O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Full Entry List for the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 At EchoPark Speedway

The haulers have barely cooled from their run down I‑95, yet the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is already shifting gears from the chaos of Daytona to the intensity of Atlanta. The beach is behind them. The red clay of Georgia is ahead. And anyone expecting a breather after the season opener is in for a rude awakening.

Atlanta, carrying the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix branding this weekend, has become one of the most unpredictable stops on the schedule. Since its reconfiguration, the track has transformed into a compact superspeedway, a place where the draft rules every lap and the field races inches apart at speeds that leave no room for hesitation.

One mistimed push, one bad block, and the entire complexion of the race can change in a heartbeat. This year’s entry list only amplifies the tension. The official roster for Saturday’s Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 features 39 cars vying for 38 starting spots, guaranteeing heartbreak for at least one team.

For smaller operations, simply qualifying is a victory. The purse money from making the field can determine whether they survive the early‑season grind or fall behind before March even arrives. Before diving into the storylines shaping the weekend, here is the complete, updated entry list with teams included:

Full Entry List – EchoPark Speedway (February 2026)

• 1. Sheldon Creed — No. 00 — Haas Factory Team
• 2. Garrett Smithley — No. 0 — SS GreenLight Racing
• 3. Carson Kvapil — No. 1 — JR Motorsports
• 4. Jesse Love — No. 2 — Richard Childress Racing
• 5. Ryan Ellis — No. 02 — Young’s Motorsports
• 6. Luke Fenhaus — No. 5 — Hettinger Racing
• 7. Justin Allgaier — No. 7 — JR Motorsports
• 8. Josh Bilicki — No. 07 — SS‑GreenLight Racing
• 9. Sammy Smith — No. 8 — JR Motorsports
• 10. Corey Day — No. 17 — Hendrick Motorsports
• 11. William Sawalich — No. 18 — Joe Gibbs Racing
• 12. Giovanni Ruggiero — No. 19 — Joe Gibbs Racing
• 13. Brandon Jones — No. 20 — Joe Gibbs Racing
• 14. Austin Hill — No. 21 — Richard Childress Racing
• 15. Harrison Burton — No. 24 — Sam Hunt Racing
• 16. Nick Sanchez — No. 25 — AM Racing
• 17. Dean Thompson — No. 26 — Sam Hunt Racing
• 18. Jeb Burton — No. 27 — Jordan Anderson Racing
• 19. Kyle Sieg — No. 28 — RSS Racing
• 20. Cody Ware — No. 30 — Barrett‑Cope Racing
• 21. Blaine Perkins — No. 31 — Jordan Anderson Racing
• 22. Ross Chastain — No. 32 — Jordan Anderson Racing
• 23. Joey Gase — No. 35 — Joey Gase Motorsports
• 24. Ryan Sieg — No. 39 — RSS Racing
• 25. Sam Mayer — No. 41 — Haas Factory Team
• 26. Nick Leitz — No. 42 — Young’s Motorsports
• 27. Brennan Poole — No. 44 — Alpha Prime Racing
• 28. Lavar Scott — No. 45 — Alpha Prime Racing
• 29. Patrick Staropoli — No. 48 — Big Machine Racing
• 30. Jeremy Clements — No. 51 — Jeremy Clements Racing
• 31. Taylor Gray — No. 54 — Joe Gibbs Racing
• 32. Chad Finchum — No. 55 — Joey Gase Motorsports
• 33. Dawson Cram — No. 74 — Mike Harmon Racing
• 34. Austin Green — No. 87 — Peterson Racing Group
• 35. Rajah Caruth — No. 88 — JR Motorsports
• 36. Mason Maggio — No. 91 — DGM Racing X JIM
• 37. Josh Williams — No. 92 — DGM Racing X JIM
• 38. Anthony Alfredo — No. 96 — Viking Motorsports
• 39. Parker Retzlaff — No. 99 — Viking Motorsports

Ross Chastain Headlines the Entry List

The biggest storyline of the week is the return of Ross Chastain, who steps into the No. 32 Chevrolet for Jordan Anderson Racing. His presence alone elevates the team’s expectations. JAR has quietly built itself into a playoff‑capable organization, but adding a Cup Series veteran with Chastain’s superspeedway instincts is a major step forward.

Chastain’s style is tailor‑made for Atlanta’s pack‑racing environment. He is one of the most aggressive air manipulators in the sport, a driver who understands how to create runs, stall out competitors, and position himself in the right lane at the right moment. On a track where momentum is everything, his ability to control the air could reshape the entire race. Expect the No. 32 to attract drafting partners early and become a major threat in the closing laps.

RCR Dominance vs. The Field

No discussion of a drafting‑style race is complete without mentioning Richard Childress Racing. Their superspeedway program has been the gold standard for years, and Atlanta plays directly into their strengths. Austin Hill (No. 21) enters the weekend as the clear favorite.

His ability to maintain track position while saving fuel is unmatched, and his knack for avoiding trouble in chaotic packs borders on uncanny. If the race comes down to a late restart, and it almost always does at Atlanta, Hill is the driver most teams fear. But RCR’s depth doesn’t end there. Jesse Love (No. 2) returns for his sophomore season with confidence and momentum.

His raw speed last year was undeniable, and with another offseason of development, he could easily challenge Hill for control of the race. If the RCR duo links up early, they could dictate the tempo of the entire event. Breaking that alliance will be the primary mission for JR Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and the mid‑tier teams hoping to steal a win.

