Alpha Prime Racing will switch from Chevrolet to Ford for the 2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, the team announced on Saturday. Their entries will be the first full-time operations to drive Ford in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series since Hettinger Racing ceased operations 11 races into the 2026 season.
The Alpha Prime Racing Fords will make their debut on September 12 at World Wide Technology Raceway. For the remainder of the 2026 the team will run a split schedule between Chevrolets and Fords.
This season, Alpha Prime fields two full-time teams: the No. 44 of Brennan Poole and the No. 45 of Lavar Scott. Co-owner Caesar Bacarella also competes part-time in the No. 4 entry. Team President Jusan Hamilton said Saturday that the team will remain at two teams in 2027. A team representative said their driver lineup announcement will come at a later date.
“It’s really the biggest announcement in the history of our company,” Hamilton said. “It’s something we’re extremely proud of, all the hard work that’s going on behind the scenes now is really a testament to everything Caesar and Tommy Joe [Martins] have done to build this organization.”
As recently as 2023, Ford had five full-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entries. Among them were the two Haas Factory Team entries, both championship-caliber cars. In the next few years their numbers dwindled, until 2026 when Ford lost their final full-time teams.
Barring future switches, Alpha Prime will be the only O’Reilly Parts Series team in 2027 competing with Roush Yates Engines. For Bacarella, that could be an opportunity to elevate the organization.
“The motors are way more powerful than what we have,” Bacarella said. “That’s something we’re not used to. So it’s going to be great, a big step for us equipment-wise.” There was no verdict as of Saturday on whether Alpha Prime is working toward an alliance with a Ford team in the NASCAR Cup Series.
