In the heart of NASCAR’s off-season buzz, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has locked in one of its most consistent performers for another year. On January 9, 2026, the Welcome, North Carolina-based team announced that Austin Hill (pictured) will return to pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity Series) for his fifth consecutive season.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The news came wrapped in a multi-year partnership extension with Bennett Family of Companies, the anchor primary sponsor that’s been with Hill since his rookie campaign with RCR in 2022. Bennett Transportation & Logistics will once again deck out the No. 21 car in its signature livery, continuing a collaboration that’s proven mutually beneficial both on the track and in the boardroom.

Hill, the Winston, Georgia native, has built an impressive resume during his time at RCR. He’s captured the 2023 regular season championship, qualified for the Playoffs in every one of his four seasons with the team, and racked up 14 wins since 2022—including a standout performance in 2025 that saw him secure four victories and lock the No. 21 into the Championship 4 via owner points after his Talladega triumph.

His dominance on drafting-style tracks has even eclipsed records once held by NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart.

“We’ve built something special both on and off the track with Bennett Transportation and Logistics,” Hill said in the announcement. “Thank you to Marcia, Lynette and everyone at Bennett Family of Companies for their partnership and friendship over the years. It means a lot to have their support, as well as the support of Richard Childress, Danny Lawrence and everyone at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines as I continue to grow in my career.”

The partnership with Bennett isn’t just about paint schemes—it’s a strategic alliance. The Georgia-headquartered, woman-owned company (WBENC-certified) has leveraged its NASCAR involvement to boost customer relationships, promote safety culture, recruit drivers, and spark new business growth in trucking, specialized logistics, and more. With over 4,625 drivers/owner-operators and a nationwide network, Bennett sees the No. 21 program as a rolling showcase of teamwork and performance.

Lynette Mathis, vice president of Bennett Family of Companies, echoed the enthusiasm:

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Richard Childress Racing and Austin Hill in 2026. Bennett customers, drivers, agents and employees continue to find value in the relationship. We love watching the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet on the track and seeing the sense of community it creates within our company. Our partnership with RCR and Austin Hill continues to reflect the teamwork, performance and professionalism that define success in both racing and transportation and complex logistics.”

RCR president Mike Verlander highlighted the shared values driving the long-term commitment:

 “The Bennett Family of Companies’ long-standing partnership with Richard Childress Racing is a testament to our shared core values and we are thrilled to welcome them back to the No. 21 team for their fifth consecutive year of partnership. Bennett has done an exceptional job integrating our racing program into their broader business strategy. We look forward to continuing the momentum we have built over the last four years.”

With Hill confirmed alongside defending series champion Jesse Love in the No. 2 Chevrolet, RCR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series lineup remains unchanged heading into 2026—no driver swaps needed after a strong showing last season. In the Cup Series, veterans Austin Dillon (No. 3) and Kyle Busch (No. 8) round out a stable team ready to chase more checkered flags.

The green flag for the 2026 season drops soon: The United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway kicks things off on Saturday, February 14, airing live on The CW Network at 5 p.m. ET. For Hill and the No. 21 squad, it’s another shot at turning strong momentum into that elusive series championship—backed by a sponsor and team that believe in the driver and the dream. Stay tuned; the road to Victory Lane looks promising.

Former ARCA Menards Series winner Austin Green (No. 82 PRG Chevrolet) led the way on the second and final day of the ARCA Menards Series annual pre-race practice at Daytona International Speedway. Green timed in at 49.202 seconds/182.919 miles per hour. 

Green’s lap was just 0.002 seconds quicker than reigning ASA STARS National Tour super late model champion Cole Butcher (No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford). Butcher’s lap of 49.204 seconds/182.912 miles per hour was just in front of the Kitzmiller duo, reigning ARCA Menards Series East champion Isaac (No. 79 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet), and his father Jason (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet). Isaac timed in at 49.217 seconds/182.864 miles per hour in his first-ever laps in the draft, while Jason was just behind at 49.230 seconds/182.815 miles per hour. 

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Gio Ruggiero (No. 18 JBL Toyota) was fifth quickest on Saturday at 49.261 seconds/182.700 miles per hour. 

Mini Tyrell (No. 17 Cook Racing Technologies Chevrolet), Taylor Reimer (No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet), Carson Brown (No. 82B PRG Chevrolet), Nolan Wilson (No. 69 Kimmel Racing Ford) and his teammate Alli Owens (No. 69 Kimmel Racing Ford) rounded out Saturday’s top ten. 

Gus Dean (No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) set the fastest lap of the weekend on Friday, running in a tight six-car draft with his teammates at the end of the day. Dean’s lap at 48.744 seconds/184.638 miles per hour was nearly a half-second quicker than the lap Green turned on Saturday. The top seven speeds of the weekend were set on Friday, with the remainder of the weekend’s top ten speeds turned on Saturday. 

Saturday’s activities were only slowed for track inspections and debris, but Friday’s action was stopped twice for accidents on the racetrack. The first was for Amber Balcaen (No. 24 Sigma Performance Services Ford), who spun exiting the tri-oval after debris punctured her left rear tire. Balcaen’s car had heavy nose damage and was done for the weekend, although she did return to the track in the backup car. The second incident on Friday happened exiting turn two when Bob Martin (No. 52 Martin Racing Toyota) lost control and made slight contact with the outside wall, damaging the left rear of the car. Martin was also uninjured in the crash. 

The 2026 ARCA Menards Series season revs into action on Saturday, February 14 with the 64th annual Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway. The race will be televised live on FOX starting at noon ET; the race will also be broadcast live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and on select MRN Radio affiliates nationwide. 

