rifan muazinNASCAR has officially released a detailed ledger of owner points transfers affecting all three national divisions, setting the stage for the 2026 racing season. This strategic realignment, announced today, impacts numerous teams across the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape and offering a glimpse into future team strategies and driver assignments. The disclosure provides a critical update for teams, drivers, and fans alike, as owner points play a pivotal role in determining qualifying order and guaranteeing race entries at the commencement of each new season.
The methodology behind these transfers is a cornerstone of NASCAR’s competitive structure. Owner points are accumulated based on a team’s performance in the previous season, reflecting their consistent execution and championship contention. These points are then carried forward, serving as a direct indicator of a team’s established standing within the sport. For teams looking to rebrand, re-enter the sport with new car numbers, or facilitate strategic partnerships, the ability to transfer these points offers a mechanism to bypass the often challenging process of building from scratch in terms of on-track qualification metrics.
NASCAR Cup Series: Strategic Shifts and New Entrants
In the premier NASCAR Cup Series, the owner points transfers reveal a series of calculated moves by established organizations and emerging contenders. Trackhouse Racing, a team that has rapidly ascended in prominence, is at the forefront of these adjustments. The #88 entry, which finished the 2025 season ranked 12th in owner points, will see its accumulated advantage transferred to the newly designated #97 car. This move is significant as it brings the highly anticipated driver Shane van Gisbergen into the #97 car, indicating a substantial investment in his potential and a strategic placement of valuable owner points to support his campaign. Van Gisbergen, a multi-time champion in Supercars, has demonstrated remarkable adaptability and speed in his limited NASCAR appearances, making this a storyline to watch closely.
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Conversely, Trackhouse Racing’s #99 car, holding the 29th position in 2025 owner points, will be renumbered to #88 for the 2026 season. This slot is slated to be occupied by Connor Zilisch, a promising young talent making his transition into the Cup Series. This reshuffling suggests a strategic allocation of resources and points to nurture emerging talent within the organization.
RFK Racing, a team with a rich history and recent resurgence under the leadership of Brad Keselowski and acquired by Jack Roush, is also involved in significant point movements. Their #60 car, ranked 18th in 2025 owner points, will transfer its standing to Rick Ware Racing’s #51 entry. This transfer is set to be driven by Cody Ware, a driver with existing experience in the Cup Series. This alignment could provide Rick Ware Racing with a substantial boost in their competitive standing.
In a reciprocal move, Rick Ware Racing’s #51 car, which held the 36th position in owner points, will see its points transferred to RFK Racing’s #60 car for the 2026 season. This car will be piloted by Ryan Preece, a driver known for his aggressive style and technical feedback, indicating RFK Racing’s intent to leverage these points for a strong performance.
The #87 car, belonging to Trackhouse Racing and concluding the 2025 season in the 43rd spot, has its owner points transferred to the #99 Trackhouse Racing entry. This slot is currently unassigned, leaving room for potential future driver announcements or strategic team decisions.
A notable addition to the Cup Series grid is the introduction of a new car number under the RFK Racing banner: #199. This team will commence the 2026 season without pre-existing owner points, necessitating them to earn their starting positions through on-track qualifying performances. This signifies a new venture for RFK Racing, potentially involving a new driver or a strategic expansion of their presence.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Deep Field of Transfers and Emerging Teams
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series) presents an even more extensive array of owner points transfers, highlighting a dynamic and competitive environment. Richard Childress Racing’s #2 car, a consistent contender that finished 5th in 2025 owner points, is making a significant strategic shift. Its accumulated points will be transferred to the #30 entry fielded by Barrett-Cope Racing. This new arrangement is slated to feature a diverse driver lineup, with Carson Ware, Baltazar Leguizamón, and a TBA driver indicated. This move suggests a collaborative effort or a significant acquisition by Barrett-Cope Racing, aiming to leverage RCR’s established points.
AM Racing’s #25 car, ranked 13th in 2025 owner points, will transfer its standing to Sigma Performance’s #76 car. The driver for this entry remains unannounced. Similarly, Kaulig Racing, a team that has consistently fielded competitive entries, sees multiple point transfers. Their #16 car (14th in owner points) moves to Young’s Motorsports’ #02 car, driven by Ryan Ellis. The #11 car (21st in owner points) will go to Young’s Motorsports’ #42 car, with an unconfirmed driver. The #10 car (22nd in owner points) is set to be driven by Harrison Burton in Sam Hunt Racing’s #24 car. These moves indicate Kaulig Racing’s strategic decisions regarding their driver development and team operations for the upcoming season.
