Every change on the NASCAR Cup grid you need to know before 2026 season

Drivers on the Move and Emerging Talent

The most prominent driver change sees Daniel Suarez departing Trackhouse Racing after a five-year tenure. Suarez, the original driver for the nascent organization, will join Spire Motorsports in 2026, taking the reins of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. This move marks Suarez’s fifth team at the Cup Series level and leaves a vacancy at Trackhouse that has been filled by one of NASCAR’s most anticipated prospects.

Stepping into the Cup Series spotlight is Connor Zilisch, who will replace Suarez at Trackhouse Racing. Zilisch, already a decorated talent with a championship-winning season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series where he secured ten victories, is the sole rookie slated for the 2026 grid, positioning him as the favorite for Rookie of the Year honors. In a significant number swap, Zilisch will pilot the No. 88 Chevrolet, a number he is familiar with from his successful regional series campaign. This number was previously driven by Shane van Gisbergen, who has transitioned to the No. 97. This number holds personal significance for van Gisbergen, echoing his championship triumphs in Australian Supercars, and allows for continuity in his Cup Series efforts.

Justin Haley, the previous occupant of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, is set to move to Kaulig Racing’s burgeoning Ram program in the NASCAR Truck Series. This transition signals Kaulig Racing’s deeper commitment to its Truck Series efforts with the Ram marque, potentially paving the way for a future return to the Cup Series as a flagship Dodge team.

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Shifting Manufacturer Alliances and Technical Partnerships

The 2026 season will witness a notable recalibration of manufacturer affiliations. Gene Haas is orchestrating a significant return to Chevrolet for his single-car operation, Haas Factory Team. This move includes a new technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, a powerhouse within the Chevrolet camp. This partnership marks a return to Chevrolet for Haas, whose organization ran the bowtie brand through the 2000s and into the early 2010s before a switch to Ford following the 2016 season. The realignment comes after Stewart-Haas Racing’s substantial downsizing, leaving Cole Custer and the No. 41 team as the sole representatives of the organization. After experiencing a winless 2025 season post-downsizing, this alliance with Hendrick Motorsports is expected to bolster their competitive standing.

Ford’s manufacturer stable will also see a departure with Rick Ware Racing making the decision to switch to Chevrolet for 2026. The No. 51 Chevrolet, driven by Cody Ware, will benefit from a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, securing ECR engines and support from the prominent Chevrolet team. This move further consolidates Chevrolet’s manufacturer presence in the Cup Series.

Kaulig Racing, while not undergoing immediate surface-level changes in its Cup Series program, is adjusting its operational strategy. Having previously aligned with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines, the team will now operate with diminished support from Chevrolet in 2026. Team CEO Chris Rice has indicated that Kaulig Racing will be largely "out on our own" in terms of manufacturer support beyond the ECR engine supply. This operational independence, coupled with their commitment to Ram in the Truck Series, highlights a strategic shift for the organization.

Notable Driver and Crew Chief Pairings for 2026

Beyond driver and manufacturer shifts, the landscape of driver-crew chief pairings is also undergoing a significant transformation, with several established partnerships dissolving and new ones forming.

Ross Chastain, a consistent contender for Trackhouse Racing, will have a new voice atop the pit box for the first time in five years. His long-standing partnership with Phil Surgen, during which he achieved all six of his Cup Series victories and a memorable win in the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, has concluded. Brandon McSwain, an engineer with six years of experience alongside William Byron at Hendrick Motorsports, will now lead the No. 1 team. McSwain’s background within the successful Hendrick organization is anticipated to provide valuable technical insights for Trackhouse Racing as they aim to close the competitive gap with their Chevrolet counterparts.

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is entering a critical phase of his career, seeking to reverse a winless streak that extends back to June 2023. After finishing 20th and 21st in points for the past two seasons, Busch has struggled to find consistent performance with his No. 8 RCR Chevrolet. The departure of Randall Burnett, who is moving to partner with Connor Zilisch at Trackhouse Racing, has opened an opportunity for a new crew chief at Richard Childress Racing. RCR has appointed Jim Pohlman, the architect behind JR Motorsports’ 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship with Justin Allgaier, to lead Busch’s efforts. Pohlman also brings prior experience with RCR as the head of research and development, offering a blend of championship pedigree and organizational familiarity.

Noah Gragson’s challenging 2025 season, which saw him finish 34th in the points standings, has prompted a crew chief change at Front Row Motorsports. Grant Hutchens will now take the helm as crew chief for Gragson. While Hutchens possesses limited prior experience as a Cup Series crew chief, his background at Team Penske is expected to bring a fresh perspective. Veteran Drew Blickensderfer, a two-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief, will transition into the role of Competition Director for the team.

At Legacy Motor Club, Erik Jones will be working with a new crew chief in 2026, with Justin Alexander taking over from Ben Beshore for the No. 43 team. Alexander brings a wealth of experience, having guided Austin Dillon to victories in the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 and the 2018 Daytona 500. Jones has been winless since the 2022 season and has consistently finished outside the top 20 in the points standings for the past three years, making this crew chief change a significant factor in his team’s pursuit of improved performance.

These interwoven changes in drivers, manufacturers, and technical leadership signal a period of substantial flux for the NASCAR Cup Series. The 2026 season promises to be a compelling display of adaptation, strategic realignment, and the emergence of new competitive narratives as teams and drivers navigate this evolving landscape.

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