All eyes had been on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence season-opener at Daytona, and that was partly as a result of entry checklist. An excessive sports activities athlete joined the grid alongside a well-known YouTuber, a baby sitcom star, a NASCAR Corridor of Famer, and several other different fascinating names, which made it must-watch TV.
Effectively, the third spherical of the 2026 NCTS season has comparable intrigue, because the Truck Sequence takes on a avenue course for the primary time in its 30+ years of existence. And for those who comply with the third degree of NASCAR weekly, chances are you’ll discover a number of names you’ve got not seen earlier than — however definitely some that you have heard of.
You will see winners of the Indy 500, Rolex 24, Le Mans 24, and champions of each IndyCar and IMSA lining up alongside the reigning champions of the CARS Professional Late Mannequin and Late Mannequin Inventory Automobile Tour divisions. The place else on the earth will you get an entry checklist like that?
Dario Franchitti — #1 TRICON Storage Toyota
Dario Franchitti after profitable 2012 Indy 500
Picture by: Eric Gilbert
The 52-year-old Franchitti is essentially the most profitable driver on this complete entry checklist. He’s a four-time IndyCar champion and a three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. His many race wins embody a 2011 IndyCar victory on the very St. Petersburg avenue course he will likely be competing at this weekend. Franchitti’s unbelievable profession additionally options wins within the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Sebring 12 Hours. He even has NASCAR expertise, operating a handful of races throughout all three nationwide divisions. His lone Truck begin got here at Martinsville through the 2007 season, however his greatest exhibiting in inventory automobiles got here within the 2008 O’Reilly race at Watkins Glen, ranging from pole and ending fifth.
James Hinchcliffe — #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
James Hinchcliffe after profitable 2013 IndyCar race at St. Petersburg
Picture by: Eric Gilbert
One other former IndyCar star who has made an ideal secondary profession for himself as a TV character in each IndyCar and System 1. As a driver, ‘Hinch’ received six IndyCar races, together with the 2013 race at St. Petersburg. Different notable achievements embody a pole place within the 2016 Indianapolis 500, only one 12 months after almost dropping his life in a crash on the speedway. (Did we point out he was the runner-up in Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars?) This would be the Canadian racer’s first look in any degree of NASCAR.
Colin Braun — #25 Kaulig Racing Ram
2023 Le Mans 24 LMP2 Professional-Am class winners: #45 Algarve Professional Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson of George Kurtz, James Allen, Colin Braun
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Pictures
Braun is among the extra fascinating drivers to hitch this discipline, as he’s a confirmed winner in NASCAR Vans, however that was 15 years in the past. In a previous life, he was a rising star in NASCAR with Roush, profitable the 2009 Michigan race on his approach to ending fifth in factors. Together with 53 NCTS begins, he additionally made 31 begins within the secondary degree of NASCAR, inserting as excessive as second. However since then, Braun has gone on to develop into among the finest drivers in IMSA with three championships and over 20 victories as a driver within the prime degree of American sports activities automobile racing. These triumphs embody a category win within the 2023 Le Mans 24, and several other victories within the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with one total in 2023. He is additionally received the Six Hours at The Glen, Petit Le Mans at Street Atlanta, and the Sebring 12 Hours.
Adam Andretti — #5 TRICON Storage Toyota
Adam Andretti, #5 TRICON Storage Toyota
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures
Effectively, each race fan is aware of this surname. Adam is is the son of Aldo, nephew of Mario, brother to John, and cousins to Michael, Marco and Jeff. He has made a profession for himself with a number of wins within the Trans-Am Sequence, and two runner-up ends in the championship as a TA2 driver. He does have some restricted expertise in inventory automobile racing as effectively, however only one week in the past, he made his Truck Sequence debut at Atlanta. After a rocky begin, he rapidly tailored and went on to complete twelfth.
Jackson Lee — #22 Workforce Reaume Ford
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The son of IndyCar on FOX pit reporter Kevin Lee, the youthful Lee is making his NASCAR debut this weekend. He is competed within the American open-wheel ladder system and decrease IMSA divisions. Lee can be a race winner within the Lucas Oil System Automobile Race Sequence and the Lamborghini Tremendous Trofeo North America as a Professional-Am driver.
Two reigning CARS Tour champions — Niece Motorsports
Landen Lewis
Picture by: Chris Graythen through Getty Pictures
Ben Maier will likely be within the #4 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet and this 17-year-old has already raced in all the pieces from the IMSA Michelin Pilot Problem to Stadium Tremendous Vans, Trans-Am. He received the 2025 CARS Professional Late Mannequin Tour title as a rookie, and made his Truck debut final 12 months, inserting 18th at Lime Rock.
Landen Lewis is one other reigning champion of the CARS Tour, profitable the 2025 Late Mannequin Inventory title. He will likely be Maier’s teammate at Niece Motorsports, driving the #45 Chevrolet. He has simply three earlier Truck begins, however he additionally received in simply his second ARCA begin on the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dust observe again in 2021.
Different fascinating names
The race will function another names you will not be conversant in. There’s Carter Fartuch within the #2 Ford for Reaume as a teammate to Lee. He’s the Director of Directions for the Skip Barber Racing Faculty, and has two earlier begins within the Vans — each at street programs.
There’s additionally Nathan Nicholson within the #76 Freedom Racing Enterprises Chevrolet. He is raced within the Mazda MX-5 Cup the place he’s a multi-time podium finisher, however this will likely be his Truck debut.
Wesley Slimp will likely be behind the wheel of the #62 Halmar-Friesen Racing Toyota, which he additionally drove in three races final 12 months. He completed as excessive as twelfth at Watkins Glen, and he has loads of street racing expertise. His resume consists of the Lamborghini Tremendous Trofeo North America division, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, and Trans-Am.
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