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.

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.

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.

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
Nathan Byrd
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

 

 

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