Wright has made part-time starts in the Truck Series since 2021, and next season will mark his first full-time year at the national level.

Frankie Muniz returns to Team Reaume for 2026 season; organization rebrands (NCTS)

The scoop: Team Reaume announced Dec. 8 that Frankie Muniz will return as full-time driver of the No. 33 Ford. Muniz tallied one top 10 for the team in 2025. The organization additionally announced Dec. 7 that it will rebrand from Reaume Brothers Racing to Team Reaume for the 2026 season, its ninth campaign in the circuit. The organization will continue under the Ford banner, fielding the No. 2, No. 22 and No. 33 entries. 

Kaden Honeycutt joins Tricon Garage as full-time driver of No. 11 Toyota (NCTS)

The scoop: The 2025 Championship 4 pilot transitions to the organization that beat him in the 2025 title bout, becoming the full-time driver of the No. 11 Toyota, the team announced Dec. 5. Honeycutt raced for three separate teams in 2025 and finished third in the championship standings. 

Christian Eckes reunites with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: After spending the 2025 season competing in the Xfinity Series (which will be called the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series beginning in 2026), McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced Nov. 20 that Christian Eckes will return to its Craftsman Truck Series program in 2026 on a full-time basis for the first time since 2024. Eckes is set to pilot the No. 91 Chevrolet.

Tyler Reif to anchor Niece Motorsports' No. 42 truck (NCTS)

The scoop: Niece Motorsports announced Nov. 19 that former ARCA Menards Series West star Tyler Reif will be the primary driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet during the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series campaign. He made his series debut with the organization in the 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Tyler Ankrum returns to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced Nov. 6 that Tyler Ankrum will return to the No. 18 Chevrolet for the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series season. It'll be his third full-time season with MHR after making the Championship 4 in 2025.

Layne Riggs signs multiyear deal with Front Row Motorsports (NCTS)

The scoop: Front Row Motorsports announced Oct. 29 that Craftsman Truck Series driver Layne Riggs will return to the No. 34 Ford in 2026. It'll be his third full-time season with the organization after making the Round of 8 in 2025.

Daniel Dye to drive a Kaulig Racing truck in 2026 (NCTS)

The scoop: After a year in Kaulig's Xfinity Series program, Daniel Dye will return to the Craftsman Truck Series in one of the organization's new Ram trucks, with a deal announced on Oct. 29.

Justin Haley returns to Kaulig Racing in Truck Series (NCTS)

The scoop: Justin Haley heads back to Kaulig Racing in 2026, an organization he called home for five seasons, driving in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series. He'll pilot one of the organization's Ram entries in the Craftsman Truck Series, signing a deal on Oct. 29. He drove for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series in 2025.

Brenden Queen joins Kaulig Racing Truck Series program (NCTS)

The scoop: Announced Oct. 16, Brenden "Butterbean" Queen will head to Kaulig Racing in 2026 as one of its five Craftsman Truck Series drivers. Queen won the 2025 ARCA Menards Series title and made occasional Truck and Xfinity Series starts this season.

Kaulig Racing partners with Ram for 2026 Truck Series debut (NCTS)

The scoop: Kaulig Racing and Ram announced Aug. 23 that the manufacturer will return to NASCAR in 2026 with a five-team operation at Kaulig. It will be Kaulig's first foray at the Truck Series level. 

Ty Majeski to pilot No. 88 for ThorSport Racing in 2026 (NCTS)

The scoop: Along with Crafton retiring, ThorSport also revealed defending Truck Series champion Majeski will take over the No. 88 starting next season. Majeski currently pilots the No. 98 and has collected six wins since joining the team full-time in 2022. 

Matt Crafton retires from full-time racing after 2025 season (NCTS)

The scoop: ThorSport Racing announced Aug. 18 that the three-time Truck champion will retire from full-time racing following 2025. The 49-year-old veteran has scored 15 wins in his career. He drove the team's flagship No. 88 Ford.