Niece Motorsports proudly welcomes multi-time winner and defending Coca-Cola 600 champion, Ross Chastain, back to its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) driver roster in 2026.

Chastain, who enters his ninth year competing for the organization, remains a mainstay since joining in 2018. The Alva, Florida native has driven a Niece Motorsports truck to victory lane on five occasions – the most of any driver – and delivered the team’s first win at Kansas Speedway in 2019.

Throughout the 2025 season, the veteran driver made five NCTS starts with Niece Motorsports, finishing as high as second at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In each of his races, Chastain posed a threat as a contender for the race win.

Over the offseason, NASCAR adjusted the rules to allow Cup Series drivers with three or more years of experience to participate in eight races instead of five. Chastain plans to take full advantage of the opportunity by competing in as many races as possible.

“It’s great to be back with Niece Motorsports in a larger capacity this year,” said Chastain. “When I heard about the rule change, I knew we had to run more races together. We’ve got a great core group of people here in Salisbury and I want to bring them all back to victory lane. I’m thankful to have the opportunity and appreciate the ownership group and our partners for making it happen, along with everyone at Trackhouse for allowing me to run in the Truck Series.”

Driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado this year, Chastain will reunite with Phil Gould as his crew chief, who guided him to a runner-up points finish in 2019. He will share the ride with series newcomer, Landen Lewis, along with a third driver, who will be announced in the near future. 

“We’re thrilled to have Ross (Chastain) in our trucks for more races this year,” said Cody Efaw, CEO of Niece Motorsports. “Ross has been a huge part of our team since he first joined us, and his input is invaluable. Considering the young group of drivers we have in the fold this year, Ross will be a tremendous asset for those guys to learn from. We look forward to having him contend for wins each time he straps into the No. 45 truck this year.”

Chastain’s race schedule will be revealed as the season progresses, along with primary partner announcements for the campaign. 

The 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13 with live coverage airing on FS1. For all the latest news, please visit NieceMotorsports.com.

Niece Motorsports PR

Team Reaume enters the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with a clear focus: raise the standard, strengthen the program, and compete at a higher level every week. That push is backed by the continued partnership with Ford Racing, alongside our growing technical alliance with other Ford teams. Together, these relationships provide increased engineering support, shared resources, and a stronger competitive foundation across the organization.

“We’ve been intentional about every move we’ve made this offseason,” said Team Owner Josh Reaume. “This isn’t about just showing up. We’ve added the right partnerships, people, and support, and I fully expect those additions to translate into on-track performance and results.”
Crew Chief – Team Three

Continuity remains a priority on the No. 33 Ford F-150, as Frankie Muniz will again be paired with crew chief Pedro Lopez and spotter Will Rodgers. The trio showed strong chemistry and progress in 2025, and their return gives the No. 33 team stability and momentum heading into the new season.

On the No. 2 Ford F-150, Team Reaume adds veteran leadership with Todd Myers named crew chief and Eddie D’Hondt serving as spotter, further strengthening the organization’s depth and experience across its lineup. “Team Reaume is building something real,” said Todd Myers. “They’ve made the investments, brought in the right people, and set clear expectations. I’m looking forward to working with the driver lineup in the No. 2 this season and helping convert that effort into performance on race weekends.”

“We’ve invested heavily in the resources, equipment, and infrastructure inside the building in 2025,” said Amir Alexander, Team Reaume Operations Manager. “Now we’ve added key people with experience who know how to capitalize on that. The expectation is to run better and execute at a higher level every weekend.”
Crew Chief – Team Two

“This team wasn’t built overnight,” said Josh Reaume. “We’ve built a sound, sustainable business by being patient and intentional, clawing aw

ay at the competition year after year. That foundation now allows us to invest aggressively where it matters most, performance and results.”

Additional announcements are forthcoming, including the remainder of Team Reaume’s 2026 driver lineup, which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

With reinforced partnerships, proven leadership, and targeted personnel additions, Team Reaume enters the 2026 season positioned to take a meaningful step forward on and off the track.

Team Reaume PR

Briggs Danner delighted his hometown crowd Friday night by rallying around the outside of Shawn Nye on a mid-race restart and holding off a hard-charging Trevor Catalano to win the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Race at the PPL Center.

The victory was the 24-year-old’s first with the Indoor Auto Racing Championship.

“It will probably start to settle in when we come walking in tomorrow (Saturday). But it’s an awesome feeling; there’s nothing like it,” Danner said post-race. “We put a lot of time and effort into this. We’ve shown speed out of the box the last two years here, so to finally put it in victory lane is cool for myself and the people that help me.”

