What’s Happening?

As teams in NASCAR’s two other National Series continue to finalize their rosters for 2026, one series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, still has quite a few open seats in its field.

• This article will focus on rides that are known to have openings, rather than those that currently sit in an unknown status.
• As of press time, several teams have yet to announce a new driver or returning driver for several rides, such as the TRICON Garage No. 5 or Spire Motorsports No. 77.
• Fortunately, we do know that a handful of rides are currently open, as there are several seats that are either new or have seen their former driver promoted or signed to another team.

No. 14 | Kaulig Racing | New Entry

The No. 14 truck remains as one of the final mysteries of Ram Trucks’ 2026 return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition.

Since June, when Kaulig Racing first announced its intentions to field five full-time Ram Trucks during the upcoming Truck Series Season, the team has announced three full-time drivers and a fourth truck reserved for ‘free agent drivers’.

The final truck, the No. 14, is rumored to be reserved for the winner or winners of a reality TV show competition that pits grassroots racers against one another for a spot at Kaulig in 2026. As of mid-December, neither the reality show nor the drivers competing in the show have been officially announced.

No. 71 | Spire Motorsports | Formerly Driven by: Rajah Caruth

Spire Motorsports began the 2025 season with four full-time trucks, after bringing in yet another part-time ‘All-Star’ truck, the No. 07.  Eventually, the team would trim that down to three, cutting out the No. 07, while reshuffling their roster for the remainder of the season.

Entering the offseason, there were lingering rumors that the team could continue to cut down its lineup for 2026. Still, these plans have yet to be announced, and, despite fan speculation, it does not look like Spire will exit the series entirely any time soon.

Nonetheless, their 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff ride, the No. 71, is open thanks to the promotion of Rajah Caruth to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Though they could opt for a veteran driver, there are plenty of young drivers in the Chevrolet system that could take over the ride if it returns in 2026.

No. 98 | ThorSport Racing | Formerly Driven by: Ty Majeski

Ford’s top NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team has an opening entering the 2026 season, thanks in part to the retirement of longtime ThorSport Racing driver Matt Crafton.

Rather than hire a new face to pilot the No. 88 truck that the team has built itself around, ThorSport opted to move 2024 truck series champion, Majeski, out of his No. 98 and into the No. 88.

There are a few rumors as to who could take over the No. 98 truck, though. In the opinion of many online fans, the team’s 2025 part-time drivers, like Luke Fenhaus and Luke Baldwin, seem like obvious potential candidates.

No. TBA | Halmar Friesen Racing | New Entry

Towards the end of the 2025 season, Halmar Friesen Racing Crew Chief Jimmy Villenueve confirmed the team’s intentions to bring on a second full-time truck for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. 

This would be a follow-up to the team’s part-time effort this past season, the No. 62, which entered seven races for drivers Wesley Slimp, Cole Butcher, and Mike Christopher, Jr.

There are very few rumors as to who will drive the second truck for the team in 2026, though Slimp and Butcher could be a potential option for the Toyota team, alongside a few other names in the Toyota pipeline.

This article will be updated throughout the 2025-26 offseason.

MOORESVILLE, NC, January 17, 2025 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Patrick Emerling today announced he is partnering with GOAT Power Bikes for the The LiUNA! NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025.

“GOAT Power Bikes is thrilled to partner with Snow Belt MGMT to sponsor Patrick Emerling for the NASCAR Xfinity Series as the primary sponsor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and as an associate sponsor for the 2025 season,” said GOAT Power Bikes owner Bryson Goodman. Patrick embodies the drive, precision, and passion that align perfectly with our brand values, and we’re excited to support him as he races to success this season. Together, we’re charging ahead, both on the track and beyond.”

Frequently described as “The Harley Davidson of E-Bike Brands,” GOAT Power Bikes leads the charge for building powerful, affordable, and reliable e-bikes that empower riders to conquer any terrain. GOAT’s base model bikes have a 48MPH top speed with a price point of under $2,800, making them the best bang for your buck for anything in its class.

Based in San Diego, California, GOAT Power Bikes are designed with cutting-edge technology and built for adventure. Whether navigating city streets, exploring rugged trails, or cruising along the coast, GOAT Power Bikes inspires riders to embrace the freedom of the open road and redefine their limits.

“I’m stoked to partner with GOAT,” said Emerling. “I love anything with a motor and grew up riding dirt bikes, so these e-bikes are perfect for me. I usually race on four wheels, but I’ll do it on two. GOAT’s e-bikes are incredible, and I can’t wait to introduce them to the NASCAR fanbase.”

GOAT is offering fans a 5% discount on purchases with code NASCAR.

Visit https://www.goatpowerbikes.com to see their full lineup of e-bikes.

Emerling will make an announcement on his full 2025 season plans shortly.

