Corey Heim finally did it. After three seasons of being the "almost" guy, the TRICON Garage ace parked his No. 11 Toyota in Victory Lane at Phoenix to seal the 2025 title. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. He dominated. Honestly, if you followed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results last year, you saw this coming from a mile away, but the way he fended off Ty Majeski and Kaden Honeycutt in those final laps was something else.
Now we're sitting in January 2026. The engines are cold, but the shop floors in Mooresville are chaotic. We are less than a month away from the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona.
The 2025 Finale and Why It Still Matters
People forget how close the championship battle actually was. Ty Majeski was right there. He finished second in the race and second in the standings. Kaden Honeycutt, who has been the breakout star of the last twelve months, grabbed third.
Heim's 2025 season was statistically ridiculous: 12 wins. Let that sink in. In a series known for parity and "big ones" at superspeedways, one guy took home over half the trophies. Layne Riggs finished fourth in the finale, proving that Front Row Motorsports isn't just a Cup Series feeder team anymore.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule Shakeup
The 2026 calendar is weird. In a good way. We’re getting a street race in St. Petersburg on February 28. Can you imagine a full field of 3,400-pound trucks bouncing off the curbs in Florida? It’s going to be carnage.
Here is what the start of the 2026 season looks like:
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- February 13: Daytona International Speedway (The big season opener)
- February 21: EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
- February 28: St. Petersburg Street Circuit (The wildcard)
- March 20: Darlington Raceway (The "Too Tough to Tame" spring date)
NASCAR also brought back Rockingham Speedway for April 3. Seeing the trucks back at "The Rock" feels right. It’s a high-wear surface that actually rewards drivers who know how to save tires instead of just mashing the gas.
The RAM Invasion and the Kaulig Gamble
The biggest story of the 2026 off-season isn't a driver move. It's a manufacturer. RAM is back. After a 14-year hiatus, the RAM silverados—wait, they're just RAM trucks now—are hitting the grid.
Kaulig Racing is the flagship for the brand. They’ve got a five-truck program, which is massive for a series that usually sees teams field two or three entries. They’ve even got a reality show competition going on to fill their fifth seat. It’s kinda gimmicky, sure, but it's bringing eyes to the series.
The Kaulig/RAM Lineup for 2026:
- Daniel Dye (No. 10)
- Brenden Queen (No. 12 - "Butterbean" makes his full-time debut)
- Tony Stewart (No. 25 - Smoke is running the Daytona opener)
- Justin Haley (No. 16 - Part-time)
NASCAR actually had to update the rulebook this week specifically for RAM. They added "OEM Provisionals." Basically, if the RAMs are slow in qualifying for the first three races, NASCAR will let them start 37th through 40th anyway. They want the new trucks on the track, not headed home on a trailer.
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Driver Shuffles You Need to Know
Stewart Friesen is back. After that scary dirt modified crash last July, there were real questions about whether he’d ever race again. He’s walking unassisted now and confirmed he'll be in the No. 52 Toyota at Daytona.
Frankie Muniz is also going full-time. He’s with Team Reaume in the No. 33 Ford. People like to joke because of the Malcolm in the Middle connection, but the guy has shown decent pace in ARCA. The Truck Series is a different beast, though. The aero push in these trucks is unforgiving.
Then there’s Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time Cup champ is doing a "one-off" at the San Diego Naval Base Coronado street race in June. He’ll be in a TRICON Toyota. Seeing Jimmie in a truck feels like a fever dream, but it's happening.
What Most People Get Wrong About Truck Results
Casual fans think the Truck Series is just about "the big one" at Daytona. It’s not. Look at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results from the short tracks last year. That’s where the championship was won.
Corey Heim didn't win the title at Talladega. He won it by being perfect at Martinsville and Bristol. In 2026, the schedule is even heavier on technical tracks. If you can't handle a truck that's "sideways-loose" on a 1.0-mile oval like Rockingham or Dover, you’re not going to make the Round of 8.
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Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the results this year, keep an eye on the lug nut penalties. NASCAR just changed the rules. One loose lug nut? You lose pit selection for the next race. Two? A $5,000 fine and a crew member suspension. Four? Disqualification. This is going to ruin someone’s season early on.
Key things to watch for in February:
- Watch the RAMs: Don't expect them to win Daytona. New manufacturers usually struggle with cooling and drafting aerodynamics in their first outing.
- The "Butterbean" Factor: Brenden Queen is a short-track legend. If he survives Daytona and Atlanta, watch him dominate the spring short-track swing.
- Drafting Strategy: With Michael McDowell and Ross Chastain running part-time schedules in the opening weeks, the Cup veterans will dictate the pace.
The 2026 season officially kicks off in less than a month. Between the return of RAM, the addition of street courses, and a hungry field trying to dethrone Corey Heim, the record books are about to get a lot more interesting.
Check the qualifying results for Daytona on February 12. That’s when we’ll see if the RAM trucks actually have the raw speed to compete with the Chevys and Toyotas. If they're at the bottom of the charts, those new provisionals are going to be the most talked-about rule in the garage.