The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is officially underway. Chandler Smith opened the season with a win at Daytona International Speedway in a dramatic four-wide finish. Still, the unique style of racing at Daytona means it’s not the best indicator for how teams are going to fare throughout the year.
This year all three NASCAR national series are transitioning from the playoff format to the Chase for the Cup. In the Truck Series, ten drivers will have the chance to race for the championship over the last ten races of the season. That will mean consistency is as important as ever for teams who hope to take home truck racing’s biggest trophy.
How will drivers adjust now that the path to the title is so different? Does the change favor some teams more than others? Does every driver truly have a shot? Time will tell, but the several different moves and changes made in the off-season give us an early idea of what those answers may be.
CR7 Motorsports
9 – Grant Enfinger
At 41 years old entering the 2026 season, the clock is ticking for CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger to win his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Enfinger has been a consistent force for years now, winning six races since the start of 2022. He also qualified for the Championship 4 in 2023 and 2024, finishing runner-up in the former of those two seasons.
Luckily for Enfinger, 2026 may be the best opportunity yet to earn that elusive championship. Having Corey Heim stepping out of full-time Truck competition will benefit virtually all other contenders, and Enfinger has shown no signs of losing his edge over the past couple seasons.
Races to watch: Kansas Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Richmond Raceway
Freedom Racing Enterprises
76 – Spencer Boyd
In his third full season as an owner-driver for Freedom Racing Enterprises, Spencer Boyd has a foundation in place for some modest gains in speed. The No. 76 team improved their finish from 2024 to 2025 in ten events, and raised their average finish by over three full spots. Boyd may not be a Chase contender, but his team is seeing their hard work gradually show itself on the racetrack.
In an effort to maximize results, Boyd has opted to step out of the No. 76 Chevrolet for three races in 2026. 18-year-old Nathan Nicholson will be driving the truck in St. Petersburg, Watkins Glen, and San Diego – all road courses. Largely an unknown commodity, Nicholson is an accomplished karting racer and the 2023 Mazda Spec MX5 National champion.
Races to watch: Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, EchoPark Speedway
Front Row Motorsports
34 – Layne Riggs
Two seasons into Layne Riggs’ full-time driving career, his development is right on schedule. The Front Row Motorsports prospect made improvements in every major statistic, demonstrating a steady adaptation to Craftsman Truck Series racing. Riggs’ three wins were second-best in the series, behind Corey Heim’s historic 11-win rout.
It’s not yet clear how quickly Front Row Motorsports intends to promote Layne Riggs through the NASCAR ranks. If they’re priming him for a Cup Series seat in 2027, he arguably has already earned it. Now with Corey Heim no longer a factor, the expectations for Riggs should be championship or bust.
Races to watch: Bristol Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, North Wilkesboro Speedway
38 – Chandler Smith
Once upon a time, Chandler Smith appeared to be on the fast track to the NASCAR Cup Series. After a fifth-place points finish in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, a step down to the Craftsman Truck Series was a surprise move. In 2025, however, Smith maintained a high stock by winning twice and delivering consistent strong finishes.
Like Layne Riggs, his Front Row Motorsports teammate, having Corey Heim out of the way gives Chandler Smith little reason to expect anything but a championship. The two FRM drivers were the only others to win multiple times in 2025. Expect an arms race for speed confined largely between Front Row Motorsports and Tricon Garage, with Smith an especially potent warhead.
Races to watch: North Wilkesboro Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway
Halmar-Friesen Racing
52 – Stewart Friesen
Driver-owner Stewart Friesen appeared to be having a rebound year in 2025 before suffering two broken bones in a July modified race. Friesen wound up missing the last nine races of the year. He already improved over the previous year with three top-fives and one win in the first 16 races of 2025.
Injury recovery will be the biggest variable for Stewart Friesen’s 2026. At 42 years old, can Friesen come back as good as ever? It’s hard to say. His No. 52 truck appears to be up to the task. Kaden Honeycutt drove it for the final eight races of the season, notching two top-three runs and finishing third in the season standings. If Friesen can keep pace with his star substitute, it’ll feel as though he never left.
Races to watch: Phoenix Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway
Kaulig Racing
10 – Daniel Dye
Fresh off a decent rookie season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Season, Daniel Dye is stepping back to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. He’s going to be a member of the first class of drivers in Kaulig Racing’s first year running Ram trucks. With two full seasons in Trucks to his name, Dye has a foundation laid to compete for wins and potentially a championship with the experience he brings with him for the new season.