Driver Swaps, Rising Stars, and Developmental Gambles

The entry list also reflects the early‑season shuffling that always follows Daytona. Joe Gibbs Racing continues to rotate talent through its development pipeline. Gio Ruggiero (No. 19) returns for a second straight week, a sign of the team’s confidence in his adaptability. Atlanta is a brutal test for young drivers, the draft punishes hesitation, and the pack punishes mistakes, but JGR clearly believes Ruggiero is ready for the challenge.

William Sawalich (No. 18) brings his ARCA‑proven short‑track aggression into a completely different environment. Atlanta will test his patience, his drafting discipline, and his ability to read the air. A strong run here would be a major statement about his readiness for the next step in his career.

Barrett‑Cope Racing makes a notable change as Cody Ware (No. 30) takes over after Carson Ware handled Daytona. Cody’s Cup experience could be invaluable for a smaller team trying to survive the attrition that Atlanta inevitably produces. Add in rising names like Corey Day (No. 17) and Luke Fenhaus (No. 5), and this becomes one of the most intriguing blends of youth and experience the series has seen in years.

Drivers to Watch: Who Can Break the Race Wide Open

Austin Hill: No. 21 (Richard Childress Racing)

Hill enters Atlanta as the undisputed favorite, and for good reason. His superspeedway résumé is unmatched in the series, and his ability to control lanes is reminiscent of the great pack‑racers of the past. Hill doesn’t just survive these races. He dictates them. He knows when to lead, when to ride, and when to strike. If the race comes down to a final‑lap scramble, Hill’s instincts give him an edge few can match.

Ross Chastain: No. 32 (Jordan Anderson Racing)

Chastain’s presence instantly changes the dynamic of the race. He is fearless in traffic, willing to make moves others won’t, and capable of generating runs seemingly out of thin air. His Cup‑level experience gives him a unique understanding of how the air behaves in large packs. If he finds himself in the top ten with ten laps to go, the entire field will be forced to account for him whether they want to or not.

Sam Mayer: No. 41 (Haas Factory Team)

Mayer thrives in chaotic environments, and Atlanta is exactly that. His aggressive style can be polarizing, but it also makes him dangerous in races where boldness is rewarded. Mayer has shown he can muscle his way through traffic and isn’t afraid to take risks in the draft. If he avoids trouble early, he has the raw speed and tenacity to challenge the established favorites.

Rajah Caruth: No. 88 (JR Motorsports)

Caruth has quietly become one of the most improved superspeedway racers in the field. His racecraft has matured, and he now shows patience in situations where he once forced the issue. With JRM equipment underneath him and strong drafting partners around him, Caruth could easily find himself in the lead pack late. A win here would be a career‑defining moment.

Giovanni Ruggiero: No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Ruggiero is still learning the nuances of drafting, but his raw talent is undeniable. JGR believes in him enough to put him in back‑to‑back high‑pressure situations, and Atlanta will test his adaptability. If he can stay disciplined, avoid overreacting to the accordion effect, and position himself well in the final stage, he could shock the field. His ceiling is extremely high.

Parker Retzlaff: No. 99 (Viking Motorsports)

Retzlaff is one of the most underrated superspeedway racers in the series. He consistently finds himself in the right place at the right time, and his ability to read runs is improving with every start. With Anthony Alfredo as a teammate this weekend, Retzlaff could benefit from stronger drafting alliances and better track position. Don’t be surprised if the No. 99 is in the mix late.

Nick Sanchez: No. 25 (AM Racing)

Sanchez brings a blend of aggression and precision that makes him a threat on drafting tracks. He’s not afraid to take runs others hesitate on, and he has shown he can manage the air effectively when leading or pushing. If AM Racing brings the speed they showed last season, Sanchez could be a major disruptor in the closing laps.

The Danger Zone: Who Misses the Cut?

With 39 cars battling for only 38 spots, the pressure is immense on the smaller teams. For these teams, qualifying is more than a formality. It’s a financial lifeline. Smaller operations often operate week‑to‑week, and missing a race this early in the season can derail their entire campaign.

Atlanta’s drafting‑heavy format also makes qualifying unpredictable. A single mistimed run or a poorly timed drafting partner can doom a team’s chances. Expect these drivers to be aggressive in practice, searching for every ounce of speed they can find. So, which teams are expected to go big or go home?

• Chad Finchum — No.55 — Joey Gase Motorsports
• Dawson Cram — No. 74 — Mike Harmon Racing
• Joey Gase — No. 35 — Joey Gase Motorsports
• Mason Maggio — No.91 — DGM X JIM Racing

What This Means For The Championship Picture

Even though this is only the second race of the season, Atlanta carries outsized importance. The track returns in the playoffs, making this weekend a crucial data‑gathering opportunity for every major team.

If JR Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing can disrupt RCR’s superspeedway dominance, it could signal a shift in the competitive hierarchy. But if Austin Hill wins again, the psychological advantage he gains could loom over the entire season.

For drivers like Sheldon Creed, Sammy Smith, Rajah Caruth, or Parker Retzlaff, a win here is transformative. It locks them into the playoffs and frees them to race aggressively for months, chasing stage points and playoff bonuses without the pressure of points racing.

What’s Next

The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entry list for EchoPark Speedway sets the stage for a chaotic, high‑speed chess match. Cup Series invaders like Ross Chastain want trophies. Young guns like Ruggiero and Sawalich want validation. Veterans like Austin Hill want to defend their turf.

When the green flag drops at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, expect three‑wide packs, bold blocks, and a finish that comes down to inches. Atlanta has become one of the most unpredictable races on the schedule, and this year’s entry list only heightens the drama.