Danner started on the pole for the 30-lap feature and maintained the lead through a flurry of early race cautions. However, his biggest challenge would come in the form of Nye, who managed to knife under Danner for the top spot off turn two following a lap 11 restart.

But Danner wasn’t going to go down without a fight. When the yellow flew again a lap later, he punched the gas pedal through the floor of his No. 78 and used the momentum on the top side of the speedway to storm around Nye and jump down in front as the pair headed toward turn three.

He wasn’t out of the woods yet as Paulie Hartwig III spun off turn two ten laps from the finish, allowing Nye to get alongside him once again. Danner must’ve been able to see the trophy dangling right in front of him as he roared clear of Nye, while Trevor Catalano, who was slicing his way through the field like a knife through butter from 15^th, followed suit into second.

Danner didn’t let the charging Catalano faze him as he strung together ten perfect laps to zip under the checkered flag. Catalano and Scott Kreutter rounded out the podium. 

The E. Schneider & Sons sponsored $125 TQ Fast Time Award Friday was earned by Tommy Catalano following a lightning quick session in which the top ten locked into the inaugural Will Cagle Shootout.

Joining Catalano in the shootout was Scott Kreutter, Briggs Danner, Jon Reid, Matt Swanson, Shawn Nye, Kyle Lick, Logan Watt, Tim Buckwalter and Trevor Catalano.

Catalano got to choose where he wanted to start for the 15-lap affair, and elected to go with track position. Picking the pole wound up paying off as he kept hometown driver Briggs Danner behind in an action-packed event that featured multiple restarts to pocket $240 courtesy of Ricky Harring.

Tyler Catalano, Nick Ladyga and Mason Hanel won a trio of West End Equipment Rentals-sponsored heat races. DJ Shaw and Timmy Catalano were victorious in the Aqua Duck Water Transport-sponsored B-Main’s.

Doug Stearly, of Hephzibah, GA, took the lead from Missy Bootes on lap 12 with a daring move down the inside going into turn three before inching out Quentin Graham Jr. in a three-wide photo finish with a lapped car to grab the checkered flag in a thrilling 20-lap Champ Kart feature.

Pocono Raceway sponsored the Friday night Champ Kart heat races. Those were claimed by Tyler Brown and Tanner Emmons. John Berger captured the B-Main.

Dylan Hoch, of Mertztown, PA, kept a pressuring Tyler Ulsh behind and held his nerve like a champion when a gaggle of slower cars nearly got together in front of him coming to the checkered flag to win a gripping 20-lap Slingshot feature.

GMC Speed Supplies sponsored the Friday night Slingshot heat races, which were won by Brett Bieber and Ryan Raidline. Dylan Cordier won the night’s final preliminary, the Slingshot B-Main 

TQ Midgets, Champ Karts, and Slingshots return to the PPL Center in Allentown, PA tomorrow, Saturday night, January 10 for another full program. The Saturday night TQ Midget Allentown finale will be run over a 40-lap distance. 

Grandstands will open at 5 p.m., and fans with lower-level reserved seats will be allowed to access the on-track FanFest that runs until 6:30. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

Great seats are still available for purchase via Ticketmaster or at the PPL Center box office on the day of the event.

For additional details on the Indoor Auto Racing Championship and the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Race, visit www.indoorautoracing.com

Lower-level reserved ticket holders for Saturday night receive access to a pre-race FanFest, allowing fans to walk the track and meet drivers and teams prior to the 7 p.m. green flag.

Tickets are available through a Ticketmaster link at IndoorAutoRacing.com or at the box office on the day of the events. Check the website for more information.

Race Results
TQ Midgets (30 Laps) — 1. Briggs Danner 2. – Trevor Catalano 3. – Scott Kreutter 4. – Nick Ladyga 5. – Shawn Nye 6. – Jonathan Reid 7. – DJ Shaw 8. – Billy Pauch Jr 9. – Matt Swanson 10. – Joey Bailey 11. – Tyler Ferris 12. – Paul Hartwig III 13. – Logan Watt 14. – Stephen Kemery 15. – Kyle Herve 16. – Mason Hanel 17. – Timmy Catalano 18. – Tyler Catalano 19. – Kyle Lick 20. – Matt Janisch 21. – Tim Buckwalter 22. – Tommy Catalano 23. – Tanner VanDoren 24. – Ryan Flores