For live Timing & Scoring data for all on-track activity, please visit ARCARacing.com; follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates. 

ARCA PR

With just over a month to go until the NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series gets underway in Florida with the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has confirmed that 2023 regular season champion Austin Hill is back.

The 31-year-old will return behind the wheel of the No. 21 Chevrolet for a fifth season in a row in search of the team’s seventh championship, while he’ll also be looking to add to his 14 series wins to date.

Furthermore, the team’s announcement also added that Bennett Transportation & Logistics would be returning as a part of its multi-year partnership to serve as Hill’s anchor primary sponsor.

“We’ve built something special both on and off the track with Bennett Transportation and Logistics,” Hill said. “Thank you to Marcia, Lynette and everyone at Bennett Family of Companies for their partnership and friendship over the years.

“It means a lot to have their support, as well as the support of Richard Childress, Danny Lawrence and everyone at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines as I continue to grow in my career.”

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RCR president Mike Verlander also released a statement, saying, “The Bennett Family of Companies’ long-standing partnership with Richard Childress Racing is a testament to our shared core values and we are thrilled to welcome them back to the No. 21 team for their fifth consecutive year of partnership.

“Bennett has done an exceptional job integrating our racing program into their broader business strategy. We look forward to continuing the momentum we have built over the last four years.”

Hill will be hoping to continue his impressive winning streak in 2026, having recorded at least two victories in each of his last four seasons, never finishing lower than sixth in the driver standings after going full-time.

A championship, however, continues to elude him, having come closest in 2024 when he finished fourth, while JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier took the silverware.

Last season, despite Hill’s four wins, including two at Talladega Superspeedway, he failed to make the final four, where teammate Jesse Love pulled off a shocking upset to beat JRM’s Connor Zilisch to the title. This came after Zilisch had won 10 races in what was just his first full-time season, while Love was credited with two wins, including the finale at Phoenix Raceway.

With both Love and Hill now confirmed as RCR’s representatives in the O’Reilly’s Series for 2026, it means that, along with Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch in the Cup Series, the team has not made any driver swaps this offseason.

The latter two are set to return behind the wheel sooner than their RCR compatriots, with the non-points scoring Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium set to kick off the Cup Series season on February 1. Barring any as yet unconfirmed changes, Zilisch will make his Trackhouse Racing debut at “The Madhouse” as he makes the move to full-time Cup Series racing.

A marvel of modern drivetrain engineering, TREMEC’s TR-9070 DCT pairs with the 760-horsepower Predator engine in the 2020-2022 Shelby GT500 to deliver an incredible driving experience. Blindingly fast shifts and ample torque capacity make the TR-9070 a standout, but the factory transmission cooler hard lines and seals don’t always hold up their end of the bargain. Leaks, sealing issues, and cracked factory lines can rain on your performance parade.

To ensure that you can enjoy all the performance that the Blue Oval intended, SPE Motorsport developed a complete replacement that eliminates the factory problem areas. The company’s 2020+ GT500 DCT Cooler Line Kit (P/N SPE-P100136; $399.99) is a true end-to-end solution, replacing the OEM hard lines with a direct-replacement upgrade that installs without cutting, adapting, or relying on compression fittings.

The kit utilizes T6 billet aluminum, anodized adapter fittings that are paired with O-ringed quick-disconnects to deliver a precise, repeatable seal. Stainless braided lines with a clear PVC jacket improve durability and remain flexible for clean, straightforward routing. Each hose is pre-made to the correct length with fittings already installed, which makes installation easy.

By retaining compatibility with factory-style seals while addressing the known weaknesses of the OEM line design, the SPE kit resolves the full range of cooler line failures in a single upgrade. Whether the car is driven hard or just hard parked, the result is improved reliability and peace of mind.

Porsche is bringing a piece of its racing past to the streets of Mexico City, where its two factory-run Porsche 99X Electric cars will wear a special livery at the second ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race of the season in the country’s capital. The design nods to the 550 Spyder driven by Hans Herrmann at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, Mexico’s best-known road race.

Herrmann won the “Sport” category for cars up to 1,500 cc and finished third overall. Porsche says the widely acclaimed result helped underline its early international motorsport standing and, along with further successes in 1952 and 1953, contributed to the creation of the Porsche name “Carrera.”

‟Historically and still today, Mexico is a special place for us,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. ‟Porsche’s story in electric motorsport is still young, but the circuit in Mexico City has played a defining part in it. Our factory team took its first Formula E pole position and first victory here, in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Nowhere else has Porsche been more successful in Formula E. The livery honours our motorsport heritage and the Mexican fans at the same time. It is also a thank-you to a country that welcomes us so warmly in Formula E every year.”

The appearance also connects to a milestone ahead. In 2026, Porsche says it will celebrate 75 years of motorsport, a history it traces back to 1951 with the Porsche 356 SL and a class win at Le Mans. Laudenbach draws a parallel between eras, noting that the 550 Spyder was the first Porsche designed specifically for racing, while the 99X Electric is the first Porsche developed solely for all-electric motorsport. Laudenbach: ‟Our heritage in traditional motorsport is unique and is reflected in every Porsche. In the future, we want to be able to say the same in all-electric motorsport. That is why we are competing in Formula E. We want to write stories – and history.”

Porsche also points to how the 550 Spyder’s Panamericana effort reflected an evolving racing landscape. Its aluminium bodywork carried multiple brand logos from companies supporting the campaign, at a time when sponsorship was still a relatively new concept in motorsport. Porsche says that influence helped shape some of the most memorable liveries across 75 years of Porsche Motorsport, and the variety of colors that has become part of its racing identity.

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