Ford is once again on the losing end of a manufacturer-provider shake-up after RSS Racing, one of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ most established independent organizations, became the latest team to walk away from Ford ahead of the 2026 season.

The recent decision follows the Haas Factory Team’s announcement of its own departure, triggering a chain reaction that results in Ford having few, if any, full-time entries in the series. RSS Racing has confirmed that it will switch to Chevrolet for the 2026 NASCAR season, marking the end of its association with Ford engines and bodywork.

The team will keep racing the No. 38 car driven by Ryan Sieg and the No. 39 car driven by Kyle Sieg, both located in North Carolina. Last year, the Sieg brothers finished in fifteenth and twenty-fifth place with their aggressive driving styles. This season, they will team up with a manufacturer that has been a leader in the O’Reilly Series for many years.

The move involves a major technical upgrade, as both cars will use Hendrick engines next season. Chevrolet’s engine program has become one of the most powerful in the sport, with Hendrick Motorsports supplying its own teams and partnered programs, while ECR Engines manages the rest of the Chevrolet lineup.

The alliance between RSS Racing and Haas Factory Team provides Chevrolet with a stronger, unified technical foundation. Haas — which also struck a technical partnership with Jeremy Clements Racing recently — is shifting from Ford to Chevrolet, too, to work alongside RSS Racing within a coordinated development plan.

The two teams — alongside AM Racing and Joe Gase Motorsports — were Ford’s only full-time presence in the O’Reilly Series last season. The manufacturer still has a strong footprint in the Cup Series, with last season’s lineup featuring Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Josh Berry, Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith, Cole Custer, Noah Gragson, and Cody Ware.

The loss of developmental depth in the O’Reilly Series is a significant setback. The pipeline that once included names such as Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, and Harrison Burton, who will now all run through Chevrolet or Toyota instead.

Ford’s O’Reilly roster in 2025 ended with Ryan Sieg finishing 15th and Kyle Sieg in 25th, with additional entries from Nick Leitz, Kole Raz, Tyler Tomassi, and Burton. The move also places pressure on Ford’s long-term development structure.

With no confirmed O’Reilly presence at the time of writing, the manufacturer might have to rely on its Cup teams to evaluate and develop talent, creating a gap that Chevrolet and Toyota can capitalize on. Fan reaction was quick, with many wondering whether Ford can salvage any of its footprint.

One fan questioned the lack of a development strategy, writing, “I’m kinda shocked RFK would not field a couple cars just for reps and development of younger employees, and they already have the engine program. Idk seems like a missed opportunity.”

Another fan pointed toward the uncertainty surrounding the Preece and RWR charter situation and said, “I do not really see them expanding for 2026 as long as the Preece RWR charter stuff is going on, but also, them expanding with Preece in the first place was a surprise, so we will see.”