Slingshots (20 Laps) — 1. Dylan Hoch 2. – Tyler Ulsh 3. – Paulie Hartwig III 4. – Brett Bieber 5. – Jared Silfee 6. – Alex Reinsmith 7. – Matthew Mertz 8. – Ryan Raidline 9. – Jonathan Laureigh 10. – James Benz 11. – Mason Pittenger 12. – Cody Kline 13. – Mark Mohr 14. – Cody Bleau 15. – Brian Smith 16. – Isaac Graby 17. – Charlie Geibel 18. – Dylan Cordier 19. – Cody Kohler 20. – Dylan Hahn

Champ Karts (20 Laps) — 1. Doug Stearly 2. – Quentin Graham Jr 3. – Missy Bootes 4. – Tyler Brown 5. – Todd Crenshaw 6. – Cody Crenshaw 7. – Alex Smolders 8. – Brandon Rusczek 9. – Tanner Emmons 10. – Chase Keister 11. – Brandon Tiezzi 12. – Ryan Kendall 13. – Gabrian Goley 14. – Andy Kirby 15. – Oliver Quinney 16. – Max Pfeifer 17. – AJ Roderick 18. – Hailey Eroh 19. – AJ Ghazarian 20. – John Berger

Indoor Auto Racing PR

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) today announced several leadership updates within its Competition department ahead of the 2026 NASCAR Cup and Truck Series’ seasons.

Drew Blickensderfer will transition from his prior role as Crew Chief of the No. 4 and Noah Gragson and will become the organization’s Competition Director. In his new role, Blickensderfer will work alongside current Technical Director Seth Barbour, who will continue to lead the organization’s technical direction and engineering efforts. A 17-year NASCAR Cup Series Crew Chief veteran, Blickensderfer leaves the pit box with four wins, 30 top-five and 85 top-10 finishes, most notably winning the 2009 Daytona 500 with Matt Kenseth and 2021 Daytona 500 with Michael McDowell.

Grant Hutchens will assume the role of Crew Chief for Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Hutchens brings extensive NASCAR experience, beginning his career with Evernham Motorsports, where he spent five years. Hutchens later moved to Richard Childress Racing where he served as the race engineer for Paul Menard, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Newman. Most recently, Hutchens worked at Team Penske, where he joined Ryan Blaney’s team during Blaney’s NASCAR Cup Series rookie season in 2016 and served in several different lead engineering roles before assuming the position as the organization’s test team Crew Chief in 2025.

FRM also announced that Jonathan DeHart has joined the organization as the Aerodynamics Manager, overseeing the team’s aerodynamic operations. DeHart brings a strong background to Front Row Motorsports, having previously held key roles most recently as the IndyCar Aero Car Chief for GM Racing and as Body Production Manager at Hendrick Motorsports.

“We are very fortunate, and I am extremely excited to add experienced, talented people like Grant and Jonathan to leadership roles in the organization”, said Front Row Motorsports team owner, Bob Jenkins. “With the inclusion of our Truck Series teams, we operate (5) full-time teams and I’m equally as excited to have Drew turn his attention to providing direction and guidance to our crew chiefs and competition group as a whole. Having Drew in this new role for us and Seth being able to focus on the technical aspects within our team, it puts us in a better position to execute on the track and achieve our goals in 2026.”

The changes go into effect immediately as the team has testing planned this month at North Wilkesboro (Cup) and Rockingham (Truck) heading into the season’s first Cup Series event at the Bowman Gray Clash on February 1st.

FRM PR

     Race For The Seat is a competition reality series where 15 aspiring drivers battle for a coveted spot on the Kaulig Racing team behind the wheel of a Ram 1500 in the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

•       The eight-episode series hosted by Jacob Lofland taps into the dream of becoming a race car driver, appealing to motorsports fans and general sports audiences alike

•       Ram’s reentry is a strategic move to connect with a core audience of truck owners

•       The series provides a high-performance stage to showcase Ram’s next-generation trucks and the grit of grassroots racing talent

•       Race For The Seat will premiere in the United States on FOX on Sunday, January 25, at 12pm ET with new episodes airing for free across the globe on RAM’s official YouTube Channel for the show – youtube.com/RAMRacefortheSeat – from January 26 through February 6

Ram is charging back into the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series — the way that only Ram can. In partnership with Thrill Sports Productions, Ram is launching Race For The Seat, a bold new reality competition series that gives 15 aspiring drivers the chance of a lifetime: to earn a spot in one of five Ram 1500 race trucks on the Kaulig Racing team for the 2026 season.

Over eight adrenaline-fueled episodes, contestants will go head-to-head on iconic tracks, including Virginia International Raceway and South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Viewers will get an inside look at the drivers’ lives, their triumphs and setbacks, and the raw determination it takes to rise through the ranks of motorsports.