The LiUNA! NASCAR Xfinity Series Race (200 laps | 300 miles) is the fifth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2025 schedule. Practice starts on Friday, March 14 at 3:05 p.m. immediately followed by qualifying. The field is set to take the green flag the next day at 1:30 p.m. with live coverage on The CW, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

For more information on Patrick Emerling, visit https://www.patrickemerlingracing.com or follow him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PatrickEmerling07), X (https://twitter.com/PatrickEmerling) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/patrickemerling).

Source: Snow Belt MGMT

“Animosity ends with accountability.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports recently settled their lawsuit against NASCAR. Post settlement, all teams will be offered to sign a new evergreen charter agreement. This will make charters permanent.

Charters are now franchises with teams sharing a portion of revenue. They also guarantee a starting position in every race for the 36 charter holders.

NASCAR lawsuit settled; Comments from both sides

Back in October 2024, Hamlin stated via X, “While censorship is a big topic in today’s media world, Channel 90 might be the poster child.”

He added, “An interview didn’t go the way they hoped after our attorney continued to state fact after fact even tho they tried their best to refute, they have since edited/deleted that interview off of their channels because the narrative doesn’t fit their beliefs. If that doesn’t convince you of the bias then nothing will.”

The settlement is a win for the sport as a whole. But, Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing is circling back…

Fast forward to 2025: Hamlin now expects an apology

Hamlin hasn’t forgotten about that moment from last year…

Hamlin asked Larry Mcreynolds on Tuesday, “Good morning. Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?”

“I believe it was ‘how dare them for trying to come in and change the sport. 23XI hasn’t been around long enough and FRM wasn’t good enough.’ Also how about ‘I dont know what their problem is, 13 other teams signed it.’ Just to name a few examples.”

“Well because I believe that once the actual facts and documents were released it was contradictory to the narrative that was being pushed. Larry is a very hard working analyst. Hopefully he took the time to analyze the situation post settlement and revise his thoughts.”

“Animosity ends with accountability.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr predicts a surge in the cost of NASCAR charters

Links

NASCAR | 23XI Racing | Front Row Motorsports

Liberty University (LibertyU), one of the founding partners of William Byron’s career in NASCAR, is significantly scaling back its sponsorship of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for a second consecutive year.

The educational institution, along with Hendrick Motorsports, confirmed on Wednesday that it would be sponsoring the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Byron in three NASCAR Cup Series events for the upcoming season — slashing in half the six-race program the school occupied in 2025.

Hey LibertyU and @TeamHendrick fans! 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion and two-time DAYTONA 500 winner @WilliamByron will be racing the LU24 Chevrolet for three races in 2026 – check out the schedule now! https://t.co/yIn7qcr2hQ pic.twitter.com/iSW6QMGa7V

— Liberty University (@LibertyU) December 17, 2025

This marks the second straight campaign that LibertyU has cut its primary sponsorship program for Byron in half, slashing its presence on the No. 24 Chevrolet to six races for 2025, after sponsoring 12 races in 2024.

Byron, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season champion, will be carrying the colors of his long-time partner, LibertyU, at Watkins Glen International (May 10), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26), and Martinsville Speedway (November 1).

Liberty University has been a major sponsorship partner of William Byron for more than a decade, adorning his racecars as he climbed through the ranks of Late Models, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and into the NASCAR Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in the history of the sport.

In his eight seasons competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron has been to Victory Lane 16 times — thrice with Liberty University on board the No. 24 Chevrolet (Daytona 2020, Atlanta 2022, Texas 2023).

Between the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and K&N Pro Series East (now ARCA Menards Series East), Byron has been to Victory Lane a total of 13 times with Liberty University serving as the primary sponsor of his racecar.

The 28-year-old driver has proven himself as a perennial championship contender in the NASCAR Cup Series, putting his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team into the Championship 4 in each of the last three seasons. Byron has three four top-six points finishes and five top-10 points finishes.

In addition to the three-race sponsorship for Liberty University on the No. 24 Chevrolet in 2026, William Byron will also have backing from Raptor Coatings, Valvoline, Anduril, All-Pro Auto Reconditioning, Phorm Energy, Cincinnati Inc, and Z by HP.

Formula 1 runs deeper than just Sundays at the track. For plenty of fans, the sport’s rush, fast laps, razor-edge gambles, and glitz pour into other pastimes. Lately, digital casinos have jumped in, and now F1-inspired slots are everywhere. The quick-fire spins feel like speeding laps.

Flashing car symbols, turbo bonuses, the roar of imaginary engines, developers lace it all together, aiming right at racing die-hards who want a taste of race day off the asphalt. If you ask Car Throttle, close to 40% of racing lovers say these immersive F1 themes actually make them more likely to play. Marrying speed and stakes has carved out its place among motorsport’s most passionate.

F1 Emotion Meets Slot Mechanics

Rush. Heart-thumping risk. A winner or a wipeout in seconds. Formula 1 delivers that, but so do the best slot games. A spin around the reels almost echoes a grand prix lap: anticipation, a jolt of hope, abrupt wins or letdowns. Pro Hockey News notes how F1 fans gravitate to games that channel motorsport chaos.

