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Getting Up To Speed on 2026: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Image Provided by: Image Credit: NASCAR

Change is part of life, and with a new year comes new things for us all. That also applies to NASCAR and its second-tier series, so let’s take a look at what’s new for 2026.
First and foremost, a new name. After 15 years, Xfinity officially leaves the series as the title sponsor. Taking its place is O’Reilly Auto Parts, or ‘NOAPS’ for short if you’re about your abbreviations.

Now, from the series itself to the drivers behind the wheel, we have a slew of changes. First, let’s take a look at one of the bigger teams in the series.
JR Motorsports (JRM) has made some adjustments from last season to now. 2025 rookies Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil will now split the No. 1 machine for the season. Zilisch was the 2025 Rookie of the Year with 10 wins on the season, while Kvapil came home fourth in points with no wins, seven top-fives, and 14 top-10s.
The 88 machine also sees a new face for 2026 as Rajah Caruth makes the move to full-time O’Reilly Auto Parts racing. He’ll run 23 races for JRM and also compete in 10 races with the No. 32 machine for Jordan Anderson Racing, aiming to secure the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) title.

Another top-tier team welcomes a new face in the new year. Brent Crews jumps to NOAPS racing to pilot the No. 19 Toyota Supra for 29 of the 33 races. The 17-year-old ran 10 races last year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 also makes a change, promoting Corey Day to full-time behind the HendrickCars.com Chevy after a part-time slate in 2025.

Alpha Prime Racing dropped from three cars full-time to two, but they added fellow ROTY candidate Lavar Scott to the No. 45 machine full-time. Scott ran two races last season for APR and finished second in the ARCA Menards Series points standings.

Some shuffling has also occurred for DGM Racing. Ryan Ellis leaves the crew and the No. 71, and now returning to the team after a stint last year with Kaulig Racing’s NOAPS program is Josh Williams to pilot the No. 92 Chevy. Ellis now moves over to fill a space at Young’s Motorsports to drive the No. 02 Chevy.
Young’s Motorsports also sees more change as Anthony Alfredo left their No. 42 machine.
He now moves to Viking Motorsports’ newly formed No. 96. Also new to Viking Motorsports is Parker Retzlaff in the flagship No. 99 Chevy after leaving the now-defunct third Alpha Prime car.

There are also several faces in new places for 2026.
Patrick Staripoli takes the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevy for the full season, ousting former Truck Series Champion Nick Sanchez. Harrison Burton returns to the second-tier series with Sam Hunt Racing to drive the No. 24 machine.
Austin Green has found a home with the newly formed Peterson Racing Group to race for ROTY in the No. 87 machine.
Last, but not least. SS Green Light Racing has a new roster for 2026 as well. Josh Bilicki takes the No. 07, while Garrett Smithley, Alex Labbe, and Cole Custer take the No. 0 Chevy for the team for select races.
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Ben Branscum

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