In 2026, the grueling NASCAR Cup Series schedule will be punctuated by just two off-weekends. However, both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) will be racing on Easter weekend at the historic Rockingham Speedway. They will be joined by the ARCA Menards East Series.
The track has a tumultuous recent past, going dark for several years and working through multiple ownership changes. It hosted Cup races from 1965 through 2004, was briefly revived with a Truck race from 2012-2013, and returned to the schedule yet again with both of the lower two national divisions in 2025.
Advertisement
Sammy Smith (NOAPS) and Tyler Ankrum (NCTS) won last year’s races at the tricky and unique oval. This year, there are 38 trucks competing for 36 spots but with 38 O’Reilly entries, so no one will go miss the show there. Originally, there were 39 O’Reilly entries, but AM Racing withdrew the No. 25 of Nick Sanchez. There are also 24 ARCA East entries heading to Rockingham.
Beyond the regulars, here’s some of the notable entries you should keep an eye on at The Rock:
YouTuber Garrett Mitchell (aka Cleetus McFarland) will be making his NASCAR O’Reilly Series debut in the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, and he recently spent an entire day testing there with the team. He will also run the ARCA East race, along with friend George Siciliano (aka Squirrel McNut), who recently made his debut at Hickory.
Advertisement
The only full-time Cup drivers racing this weekend (instead of taking a vacation) are Carson Hocevar (No. 77 Spire Motorsports) and Ty Dillon (No. 25 Kaulig Racing), both in the Truck race. With Daniel Dye departing the team after his suspension, Corey LaJoie will drive the No. 10 machine.
2025 Truck Series champion Corey Heim is also back with TRICON after winning at Darlington with a dramatic last-lap pass.
Sammy Smith is the only driver planning to run both the O’Reilly and Truck races.
Advertisement
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entry list
|
No. |
Driver |
Team |
|
0 |
Garrett Smithley |
SS-Green Light Racing |
|
00 |
Sheldon Creed |
Haas Factory Team |
|
1 |
Carson Kvapil |
JR Motorsports |
|
02 |
Ryan Ellis |
Young’s Motorsports |
|
2 |
Jesse Love |
Richard Childress Racing |
|
5 |
JJ Yeley |
Hettinger Racing |
|
07 |
Josh Bilicki |
SS-Green Light Racing |
|
7 |
Justin Allgaier |
JR Motorsports |
|
8 |
Sammy Smith |
JR Motorsports |
|
17 |
Corey Day |
Hendrick Motorsports |
|
18 |
William Sawalich |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
|
19 |
Brent Crews |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
|
20 |
Brandon Jones |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
|
21 |
Austin Hill |
Richard Childress Racing |
|
24 |
Harrison Burton |
Sam Hunt Racing |
|
26 |
Dean Thompson |
Sam Hunt Racing |
|
27 |
Jeb Burton |
Jordan Anderson Racing |
|
28 |
Kyle Sieg |
RSS Racing |
|
31 |
Blaine Perkins |
Jordan Anderson Racing |
|
32 |
Andrew Patterson |
Jordan Anderson Racing |
|
33 |
Cleetus McFarland |
Richard Childress Racing |
|
35 |
TBA |
Jose Gase Motorsports |
|
39 |
Ryan Sieg |
RSS Racing |
|
41 |
Sam Mayer |
Haas Factory Team |
|
42 |
TBA |
Young’s Motorsports |
|
44 |
Brennan Poole |
Alpha Prime Racing |
|
45 |
Lavar Scott |
Alpha Prime Racing |
|
48 |
Patrick Staropoli |
Big Machine Racing |
|
51 |
Jeremy Clements |
Jeremy Clements Racing |
|
54 |
Taylor Gray |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
|
55 |
Blake Lothian |
Joey Gase Motorsports |
|
74 |
Dawson Cram |
Mike Harmon Racing |
|
87 |
Austin Green |
Peterson Racing |
|
88 |
Rajah Caruth |
JR Motorsports |
|
91 |
Alex Labbe |
DGM Racing x JIM |
|
92 |
Josh Williams |
DGM Racing x JIM |
|
96 |
Anthony Alfredo |
Viking Motorsports |
|
99 |
Parker Retzlaff |
Viking Motorsports |
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry list
|
No. |
Driver |
Team |
|
1 |
Corey Heim |
TRICON Garage |
|
2 |
Luke Baldwin |
Team Reaume |
|
4 |
Connor Hall |
Niece Motorsports |
|
5 |
Adam Andretti |
TRICON Garage |
|
7 |
Sammy Smith |
Spire Motorsports |
|
9 |
Grant Enfinger |
CR7 Motorsports |
|
10 |
Corey LaJoie |
Kaulig Racing |
|
11 |
Kaden Honeycutt |
TRICON Garage |
|
12 |
Brenden Queen |
Kaulig Racing |
|
13 |
Cole Butcher |
ThorSport Racing |
|
14 |
Mini Tyrrell |
Kaulig Racing |
|
15 |
Tanner Gray |
TRICON Garage |
|
16 |
Justin Haley |
Kaulig Racing |
|
17 |
Gio Ruggiero |
TRICON Garage |
|
18 |
Tyler Ankrum |
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing |
|
19 |
Daniel Hemric |
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing |
|
22 |
Clayton Green |
Team Reaume |
|
25 |
Ty Dillon |
Kaulig Racing |
|
26 |
Dawson Sutton |
Rackley W.A.R. |
|
33 |
Frankie Muniz |
Team Reaume |
|
34 |
Layne Riggs |
Front Row Motorsports |
|
38 |
Chandler Smith |
Front Row Motorsports |
|
42 |
Parker Eatmon |
Niece Motorsports |
|
44 |
Andrés Pérez de Lara |
Niece Motorsports |
|
45 |
Landon Lewis |
Niece Motorsports |
|
52 |
Stewart Friesen |
Halmar-Friesen Racing |
|
56 |
Timmy Hill |
Hill Motorsports |
|
62 |
Michael Christopher Jr. |
Halmar-Friesen Racing |
|
69 |
Jonathan Shafer |
MBM Motorsports |
|
76 |
Spencer Boyd |
Freedom Racing Enterprises |
|
77 |
Carson Hocevar |
Spire Motorsports |
|
81 |
Kris Wright |
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing |
|
88 |
Ty Majeski |
ThorSport Racing |
|
90 |
Justin Carroll |
Terry Carroll Motorsports |
|
91 |
Christian Eckes |
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing |
|
93 |
Caleb Costner |
Costner Motorsports |
|
98 |
Jake Garcia |
ThorSport Racing |
|
99 |
Ben Rhodes |
ThorSport Racing |
ARCA Menard’s Series East entry list
|
No. |
Driver |
|
0 |
George Siilliano |
|
00 |
Toby Blanton |
|
06 |
Nate Moeller |
|
10 |
Craig Pellegrini Jr. |
|
11 |
Mike Basham |
|
12 |
Dustin Hillenburg |
|
13 |
Brian Weber |
|
17 |
Cory Roper |
|
18 |
Max Reaves |
|
19 |
Austin Vaughan |
|
24 |
Connor Hall |
|
25 |
Gavin Boschele |
|
28 |
Carson Brown |
|
30 |
Cleetus McFarland |
|
34 |
TJ Harris |
|
36 |
Ryan Huff |
|
48 |
Brad Smith |
|
66 |
Dystany Spurlock |
|
70 |
Wesley Slimp |
|
77 |
Tristan McKee |
|
79 |
Isaac Kitzmiller |
|
85 |
Quinn Davis |
|
95 |
Jackson McLerran |
|
99 |
Michael Maples |
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
