Saturday morning, ahead of on-track action at Phoenix Raceway for the Xfinity Series Championship race, NASCAR announced two rule changes, including an increase in the number of races that Cup drivers are allowed to race in the two lower-tier national series. In 2026, Cup drivers will be allowed to race in ten O’Reilly’s Auto Parts races and eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races.

Easily, the driver most excited about this change is Ross Chastain, who was the only driver to hit the maximum in the Xfinity and Truck series.

Advertisement

Ahead of NASCAR Cup Series qualifying on Saturday, the Trackhouse driver told Road & Track that the “Road to 56 starts now”.

With 38 NASCAR Cup races, 10 available O’Reilly’s races, and eight available truck races, Chastain plans to race the maximum.

“We’re already working on it,” Chastain told Road & Track. “I plan to be in as many races as possible. I love racing and I think it’s the best thing I can do.”

Advertisement

With the extra track time on double duty and triple-duty weekends Chastain has the ability to finetune before his points paying Cup Series racing. At Charolotte this Spring, Chastain finished fourth in trucks in preparation for his Coca-Cola 600 win on Sunday, where he ran from last to first in a backup car.

The most important thing for Chastain while adding extra races to his plate, is that he’s competitive everytime he hit the track and he’s vowed to hit 56 races next year without being part of a ‘start-and-park’ entry.

“Trackhouse is in full support of it. They want me in fast vehicles, they’re doing everything they can on Sunday to put me in fast cars and they expect that the Xfinity and trucks teams I drive for to also be that way. No more start-and-parks to hit the number, I definitly want to be in all of them.”

Advertisement

While out of the playoffs following the Round of 12 cutoff race at the Charlotte Roval. This Sunday, Chastain will enter the final race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship race 12 points behind Bubba Wallace for the final spot in the championship top ten.

You Might Also Like