If you haven't been paying attention to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series lately, you've picked a hell of a time to jump back in. Honestly, the 2026 season feels like someone took the traditional NASCAR playbook, threw it into a blender, and hit the "extreme" setting. We aren't just talking about a few new names on the entry list; we’re looking at a total fundamental shift in how the sport operates, from a massive manufacturer shake-up to a brand-new (well, technically old-school) championship format.
Basically, the "Silly Season" didn't just happen this year—it exploded.
The Return of the Chase and Why It Changes Everything
For over a decade, we’ve lived in the era of the elimination playoffs. You know the drill: rounds of three, win and you're in, and a frantic four-way showdown at the finale. Forget all of that. For nascar truck racing today, the big headline is the death of the elimination rounds.
NASCAR decided to pivot back to a "Chase" format for 2026. This isn't just a name change. In this new 10-race postseason, the top 16 drivers qualify based on their regular-season performance, but then they stay in the hunt for the entire ten races. No more "Game 7" moments every three weeks. Instead, it’s a cumulative points battle among the elite 16. If you have one bad race at Bristol, you aren't automatically doomed, but you’ll have to be nearly perfect for the rest of the stretch to claw back.
They’ve also juiced the points for winning. A victory now nets you 55 points instead of 40. The message is clear: winning matters more than ever, but consistency is finally being rewarded again.
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Ram is Back (and They’re Doing Things Differently)
If you walked through the garage at Daytona right now, you’d see a sight that would’ve seemed impossible two years ago. Ram is back in the building. After more than a decade away, the "horns" are returning to the track through a massive technical partnership with Kaulig Racing.
But they aren't just showing up with a truck and a driver. They're turning the whole thing into a spectacle. Kaulig is running five trucks, and the ways they're filling those seats are... unusual.
- The Big Names: Justin Haley is back full-time in the Truck Series for the first time since 2018. That’s a massive get for the series.
- The Legend: Tony Stewart is actually coming out of retirement to wheel a Ram 1500 at the Daytona season opener on February 13.
- The Reality Show: One of the seats (the No. 14) is being reserved for the winner of a reality competition called "Race for the Seat." It’s a bit gimmicky, sure, but it’s generating the kind of buzz the series hasn't seen in years.
The Schedule: Street Races and "The Rock"
The 2026 calendar is a fever dream for fans who grew up on 90s racing. We are heading back to Rockingham Speedway on April 3. Let that sink in. "The Rock" has been a ghost track for years, and seeing the trucks roar back onto that gritty North Carolina surface is going to be a highlight of the spring.
But it’s not all nostalgia. NASCAR is pushing into weird new territory too. In June, the series heads to San Diego for a street race at Naval Base Coronado. Jimmie Johnson—the seven-time Cup champ—has already confirmed he’s running that one. It’s a 25-race schedule that feels much more diverse than the cookie-cutter intermediate track loops of the past.
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We've got road courses like Lime Rock Park and Watkins Glen, short track brawls at North Wilkesboro and Martinsville, and the usual high-intensity chaos at Talladega and Daytona. It's a grueling mix.
A Massive Driver Roster Shake-up
Corey Heim, the dominant force of the last couple of years, isn't here to defend his crown. He’s moving toward more Cup Series commitments, leaving a massive power vacuum.
Tricon Garage has tapped Kaden Honeycutt to take over the No. 11 Toyota. Honeycutt has been the "super-sub" for years, finally getting his shot at a full-time, championship-caliber ride. Meanwhile, at ThorSport Racing, the legendary Matt Crafton has finally stepped away from full-time racing after 25 years. That feels like the end of an era. Ty Majeski is moving into Crafton's old No. 88 slot, while Canadian Late Model star Cole Butcher joins the team in the No. 13.
And then there's the "movie star" factor. Frankie Muniz is back. He’s driving the No. 33 Ford for Team Reaume. People love to meme it, but Muniz has shown real heart and decent speed. He’s not just a hobbyist; he’s a racer who’s putting in the work.
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New Rules You’ll Actually Notice
NASCAR tweaked the technical side for 2026 in ways that actually affect the racing product, not just the stuff under the hood.
One of the most interesting changes is the "Fastest Lap" rule. In the past, teams could wreck, spend 50 laps in the garage, come back out with a "franken-truck," and just hunt for the fastest lap point. Not anymore. Once you go to the garage, you’re ineligible for that bonus point. It prevents teams from clogging up the track with damaged vehicles just to snag a single point.
They’ve also lowered the age limit for the O’Reilly Auto Parts (Xfinity) series to 17 on short tracks to match the Truck Series rules. This sounds technical, but it means the "young guns" in nascar truck racing today will be moving up even faster. The bridge between the series is shorter than ever.
Why You Should Care About the 2026 Season
There’s a grit to truck racing that the Cup Series sometimes loses with its high-tech aero packages. In the trucks, it’s still mostly about "elbows-out" driving. With the return of Ram, the reintroduction of the Chase, and the inclusion of legends like Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson in part-time roles, the series has become the most interesting thing on four wheels.
Honestly, the stakes feel higher. Without the "reset" of elimination rounds every three races, every single lap of the postseason matters. You can't just "points race" your way to a title anymore. You have to be fast, and you have to be fast every single week.
Actionable Insights for Following the Season:
- Mark the Opener: The season officially kicks off Friday, February 13, at Daytona. The green flag drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
- Track the "Free Agent" Ram: Keep an eye on the No. 25 Kaulig entry. It’s going to feature a rotating cast of "Free Agent" drivers all year, which is basically a weekly wild card for your fantasy lineup.
- Watch the Rockingham Return: If you only watch one non-superspeedway race this year, make it the April 3 race at Rockingham. The tire wear on that old surface is going to be legendary.
- Download the App: Use the NASCAR mobile app to track live telemetry. With the new 55-point win rule, watching the live "points-as-they-run" during the final stage is much more intense than it used to be.