There was minimal motion all through the NASCAR Cup Collection storage throughout the low season, however nonetheless sufficient to speak about. Past driver strikes, there have been additionally a few producer modifications and a flurry of crew chief swaps that shall be notable tales to observe throughout the yr.
This is a take a look at what’s totally different for 2026:
Drivers on the transfer
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Daniel Suarez joins Spire: The NASCAR Cup area is remaining pretty unchanged, however it was Trackhouse that actually shook issues up. After 5 years with the staff, Trackhouse’s authentic driver is transferring elsewhere for 2026. He’ll take over the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet from Justin Haley, who joins Kaulig Racing’s Ram program within the NASCAR Truck Collection. This would be the fifth totally different staff Suarez has pushed for on the Cup degree.
Connor Zilisch promoted to Cup and quantity swap: The highest prospect in NASCAR has lastly arrived to the Cup Collection, and he’s already locked up Rookie of the 12 months honors as the one rookie on the grid for 2026. He’s changing Suarez at Trackhouse, however not as the driving force of the No. 99. Zilisch will truly take the No. 88 from Shane van Gisbergen, who has been granted the No. 97, various private significance and one he drove to all of his many triumphs again in Supercars. It additionally retains some continuity for Zilisch, who was driving the No. 88 within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Collection, the place he gained ten races in his rookie season final yr.
Shifting alliances
Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing unit Group Ford
Picture by: Justin Casterline / Getty Photographs
Haas companions with Hendrick: Gene Haas is returning to Chevrolet in a brand new technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. The as soon as mighty Stewart-Haas Racing is now a one-car operation with Cole Custer and the No. 41 staff after the exit of Tony Stewart. After downsizing, Haas went winless in 2025. It is a homecoming of types for Haas, as Haas CNC Racing ran Chevrolets within the 2000s, and continued to take action because it grew to become SHR and into the 2010s. They solely switched to Ford after the 2016 season.
Rick Ware leaves Ford for Chevy: Ford misplaced one other single-car staff to their bowtie rivals as Rick Ware Racing and the No. 51 of Cody Ware made the choice to affix the Chevrolet camp in 2026. They’ve additionally fashioned a technical alliance with a extra distinguished Chevrolet staff, taking ECR engines and help from Richard Childress Racing.
Kaulig Racing anticipating much less help: Whereas nothing is altering on the floor for Kaulig in 2026, issues will nonetheless be totally different for the two-car staff that had aligned itself with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines. As they embrace Ram within the Truck Collection with doubtless ambitions to grow to be the brand new flagship Dodge staff ought to they return to Cup within the near-future, Kaulig shall be working with much less help from Chevrolet in 2026. Group CEO Chris Rice just lately mentioned Kaulig shall be “out on our personal” with no additional help from RCR past the provision of ECR engines.
Notable driver/crew chief pairing modifications
Crew chief Randall Burnett and driver Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs
Ross Chastain and Brandon McSwain: Chastain may have a change atop the pit field for the primary time in 5 years. He was partnered with Phil Surgen for the whole thing of his time with Trackhouse Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing, incomes all six of his Cup victories with Surgen. The duo even went from final to first to win the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, however this yr, Trackhouse has introduced in an engineer from Hendrick Motorsports to guide the hassle for the No. 1 staff. McSwain was a part of the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet with William Byron for the final six years, bringing with him experience that may assist Trackhouse to bridge a aggressive hole to the bigger Chevrolet group.
Kyle Busch and Jim Pohlman: The 2-time NASCAR Cup champion is dealing with the longest winless streak of his profession, as he has not visited Victory Lane since June of 2023. He positioned twentieth and twenty first in factors the final two years, respectively, and has struggled to get a deal with on his No. 8 RCR Chevrolet. With Randall Burnett leaving to companion with Zilisch at Trackhouse, RCR had the chance to herald somebody new for Busch in 2026. They managed to safe Pohlman, who gained the 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components title with JR Motorsports and Justin Allgaier. He beforehand labored with RCR as the top of analysis and growth as nicely.
Noah Gragson and Grant Hutchens: After a dismal 2025 season with Gragson beating simply two different full-time drivers to complete thirty fourth in factors, Entrance Row Motorsports has made a change in crew chiefs. Veteran Drew Blickensderfer, who beforehand gained two Daytona 500s, will grow to be the staff’s Competitors Director as Hutchens now sits atop the pit field for Gragson. He has restricted expertise as a crew chief, however beforehand labored at Group Penske.
Erik Jones and Justin Alexander: Over at Legacy Motor Membership, Alexander takes over from Ben Beshore as crew chief for the No. 43. He brings with him loads of expertise, main Austin Dillon to victories within the 2017 Coca Cola 600 and 2018 Daytona 500. Jones has been winless for the reason that 2022 season, and has completed outdoors the highest 20 in factors in every of the final three years.
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