Honestly, if you were refreshing your phone yesterday looking for a race winner, you probably noticed something weird. There wasn't a checkered flag. While January usually feels like the peak of racing withdrawal, yesterday, January 15, 2026, was actually dominated by "Silly Season" chaos rather than on-track action. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series doesn't actually start its engines for points until the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026.
But man, yesterday was busy. We didn't get a winner in the traditional sense, but we got a massive roster shakeup that basically changes how the entire 2026 season is going to look.
The Big Winner Yesterday Was Cole Butcher
If we’re talking about who "won" the day, it has to be Cole Butcher. Yesterday, ThorSport Racing officially announced that the Canadian late-model phenom is jumping to the Truck Series full-time for the 2026 season. He’s taking over the No. 13 Ford F-150.
That’s a huge deal. ThorSport is basically the powerhouse of the truck world, and seeing a guy like Butcher get the nod shows that the team is leaning hard into raw, short-track talent. Butcher has been tearing up the Maritime Pro Stock Tour and high-stakes late-model races for a minute now, but moving into a full-time seat at ThorSport is the break of a lifetime.
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Why Yesterday’s News Changes the 2026 Landscape
It wasn't just Butcher. The news cycle was relentless. We also got word that Connor Mosack is returning to Spire Motorsports for a 12-race stint in the No. 7 Chevrolet. He’s starting his campaign at the new St. Petersburg street circuit race on February 28.
Then you’ve got the heavy hitters making guest appearances. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.—yeah, the 2023 Daytona 500 champ—is making his Truck Series debut at Daytona this year with Niece Motorsports. It’s kinda wild that a veteran like Stenhouse has never run a truck race, but he’s finally doing it in the No. 45 Chevy.
The Return of "The Chase"
One of the biggest talking points from the last 48 hours is NASCAR’s massive pivot back to the past. They’ve officially ditched the elimination-style playoffs for the 2026 season and brought back "The Chase." Basically, the championship will now be decided by a 7-race points battle at the end of the year for the trucks. No more "win and you’re in" for the final four at Phoenix—it's back to a cumulative points sprint. This is a polarizing move, but many purists are stoked because it rewards consistency over a fluke win in the desert.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule
Since there wasn't a race yesterday, everyone is looking toward Daytona. The 2026 schedule is one of the most experimental we’ve seen in years.
- February 13: Fresh From Florida 250 (Season Opener)
- February 28: St. Petersburg Street Circuit (Brand new for the series)
- June 19: San Diego Street Course (Naval Base Coronado)
- October 23: Talladega (Part of the new "Chase")
- November 6: Homestead-Miami (The Season Finale)
The inclusion of street courses like St. Pete and San Diego is a massive shift for a series that has historically been about short tracks and intermediate ovals. It’s gonna be a learning curve for these drivers, especially the rookies like Butcher.
What Most People Get Wrong About January NASCAR
A lot of fans expect the season to be in full swing because the Chili Bowl is happening. While Christopher Bell and Jesse Love have been tearing it up on the dirt in Tulsa this week, the NASCAR National Series (Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks) are still in the final weeks of their winter break.
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Yesterday was about the pen hitting the paper. It was about Mopar announcing a full-season sponsorship for Daniel Dye at Kaulig Racing. It was about Jake Garcia confirming his return to the No. 98 for ThorSport. These moves determine who wins in November, even if no one was crossing a finish line yesterday.
Your Next Steps for the 2026 Season
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve before Daytona kicks off, here is what you should do:
- Mark your calendar for February 13: That’s the real season opener under the lights at Daytona.
- Watch the Chili Bowl finals: Since the Trucks aren't running yet, this is where the best drivers in the world are currently competing.
- Check the points changes: Familiarize yourself with the new "Chase" format, as it completely changes how drivers will approach the regular season. Consistency is now king again.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a total reset for the Truck Series. With new manufacturers like Ram rumored to be sniffing around and the return of old-school points formats, the "winners" from yesterday’s news cycle are just the beginning of a very different era of racing.