This is the first season with Ram as a manufacturer since 2012. It is also the first season since 2000 without Matt Crafton competing full-time after his retirement from full-time racing after the 2025 season. This will also be the first season since 2008 to have Jimmie Johnson run in the Truck Series, as he will run the race at Coronado. This is also the first season since 2005 to have Tony Stewart as he ran the season opening race at Daytona. Corey Heim, the reigning Craftsman Truck Series champion, will not defend his title, switching to a part-time campaign with his team Tricon Garage.
Kaulig Racing will debut in the Truck Series for the first time in 2026 and be the flagship team for Ram. Halmar Friesen Racing will field two full-time trucks. Reaume Brothers Racing announced that they would rebrand to Team Reaume starting in 2026. Rackley W.A.R. will field a second truck part-time in 2026, the No. 27, which will be driven by Toni Breidinger. Caleb Costner will bring his ARCA Menards Series team, Costner Motorsports, to the Truck Series in 2026 and they will field the No. 93 truck part-time. Niece Motorsports announced that they would renumber their No. 41 truck to the No. 4 for 2026.
Rajah Caruth moved up to the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026. Daniel Dye returned to the Truck Series full-time. Justin Haley returned to the Truck Series full-time for the first time since 2018. Christian Eckes returned to the Truck Series full-time and to McAnally–Hilgemann Racing.
Cole Butcher competed full-time for Thorsport Racing. Brenden Queen, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion, competed full-time for Kaulig Racing. Mini Tyrrell completed full-time for Kaulig Racing.
Matt Crafton retired from full-time racing following the 2025 season but will return to ThorSport on a part-time basis. Ty Majeski will move from the No. 98 truck to the No. 88 truck for 2026.
Derek Smith moved to CR7 Motorsports to crew chief their No. 9 truck driven by Grant Enfinger. Darren Fraley replaced Blake Bainbridge as the crew chief of the No. 81 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing truck. Dave Elenz will be the new crew chief of the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing No. 91 truck, replacing Joshua Graham. Todd Myers will be the new crew chief of the Reaume Brothers Racing No. 2 truck. Mike Hillman Sr. will replace his son Mike Hillman Jr. as the crew chief of the Freedom Racing Enterprises No. 76 truck.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers with three or more years of experience can participate in eight (up from five) regular season races. They are still prohibited from participating in The Chase. NASCAR changed the Chase format for the first time since the Craftsman Truck Series adapted the playoffs in 2016. The win-and-you're-in, as well as the playoff point after a driver won a stage has been removed. On January 16, 2026, NASCAR announced that drivers who enter the garage during a race will no longer be eligible for the "Xfinity Fastest Lap Award".
The series raced at the St. Petersburg Street Circuit and the Coronado Street Course for the first time. Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway were dropped from the schedule. Dover Motor Speedway returned for the first time since 2020. The Charlotte Motor Speedway fall race will move away from the roval layout to the oval.
Ty Majeski won the pole at Daytona. Chandler Smith won the race. Jake Garcia won the pole at Atlanta. Kyle Busch won the race. Connor Mosack won the pole at St. Petersburg. Layne Riggs won the race. Kaden Honeycutt won the pole at Darlington. Corey Heim overtook Ross Chastain on the last corner of the last lap to win. Jake Garcia won the pole at Rockingham. Corey Heim swept the stages and won the race. Kaden Honeycutt won the pole at Bristol. Christopher Bell won his first race since 2017. Ben Rhodes won the pole at Texas. Carson Hocevar held off Gio Ruggiero for his second career win at Texas Motor Speedway. Brent Crews won the pole at Watkins Glen. Kaden Honeycutt claimed his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win. Kyle Busch won the pole at Dover. Busch claimed his 69th career Craftsman Truck Series victory.
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