“Ram is an iconic American brand, and I’m excited to partner up with them for their new reality series, Race for the Seat,” said Dana White, UFC CEO. “This reality show is all about finding up-and-coming drivers and giving them a massive platform. The best always rise to the top in this type of competition. We are going to find the next generation of superstars for the NASCAR truck series,” added White.

The series will feature unfiltered, behind-the-scenes commentary from UFC CEO Dana White, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis and Kaulig Racing Team Owner Matt Kaulig — offering fans a rare look at the business, strategy, and heart of racing. Special guest appearances will add to drama both on and off the track.

“We promised Ram would approach NASCAR differently — and Race For The Seat is proof. Sometimes raw talent isn’t enough. Many successful careers start with an opportunity, a lucky break — or in my case, a good old-fashioned kick in the ass,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram.

“There’s no one better at building champions than Dana White, which puts this show ‘in the draft’ before it even begins. Among these competitors, talent is a given. What we’re looking for is heart, hustle, attitude, and an insane drive to succeed — someone who lives our ‘Last Tenth’ culture. When a driver rises from a field of 15, it’ll be their shot, their break — and knowing Dana, probably a few kicks — that lead to a life-changing moment by the time we get to Daytona,” Kuniskis added.

Ram recently announced Kaulig Racing as the anchor factory team for the truck maker’s highly anticipated return to NASCAR, starting with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026.

“Race for the Seat is a great opportunity for the next generation of drivers to show what they’ve got,” said Matt Kaulig, Owner of Kaulig Racing. “Working with RAM to bring this show to life allows us to think differently, push the limits, and give these talented drivers a platform they wouldn’t normally have. I can’t wait to see who earns the seat and joins us on the track.”

Race For The Seat will place the winner in the final seat on Kaulig Racing’s five-truck lineup for 2026:

1. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
2. Daniel Dye
3. Justin Haley
4. Free Agent
5. Race For The Seat

Race For The Seat will premiere in the United States on FOX on Sunday, January 25, at 12pm ET with new episodes airing for free across the globe on RAM’s official YouTube Channel for the show – youtube.com/RAMRacefortheSeat – from January 26 through February 6. Race For The Seat episodes will also be available on FS1. Check local listings.

Follow Race For The Seat on Instagram (@racefortheseat), Facebook (@racefortheseat), TikTok (@racefortheseat), X (@racefortheseat) and Snapchat (@racefortheseat).

RAM PR

NASCAR Cup Series veteran Michael McDowell has announced that he will make just his fifth career Craftsman Truck Series start in 2026.

The 41-year-old driver of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet has decided to pull double duty in Florida to open the 2026 season, competing not only in the Daytona 500, which he won in 2021, but also in the Truck Series’ Fresh From Florida 250 for Spire.

McDowell’s No. 7 Chevrolet will be sponsored by Tibbetts Lumber Company as he takes on his second career Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Should he manage to reach victory lane, it would mark his first-ever Truck Series win and mean he has won at least one race in all three national series.

“I have a great deal of respect for the Tibbetts Lumber team,” McDowell said in a statement. “They’ve helped me on my own property and their team truly combines outstanding service with a high-quality product. 

“It’s special to have them racing with us at Daytona, and earning a win in all three national series is something I’ve wanted to make happen for a long time. I think we’ll have a real opportunity to do that on Friday night in Daytona in our Tibbetts Lumber Chevy Silverado.”

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As for Tibbetts, company CEO, Russ Hallenbeck said, “Tibbetts Lumber Co. is thrilled to be the primary sponsor of the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Michael McDowell. 

“Being that we are headquartered in Florida, Daytona International Speedway has become a very special place for us come springtime. We are honored to be teaming up with Spire Motorsports and Michael this February.”

The Fresh From Florida 250 is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 13, the day after the America 250 Florida Duels, which will set the starting grid for the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

McDowell competed twice in the Truck Series in 2025 for Spire, including a 26th-place finish at Daytona, followed by a career-best 12th-place finish the following race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Prior to these events, he had not competed in trucks since a one-off appearance for ThorSport Racing in 2009.

As for the Cup Series, McDowell’s overall record at Daytona is mixed, with one win, one further top five, three top 10s, and four top 20s in 16 attempts  – two of which he failed to qualify for.

Another win, or at least a top five/10, would be a welcome start to the season for McDowell, who failed to win in 2024 – his debut season for Spire after seven years with Front Row Motorsports. In fact, his most recent series win came back in 2023 with the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.

This year, he’ll be battling for the bragging rights at Spire alongside Carson Hocevar once again, with the youngster returning for his third season with the team, while Daniel Suarez has taken the place of Justin Haley, who now competes in the Truck Series for Kaulig Racing.