Alpha Prime Racing is also a significant player in these transfers. Their #4 car (24th in owner points) moves to their own #45 car, driven by Lavar Scott. Their #45 car (33rd in owner points) will transfer to Viking Motorsports’ #96 car, piloted by Anthony Alfredo. Furthermore, their #5 car (39th in owner points) will be reassigned to their #4 car, with a shared driver lineup of Luke Fenhaus and a TBA. These adjustments reflect Alpha Prime Racing’s active management of their assets and driver pool.
Young’s Motorsports’ #42 car (26th in owner points) will transition to Joey Gase Motorsports’ #35 car, with an unconfirmed driver. DGM Racing x JIM sees its #71 car (29th in owner points) move to its #92 car, driven by Josh Williams. Cope Family Racing’s #70 car (31st in owner points) will be transferred to Hettinger Racing’s #5 car, driven by Luke Fenhaus. Sam Hunt Racing’s #24 car (36th in owner points) moves to Joey Gase Motorsports’ #53 car, driven by David Starr. Joey Gase Motorsports’ #53 car (37th in owner points) will be renumbered to #55, with an unconfirmed driver. DGM Racing x JIM’s #92 car (42nd in owner points) moves to its #71 car, with an unconfirmed driver. AM Racing’s #76 car (48th in owner points) transfers to Sigma Performance’s #25 car, with an unconfirmed driver.
Peterson Racing Group, a new entrant, will operate under the #89 car number, starting without pre-existing owner points.
Several new car numbers are being introduced in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, including #43 Alpha Prime Racing, #84 Sam Hunt Racing, #93 Viking Motorsports, #23 Jordan Anderson Racing, #11 Joe Gibbs Racing, #80 PK+K Racing, and #15 Hettinger Racing. These teams will begin the 2026 season seeking to establish their presence and competitive standing through on-track results.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: ThorSport Dominance and Strategic Alliances
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also features significant owner points realignments, with ThorSport Racing being a central figure. Their #98 truck, which secured the 2nd position in 2025 owner points, will see its advantage transferred to their #88 truck, driven by Ty Majeski. This move underscores ThorSport’s continued commitment to Majeski and their strategy of consolidating top-tier points to support their leading contenders.
Halmar Friesen Racing is also making notable shifts. Their #52 truck, ranked 3rd in 2025 owner points, will transfer to their #62 truck, featuring a driver lineup of John Hunter Nemechek and a TBA. In a corresponding move, Halmar Friesen Racing’s #62 truck (36th in owner points) will transfer its points to their #52 truck, driven by Stewart Friesen, indicating a strategic shuffle within the team’s driver and car number assignments.
Spire Motorsports’ #77 truck, holding the 11th position in owner points, will move to Kaulig Racing’s #12 truck, with Brenden Queen as the designated driver. This transfer signifies a potential partnership or acquisition that could bolster Kaulig Racing’s presence in the Truck Series.
ThorSport Racing continues its strategic point allocation with their #13 truck (14th in owner points) transferring to their #98 truck, driven by Jake Garcia. Their #88 truck (20th in owner points) will move to their #13 truck, with Cole Butcher behind the wheel. These multiple transfers within ThorSport Racing highlight their intent to maximize their competitive advantage across their entries.
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s #16 truck (24th in owner points) will transfer to Kaulig Racing’s #16 truck, driven by Justin Haley. Young’s Motorsports’ #02 truck (29th in owner points) moves to Kaulig Racing’s #10 truck, driven by Daniel Dye. These transfers suggest a strategic alignment between these organizations and Kaulig Racing.
Reaume Brothers Racing sees its #2 truck (30th in owner points) move to their #22 truck, driven by Luke Baldwin. Their #22 truck (31st in owner points) will transfer to their #2 truck, with an unconfirmed driver.
Niece Motorsports’ #41 truck (35th in owner points) will transfer to their #4 truck, with an unconfirmed driver. Cook Racing Technologies’ #84 truck (39th in owner points) is set to be driven by Caleb Costner in Costner Motorsports’ #93 truck.
Several new truck numbers are being introduced for the 2026 season, including #25 Kaulig Racing, #03 Affarano Motorsports, #20 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, #51 Halmar Friesen Racing, and #84 Cooks Technology. These teams will embark on their inaugural seasons without pre-existing owner points, facing the challenge of qualifying for races based on their performance.
The comprehensive nature of these owner points transfers underscores NASCAR’s commitment to a structured and evolving competitive framework. As teams strategically position themselves for the 2026 season, these realignments will undoubtedly shape the narratives, rivalries, and championship battles across all three national series. The impact of these decisions will become evident as the green flag drops on the next racing year, with teams leveraging their acquired owner points to secure their place at the front of the field.
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