The biggest unknown for Daniel Dye is the same factor that hovers over Kaulig’s entire operation: how will this new venture with Ram fare in its first season? Growing pains for a returning OEM could hold the entire crew back from their potential. At the same time, a strong introduction could elevate all parties to brand new heights. If Dye can replicate his tenth-place finish in the 2024 Truck Series standings, consider the year a success.
Races to watch: Talladega Superspeedway, Nashville Superspeedway, EchoPark Speedway
12 – Brenden Queen
Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen spent 2025 quickly rising among NASCAR’s foremost prospects. His eight-win championship season in the ARCA Menards Series was a major statement for a driver not on every radar entering the year. At 28 years old, his rookie campaign in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a long time coming and possibly long overdue.
Like his Kaulig Racing teammates, it’ll be hard to truly discern how much of Brenden Queen’s performance is a result of his driving versus the X factor of Ram trucks entering the series. In evaluating Queen as a rookie, it’d be best to credit him for the best runs and allow some grace for the growing pains. If Kaulig and Ram position their roster for success, there’s no reason to believe Queen won’t be a title factor in 2026.
Races to watch: North Wilkesboro Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway
16 – Justin Haley
Justin Haley is among the most tenured and accomplished drivers running full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He’s one of a small group who have won in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series. Kaulig Racing is fortunate to have Haley joining their Truck team in the organization’s first year running Ram trucks.
As is the case with all of Kaulig Racing, Justin Haley’s performance will be closely tied to the ability of his team and OEM to prepare a competitive program in the partnership’s debut year. Haley has a best career points finish of third, a result he could easily replicate or exceed under the right circumstances. After two straight years finishing 31st in the Cup Series points standings, it could be beneficial for Haley to take the time to recalibrate and potentially reacquaint himself with victory lane.
Races to watch: Daytona International Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, EchoPark Speedway
14 – Mini Tyrrell
It’s hard to know what to expect out of Timothy ‘Mini’ Tyrrell in 2026. The 21-year-old earned his seat via Kaulig Racing’s Race for the Seat reality show, beating 14 other drivers who hoped to land in the No. 14 Ram. Because he has no experience in any of NASCAR’s national series or the ARCA Menards Series circuit, Tyrrell is as pure of a wild card as NASCAR could have.
The outcome of Mini Tyrrell’s rookie season will provide insight to three things: Tyrrell’s own driving chops, Kaulig’s first year with Ram trucks, and the viability of using a filmed competition as a NASCAR recruitment pipeline. If Tyrrell succeeds, Kaulig will look like geniuses. If he shows so much as a moderate adjustment period, Race for the Seat will face scrutiny almost immediately. The more accurate insights will probably fall somewhere between the two extremes.
Races to watch: North Wilkesboro Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
18 – Tyler Ankrum
Tyler Ankrum experienced a career resurgence in 2025, opening up the season with one of the best ten-race stretches he’s had to date. Ankrum finished seven of those ten races in the top-five, and snagged his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win since 2019. A summer slump appeared to curb his chances for championship glory, but Ankrum nonetheless made the Championship 4 and finished fourth in the standings.
Now, in his third season with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Ankrum will look to recreate last year’s spring magic. Career highs in almost every major statistic indicate the No. 18 team is working from a solid foundation to keep themselves firmly in the title hunt throughout the 2026 season.
Races to watch: Richmond Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Rockingham Speedway
19 – Daniel Hemric
It’s hard to put a true price tag on the value of Daniel Hemric’s breadth of NASCAR experience. Two full seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series, five in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (including a championship), and three in the Craftsman Truck Series makes him one of the most seasoned veterans in the sport. Even more impressive is that he’s proven he can be competitive at each of those levels. Last year Hemric scored his first career Truck Series win and led the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team to a ninth-place points finish.
Theoretically, an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion should be expected to do nothing less than compete for the title in the Craftsman Truck Series. Due to the evolving equipment, distribution of talent, and team evolution, it’s not quite so simple. Daniel Hemric might not be the absolute favorite for this year’s title, but he’s certainly earned a place in the conversation.
Races to watch: Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Rockingham Speedway
81 – Kris Wright
Returning to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after a year each in the ARCA Menards Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Kris Wright has a lot to prove. Last year he finished on the lead lap in only seven of his 18 starts with Our Motorsports, and he has only one top-ten finish in 83 national series starts.
The good news is Connor Mosack had an admirable 2025 season in the very truck Kris Wright is stepping into. McAnally Hilgemann Racing expects the speed to contend for wins at least a handful of times a year, and if Wright can provide that performance this is going to be his year to prove it. The drafting tracks will be Wright’s first opportunity to start off strong, and from there he can work on building his prowess across the rest of the schedule.
