By: Jim Foose / Speedway Action Magazine Date: February 13, 2026
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series isn’t just another season; it’s a total factory reset. For the first time in over a decade, the “Big Three” Detroit automakers—Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram—are sharing the same asphalt. But this isn’t just a domestic dispute. They are all chasing the same target: the Toyota juggernaut that has dominated the series for years.
With a four-way manufacturer war, a schedule that looks like a globetrotter’s wish list, and a championship format that throws the “win-and-in” rulebook out the window, 2026 promises to be the most competitive season in Truck Series history.
As the haulers descend on Daytona for the season opener tonight—Friday the 13th—here is everything you need to know about the new era of truck racing.
The Ram Revolution
The biggest headline of 2026 sits under the hood. Ram has officially returned to NASCAR, ending a hiatus that began in 2012. They aren’t just dipping a toe in; they are cannonballing into the deep end with Kaulig Racing as their factory anchor.
Matt Kaulig’s organization has expanded into a massive operation to support the manufacturer’s return, fielding a lineup that balances veteran grit with explosive young talent.
- The Captain: Returning to the series where he made his name, Justin Haley will pilot the No. 16 Ram 1500. Haley’s role is two-fold: chase trophies immediately and serve as the development anchor for the new OEM.
- The Young Gun: In a move that shocked the silly season, Kaulig handed the keys to the flagship No. 14 Ram 1500 to rookie sensation “Mini” Tyrell. The viral superstar has graduated from late models to one of the most coveted seats in the garage.
- The People’s Champ: Completing the primary lineup is Brenden “Butterbean” Queen in the No. 12 Ram 1500. The Late Model icon brings a massive fanbase and raw talent to the table.
“We aren’t here to participate; we’re here to dominate the last tenth,” said Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis.
The Toyota Blockade
While the return of Ram makes for great headlines, Toyota remains the yardstick by which speed is measured. The manufacturer has made it clear they have no intention of letting the “Detroit Reunion” steal their thunder.
Leading the charge is TRICON Garage, which has solidified itself as the premier Toyota operation. With the TRD Pro Tundra refined to near-perfection and the championship-winning No. 11 team leading the stable, Toyota enters Daytona not as a participant in the manufacturer war, but as the fortress the others have to siege.
The Schedule: From Naval Bases to Bullrings
NASCAR has aggressively overhauled the calendar, mixing nostalgia with radical new experiments.
- St. Pete Street Fight (Feb 28): In a massive open-wheel crossover event, the trucks will roar through the Streets of St. Petersburg later this month, sharing the weekend bill with the NTT IndyCar Series. It will be a tight, technical survival test just two weeks after Daytona.
- Naval Base Coronado (June 19): In a logistics marvel, the series heads to San Diego for a street course race on an active naval base.
- The Rock Returns (April 3): Rockingham Speedway is back. The abrasive surface of “The Rock” will chew up tires and spit out anyone who doesn’t manage their equipment.
- Lime Rock Park (July 11): The series heads to Connecticut for a bout at the classic road course.
- Homestead Finale (Nov 6): The championship decider returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway, restoring one of the most popular tracks for title fights.
The Chase is Back: Consistency over Chaos
Say goodbye to “Win and You’re In.” In a major philosophical shift, NASCAR has scrapped the elimination-style playoffs for a revamped version of The Chase.
- The Format: The top 10 drivers in points after Race 26 qualify for the postseason.
- No Eliminations: Once in The Chase, all 10 drivers compete over the final seven races. There are no cut-off rounds. The driver with the most points after Homestead is the champion.
- High-Stakes Wins: Race wins are now worth a staggering 55 points, incentivizing victory without making it a guaranteed golden ticket.
The Contenders
The field is stacked with heavy hitters from all four manufacturers.
Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing): He’s back. After a year away competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Eckes returns to the Truck Series with unfinished business. Reunited with the No. 91 Chevrolet team where he was a dominant force in 2024, Eckes is looking to pick up right where he left off. His year in the higher series has only sharpened his skills, making him arguably the most dangerous driver in the field.+1
Layne Riggs (Front Row Motorsports): Riggs enters his third season with the factory-backed Ford operation, and the expectations have never been higher. A proven winner with trips to victory lane in both of his previous campaigns, the driver of the No. 34 Ford F-150 has evolved from a prospect into a pillar of the Blue Oval program. He is no longer a dark horse—he is a legitimate championship favorite.
Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports): The veteran enters his third season with CR7 Motorsports, and the “little team that could” is no longer an underdog. Enfinger shocked the garage in 2024 by taking the No. 9 Chevrolet to victory lane twice and making a stunning Championship 4 run. Now, with two years of data in the notebook and a team built entirely around him, he enters 2026 as a proven threat to win it all.
Kaden Honeycutt (TRICON Garage): The working man’s hero has landed the biggest seat in the garage. Taking over the championship-winning No. 11 Toyota Tundra, Honeycutt finally has the equipment to match his aggressive style. TRICON has handed him the keys to the fastest truck in the series, making him the immediate favorite to defend the team’s title.
Ty Majeski (ThorSport Racing): The engineer-driver remains the master of the short tracks. With the return of Rockingham and IRP on the schedule, the No. 88 Ford is a lock for The Chase.
Rookie Watch
The 2026 rookie class is one of the deepest in a decade. Aside from Tyrell and Queen in the Rams, keep an eye on Cole Butcher. Taking over the No. 13 Ford for ThorSport Racing, the Canadian standout brings a winning pedigree from the ASA Stars National Tour. Driving for a powerhouse like ThorSport puts immediate pressure on him to perform against the Kaulig armada.
The Verdict
The 2026 season is a collision of old-school values and new-school energy. We have a four-way manufacturer brawl, a classic points battle format, and a schedule that visits both military bases and historic speedways.
When the green flag drops at Daytona tonight, the question isn’t just who will win—it’s whether the Detroit 3 can catch the Toyotas, and who will survive the grueling seven-race Chase to lift the trophy in Miami.
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