The 2025 NASCAR season is officially over and the teams have turned their attention to 2026. Each year brings a “Silly Season” of driver and crew changes that can have owners scurrying to fill precious spots on a crew.
While 2025 has not been as wild and crazy as some, there is still a good bit of work to be done over the next three months.
During 2025, Corey Day was classed as a part-time driver in the number 17 Hendrick Motorsports car in the Xfinity Series. In 2026, Day will become the full time driver of the car in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The 19 year old Day said, “that was what I was working towards this year. It wasn’t announced or anything, but my contract was written as next year was an option if this year went well. I guess I did a good enough job to get that option picked up. To say I’m going to run a NASCAR series full-time next year is something I’ve dreamed about doing since I was a little kid. It’s really cool.”
Day made eleven starts in the Xfinity Series and nine races in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025.
During the season, it was announced that Xfinity Series rookie Connor Zilisch would be making the move to the Cup Series driving for Trackhouse Racing. Shortly after that, Trackhouse Racing announced that Daniel Suarez would not be returning to the team for the 2026 season. Signing a new contract, Shane van Gisbergen would be staying on at Trackhouse; along with Melon Man Ross Chastain.
Trackhouse has announced some car number changes for its drivers in 2026…
The Melon Man will keep his number one car with Brandon McSwain as the crew chief.
With Connor Zilisch coming on board, Shane van Gisbergen will be sporting a new car number next season – the 97 – the same number his father Robert drove during his racing career. While driving the number 97 in the Australian Supercars, van Gisbergen won 80 races, three championships, 48 poles, and 152 podium finishes (top three). He also drove the 97 car in his rookie season in the Xfinity Series. Stephen Doran will remain atop the pit box as crew chief for van Gisbergen.
Connor Zilisch will take over driving the number 88 car – the same number he drove in the Xfinity Series and earned 10 race wins during his rookie season while driving for JR Motorsports. Randall burnett will be Zilisch’s crew chief.
Legacy Motor Club co-owner and seven time Cup series champion Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson has announced that he will be joining the lineup for the street race at the San Diego at Naval Base Coronado San Diego at Naval Base Coronado in the number 84 carooo.
As a boy, Johnson grew up just 20 miles from the Naval Base.
The 3.4 mile 16 turn street course runs through the Naval Base for a NASCAR first.
More “Silly Season” news…
After leaving Trackhouse Racing, Daniel Suarez moves to Spire Motorsports to drive the number seven car; formerly driven by Justin Haley.
Harrison Burton has departed AM Racing. Burton will be joining Dean Thompson as the full time drivers for Sam Hunt Racing next season. Thompson will remain in the 26 car with Burton driving the 24 car.
Parker Retzlaff is moving over to Viking Motorsports to take over the driving duties of the 99 car after Matt DiBenedetto left the car during the 2025 season.
Kaulig Racing has announced a temporary hiatus of their O’Reilly Auto Parts operation to concentrate on the new Craftsman Truck Series Ram program. Kaulig will run five trucks in the series with Brendan “Butterbean” Queen as the first driver named to the program.
Justin Haley returns to the Craftsman Truck Series to become the second driver for Kaulig Racing’s Ram truck program.
With Kaulig Racing taking a break from the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program, Daniel Dye will move to the Craftsman Truck Series to drive one of the Ram Trucks for Kaulig.
During the 2025 season, Matt Crafton announced his retirement from full time driving in the Craftsman Truck Season. Fellow ThorSport driver Ty Majeski will move from the 98 truck to take over the driving duties for the number 88 truck.
ThorSport has not named a replacement for the 98 truck as of yet.