Races to watch: Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, EchoPark Speedway
91 – Christian Eckes
Christian Eckes’ 2025 season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series gave plenty of reason for optimism. He showed a particular affinity for road racing, and sprinkled in some top-fives at tracks like Pocono Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway. For him to move back down to the Craftsman Truck Series was surprising, but it represents an opportunity for Eckes to return to victory lane.
In his last two full-time seasons in the Truck Series, Eckes won four races each year and peaked with a third-place points finish in 2024. Now that he’s gained more experience on a more robust schedule, he might be capable of even more. Certainly McAnally-Hilgemann Racing would like to see an uptick in pace from the No. 91 truck, which placed 19th in the standings last year with Jack Wood behind the wheel.
Races to watch: Kansas Speedway, St. Petersburg street course, Bristol Motor Speedway
Niece Motorsports
42 – Tyler Reif
It’s still unclear exactly how many starts Niece Motorsports will give to 18-year-old Tyler Reif. An announcement in November revealed that Reif would be the anchor driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet, racing for ‘the bulk of the season’. As a Truck Series rookie, Reif will look to build on impressive campaigns in the ARCA Menards Series East & West over the last two years.
Tyler Reif made his Truck Series debut last year in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, snagging an impressive ninth-place finish from a chaotic restart gauntlet. Between that run and his resume in regional racing, Niece Motorsports has shown they’re ready to place their faith in Reif with a major opportunity.
Races to watch: Phoenix Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International
44 – Andrés Pérez de Lara
Put in a tough spot last season, Andrés Pérez de Lara seemed to adjust well to being let go by Spire Motorsports mid-season and picked up by Niece Motorsports. His results seemed to stay roughly consistent, if still a bit lacking on flat tracks and road courses. Pérez de Lara was overall a bit inconsistent; three top-tens and no top-fives falls short of expectations for either Spire or Niece.
The good news for Andrés Pérez de Lara is that he enters 2026 with newfound stability. Winning the 2024 ARCA Menards Series championship was proof of the Mexican prospect’s talent. Wins would be fantastic, but consistent top-five speed is a realistic goal for Pérez de Lara’s second full-time season.
Races to watch: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway
Rackley WAR
26 – Dawson Sutton
Dawson Sutton’s rookie season last year was stable and consistent with occasional flashes of speed. It became quickly apparent that Sutton wasn’t going to lead Rackley WAR into a new era of race wins, but he appeared able to extract as much speed as his trucks could provide him and at times find a better finish than his equipment allowed. That potential was evident in 2024, when Sutton finished fifth in his third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start.
This year, the No. 26 Chevrolet will remain the only full-time truck in Rackley WAR’s stable. Sutton will have Toni Breidinger as a part-time teammate, but otherwise the team appears to be more or less the same caliber organization as last year. For Sutton, a first win and strong points run may not be out of reach.
Races to watch: Kansas Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway
Team Reaume
33 – Frankie Muniz
For the man with easily the highest profile in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, it took a surprisingly long time for Frankie Muniz’s 2026 plans to be set in stone. The actor-turned-racer saw his season abbreviated by a wrist fracture, causing him to miss four races in the No. 33 Reaume Brothers Racing Ford. Now, Muniz is back behind the wheel in the newly-rebranded Team Reaume, hoping to settle unfinished business and improve upon his 2025 campaign.
Despite a promising tenth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in February, Muniz struggled to find competitive pace for most of the season. Then in June he appeared to find something, recording two straight top-20 finishes at Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. That improvement appeared to carry over when he returned from injury, as Muniz finished the year on two top-20s in the final three races.
Races to watch: Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Phoenix Raceway
ThorSport Racing
13 – Cole Butcher
At 29 years old with virtually no NASCAR experience to his name, Cole Butcher is somewhat of an unknown commodity. He made two starts last year in the Craftsman Truck Series, finishing 23rd at both Bristol Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. The bulk of his racing pedigree comes from a career in late model competition.
Regardless, ThorSport Racing appears confident that Cole Butcher can hit the ground running in his first Craftsman Truck Series season. He’ll be taking over for Jake Garcia in the No. 13 Ford F-150, a team that finished tenth in the 2025 points standings. One early sign for optimism came at the pre-season test session for the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway, where Butcher recorded the ninth-fastest time overall in a Rette Jones Racing Ford.
