NASCAR 2026 Cup Series Changes: Driver Tracker
News Context
At a glance
- The 2026 lineup in the NASCAR Cup Series appears relatively set.
- Here's a breakdown of the confirmed driver-crew chief pairings for 2026, with updates as they occur:
- The moves announced so far indicate a strategic reshuffling within the NASCAR landscape.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Driver & Crew Chief Lineups
The 2026 lineup in the NASCAR Cup Series appears relatively set. Assuming there is no upheaval from the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, there are no seats open in Cup for full-time chartered teams.
Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed driver-crew chief pairings for 2026, with updates as they occur:
| Car Number | Driver | Crew Chief | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Brandon McSwain | McSwain previously an engineer with 16 Cup wins, most recently with William Byron. Phil Surgen moves within Trackhouse. |
| 7 | Daniel Suarez | TBD | Suarez moves from Trackhouse to Spire Motorsports, replacing Justin Haley. Crew chief search ongoing. Ryan Sparks was interim crew chief. |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Jim Pohlman | Pohlman previously crew chief for Justin Allgaier. |
This list will be updated as more information becomes available throughout the offseason.