Suddenly, a slot’s win feels like a daring overtake, a crushing loss like a blown engine. None of it happens accidentally; game designers ramp up volatility to mirror F1’s on-the-edge energy. Most F1 slots set their risk high, reflecting not just the pace but the unpredictability that racing fans are hooked on. Every spin cranks up the tension, serving up a fresh slice of that high-stakes drama familiar from the grid.

Immersive Racing Design Attracts New Players

Design teams aren’t subtle; their aim is instant recognition. Online slots featuring stylized cars, helmets, or racetrack symbols aim for instant recognition. They drop players onto circuits that look suspiciously like Monaco, toss them bonus pit stop rounds, and dress up the audio in engines and cheers, like you’re trackside, but with a mouse click. Monaco backdrops. Helmets gleaming. Crowds roaring.

Even “Nitro Boost” or “Race Spin” features boost the fever, reminding fans of sudden on-track drama. F1 fans, spotting these cues, grasp the theme quickly. Now, entering the world of online slots doesn’t feel alien, especially next to games with no familiar landmarks. For those who already live for Sundays, stepping into the F1 slot lane is way less daunting than facing roulette wheels or endless columns of numbers.

Bonus Rounds Channel Race Strategy

What makes F1 slots stand out isn’t just the paintwork or the sound; they don’t just look and sound like racing; they play that way, too. Bonus rounds become mini-races. Maybe you’re asked to pick a car for a jackpot “shootout.” Possibly you gamble for multipliers, risking it all for a bigger score.

Car Throttle points out that strategic rounds, think “Pit Stops,” force you to make real choices under pressure. Some rounds crank up the risk for massive rewards, tossing in wild cards like a “Final Lap” boost. The structure starts to feel eerily familiar. It’s F1, but with every bet, the drama of the final corner is only ever one spin away.

Glamour, Volatility, and Tech Innovation

Race day glitz, velvet ropes, fancy paddocks, and champagne sprays, those luxury notes slip easily into the casino vibe. F1 slot promos often push that angle: big jackpots, slick graphics, Monaco’s neon glow. Pro Hockey News draws the parallel, Monaco as racing’s crown jewel and a gambling mecca.

Developers now push things further; new AR and VR game versions park you right on the circuit, put dashboards in your hands, and let you wander pit lane. This seems just the start. The next chapter for F1 slots is even more immersive, meant to hold fans in the fast lane well past the checkered flag.

Responsible Play for Racing Enthusiasts

All that excitement can cloud judgment. It’s easy to keep pressing for just one more spin, especially when racing thrills blend with betting. Setting limits and seeing slots strictly as a way to unwind matters. There are plenty of tools and agencies offering support if it gets overwhelming. Stay aware, and remember, the real victory is making sure the fun never slips out of control.

The most popular driver in NASCAR is about to carry the colors of the most powerful streamer on the planet in a bold new way. For three races in the 2026 season, Amazon Prime Video will sponsor Chase Elliot, flashing a new color scheme for his car.

Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will unveil a dramatically revised paint scheme for the 2026 season, a visual declaration of Amazon Prime Video’s deepening and aggressive stake in the sport’s future.

Which Races Will Chase Elliott Run With the Amazon Prime Livery in 2026?

Elliott is about to get a new color scheme for his car as Amazon Prime Video is sponsoring Chase Elliot for three races in the 2026 season. We will see the Amazon Prime Video on Elliott’s car next year at the Talladega, Texas, and the Dover All-Star Race.

The 2026 design shifts away from the brighter blues of the 2025 car, opting for darker, more aggressive tones. Added black accents and stronger contrast to give it a sharper, more authoritative look on track. The update deliberately distances the car from other blue-hued competitors, ensuring the $2.3 trillion tech behemoth’s rolling billboard stands utterly alone.

Amazon joined Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor for Chase Elliott starting in 2025. It also became the sport’s first direct-to-consumer media partner this year. Holding roles as a team sponsor and a broadcaster at the same time raised eyebrows in the NASCAR community.

This time, on-car promotions directly precede Prime Video’s second season of broadcasting five exclusive Cup Series races, which begin with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. For 2026, Prime Video will again serve as a primary sponsor for Elliott in three select races, continuing a partnership that runs firmly through 2027.

The No. 9 car will first wear the updated livery at Talladega Superspeedway in late April, then at Texas Motor Speedway, with a final primary appearance at the All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway in mid-May.

MORE: Chase Elliott’s Long-Ignored Warning Forces NASCAR To Reconsider the Next Gen Car

Prime’s broadcast schedule also features the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 7, and the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on June 14.

Prime Video first sponsored Chase Elliott in 2025 for races at Talladega and Kansas Speedway. Like last year, these races kick off Prime Video’s five-race stretch of NASCAR Cup Series broadcasts.

The Prime broadcast schedule wraps up with the Anduril 250 during NASCAR San Diego Weekend on June 21. The event brings all three of NASCAR’s national series to Naval Base Coronado, where the drivers will tackle a unique 16-turn, 3.4-mile street circuit.