Races to watch: Rockingham Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Daytona International Speedway
88 – Ty Majeski
ThorSport Racing shuffled around its driver lineup for 2026, including moving Ty Majeski from the No. 98 truck to the No. 88. The team has said they’re excited to pair Majeski with Menards as a primary sponsor – both the driver and brand hail from Wisconsin. The expectations for Majeski shouldn’t be any less than what they’ve been since he joined ThorSport full-time in 2022: a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship.
Majeski almost became a back-to-back champion in 2025, finishing second in the points behind the historically dominant Corey Heim. Last year Majeski posted career-best marks in average finish and top-tens, indicating he’s as strong as he’s ever been. Still, the No. 88 truck was a distant 15th in the 2025 standings, and so for Majeski to restore the team to title contention may require some heavy lifting.
Races to watch: Richmond Raceway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Homestead-Miami Speedway
98 – Jake Garcia
Three seasons into his career in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Jake Garcia is still searching for the results to reflect his potential. Garcia notched two top-fives in the first seven races of 2025, and then failed to secure another one for the rest of the season. Despite having a rebound year from his disappointing 2024, Garcia still seems to be falling short of what he’s capable of.
For 2026, ThorSport Racing has moved Jake Garcia into the No. 98 truck, formerly occupied by Ty Majeski. That team placed third in the 2025 standings, so a change of scenery might be what Garcia needs. Short tracks appear to be a strength for the 20-year-old, so tracks like Martinsville Speedway and Rockingham Speedway will be the first indicator of the year to see whether the truck switch made a difference.
Races to watch: Rockingham Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Phoenix Raceway
99 – Ben Rhodes
Two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes has lost pace gradually over the last few seasons. Rhodes posted his lowest average finish since 2016 last year with a 15.6. That statistic was virtually identical to his 2024 showing of 15.4. Rhodes has led only 186 laps since the start of 2023, after leading 271 laps in 2022 alone. He also has just one win in that span, suggesting a lack of closing execution as a potential culprit.
Still, even in a period that seems like a decline at face value, Ben Rhodes scored a solid five top-five finishes in 2025. That’s one more than Kaden Honeycutt, who was just one restart away from the series championship. If the No. 99 team can find the type of consistency they exhibited from 2020 to 2022, a third title might be within reach.
Races to watch: Charlotte Motor Speedway, St. Petersburg street course, EchoPark Speedway
Tricon Garage
11 – Kaden Honeycutt
In his first full season of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, Kaden Honeycutt met and surpassed expectations. Despite being let go by Niece Motorsports mid-season and picking up on little notice with Halmar Friesen Racing, Honeycutt rallied to a strong third-place finish in the 2025 points standings. His 12.8 average finish was ninth-best in the series, and Honeycutt looked like a strong championship contender until the very end.
Now Kaden Honeycutt is stepping in the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota, the same team that won the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series championship in dominant fashion with Corey Heim. The expectations for Honeycutt can be no less than a major push for the title. Though no one is expecting a repeat of Heim’s 11-win explosion, Honeycutt could prove decisively this year that he’s one of the foremost racing talents in today’s Truck Series field.
Races to watch: Phoenix Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway
15 – Tanner Gray
Entering his seventh full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Tanner Gray is looking more like a series lifer. He’s been in the Tricon Garage organization dating back to 2019, and has yet to put together a season with better than a 13th-place showing in points. Gray is also searching for his first career win, which many thought would’ve happened by now considering the strength of equipment and Gray’s well-rounded skillset.
This season the goal for Gray’s No. 15 Toyota team may be to convert on their finest strengths, which appear to be fast intermediate tracks like Michigan International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. At Las Vegas in particular, Gray has three top-five in eight starts. A win and a top-10 run in the points would be a welcome sign of progression for the New Mexico native in his age 27 season.
Races to watch: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Pocono Raceway
17 – Gio Ruggiero
Perhaps no driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series showed more tangible progression over the course of the 2025 season than Gio Ruggiero. After placing second in his series debut at Daytona International Speedway, Ruggiero slowly began to find top-five speed more and more often over the course of the year. By the time the Truck Series got to Talladega Superspeedway in October, Ruggiero was well-equipped to bring home his first career victory.
At just 19 years old, Gio Ruggerio is well ahead of the pace to become a Craftsman Truck Series title contender. With the existing strengths of Tricon Garage and a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing to familiarize him with O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, Ruggiero’s continued driver development is just as important to watch as his actual results in the 2026 season.
Races to watch: Talladega Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway, Lime Rock Park
