Entry List: 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250

Sarah Talker
Entry List; Feb 14, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Ben Rhodes (99) and driver Parker Kligerman (75) race side by side during the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

The wait is finally over. The smell of high-octane race fuel is in the air, the haulers are parked in the garage, and the intensity of Speedweeks is upon us. NASCAR has officially released the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry list for the season-opening Fresh From Florida 250, and to say the garage is packed would be a massive understatement.

We are looking at forty-four trucks fighting for real estate on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway this evening. That means we aren’t just looking at a race for the trophy; we are looking at a desperate, knuckles-white fight just to make the show. When you have more trucks than starting spots, qualifying becomes a race in itself, and hearts are going to break before the green flag even drops.

Legends, Stars, and YouTube Sensations

This isn’t your average Friday night roster. The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry list reads like a fantasy draft. You have three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart dusting off the helmet to run the No. 25 for Kaulig Racing. Seeing “Smoke” back in a firesuit at Daytona brings a level of prestige and old-school grit that elevates the entire series.

Then you have the crossover appeal. Travis Pastrana is back in the No. 42 for Niece Motorsports. Pastrana knows how to wheel anything with an engine, and his presence always adds a wildcard factor to the draft. Joining him in the “massive online following” category is Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland.

He’s piloting the No. 4 for Niece Motorsports, bringing the “Do It For Dale” energy to the World Center of Racing. And let’s not forget Frankie Muniz, who continues his stock car evolution in the No. 33 for Team Reaume. But don’t think the regulars will roll over for the guests.

You have heavy hitters like Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, and Christian Eckes returning to defend their turf. These are the guys chasing a championship, and they know that Daytona is the biggest payday and the biggest risk of the year.

Full Fresh From Florida 250: NCTS Entry List

Here is the complete rundown of every driver and team entered for the Fresh From Florida 250:

  • No. 1 – Taylor Gray (TRICON Garage)
  • No. 2 – Jason M. White (Team Reaume)
  • No. 4 – Cleetus Mitchell (Niece Motorsports)
  • No. 5 – Nick Leitz (TRICON Garage)
  • No. 6 – Norm Benning (Norm Benning Racing)
  • No. 7 – Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)
  • No. 9 – Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports)
  • No. 10 – Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 11 – Kaden Honeycutt (TRICON Garage)
  • No. 12 – Brenden Queen (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 13 – Cole Butcher (ThorSport Racing)
  • No. 14 – Mini Tyrrell (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 15 – Tanner Gray (TRICON Garage)
  • No. 16 – Justin Haley (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 17 – Giovanni Ruggiero (TRICON Garage)
  • No. 18 – Tyler Ankrum (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
  • No. 19 – Daniel Hemric (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
  • No. 22 – Josh Reaume (Team Reaume)
  • No. 25 – Tony Stewart (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 26 – Dawson Sutton (Rackley W.A.R.)
  • No. 27 – Toni Breidinger (Rackley W.A.R.)
  • No. 28 – Bryan Dauzat (FDNY Racing)
  • No. 33 – Frankie Muniz (Team Reaume)
  • No. 34 – Layne Riggs (Front Row Motorsports)
  • No. 35 – Greg Van Alst (Greg Van Alst Motorsports)
  • No. 38 – Chandler Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
  • No. 42 – Travis Pastrana (Niece Motorsports)
  • No. 44 – Andres Perez De Lara (Niece Motorsports)
  • No. 45 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Niece Motorsports)
  • No. 52 – Stewart Friesen (Halmar Friesen Racing)
  • No. 56 – Timmy Hill (Hill Motorsports)
  • No. 62 – John Hunter Nemechek (Halmar Friesen Racing)
  • No. 69 – Tyler Tomassi (Motorsports Business Management)
  • No. 75 – Corey LaJoie (Henderson Motorsports)
  • No. 76 – Spencer Boyd (Freedom Racing Enterprises)
  • No. 77 – Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)
  • No. 81 – Kris Wright (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
  • No. 88 – Ty Majeski (ThorSport Racing)
  • No. 90 – Justin S. Carroll (Terry Carroll Motorsports)
  • No. 91 – Christian Eckes (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
  • No. 95 – Clay Greenfield (GK Racing)
  • No. 97 – Jason Kitzmiller (CR7 Motorsports)
  • No. 98 – Jake Garcia (ThorSport Racing)
  • No. 99 – Ben Rhodes (ThorSport Racing)

What This Means for Tonight

The implication of a 44-truck entry list is simple: pressure. In the Craftsman Truck Series, the field is typically capped at 36 trucks. That means eight drivers are going home early. There is no tomorrow for those teams. They have to qualify, or they pack up the hauler and watch the race from the hotel.

For independent teams like Norm Benning Racing or FDNY Racing, simply making the race is a victory. It keeps the lights on. It pays the tire bill. But they have to outrun juggernauts to do it. Furthermore, the presence of Cup Series talent such as Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell, and John Hunter Nemechek significantly changes the race dynamics. These drivers understand the draft at an elite level.

They know how to manipulate the air, how to side-draft, and how to push a line forward. The Truck Series regulars often drive with a level of aggression bordering on chaos; adding calculated Cup veterans to the mix creates a volatile cocktail. The regulars want to prove they can beat the Sunday stars, and the Sunday stars don’t want to be embarrassed by the kids.

We also need to discuss the manufacturers. You see significant support from Toyota via TRICON and ThorSport, but Chevy is bringing heat with Spire and Niece. Ford has Front Row Motorsports locked and loaded. The manufacturer alliances will dictate who pushes whom in the closing laps. If a Ford is leading off turn four, don’t expect a Chevy to push him to the win.

What’s Next

Speedweeks is about renewal. It is a clean slate, with every driver tied for the points lead and every team believing they have built a winning machine. But Daytona is also cruel. It rewards bravery but punishes mistakes with devastating swiftness. With a field this stacked, the 2026 Fresh From Florida 250 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive truck races in recent memory.

Tony Stewart mixing it up with Frankie Muniz? Travis Pastrana drafting with Ben Rhodes? You couldn’t script this drama. Make sure you are tuned in tonight. If the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry list is any indication, we are in for a wild ride.

Sarah is a motorsports journalist covering NASCAR, IMSA, Formula 1, and IndyCar, blending sharp analysis with accessible storytelling shaped by live reporting at the Daytona 500 and Würth 400. She brings an analytical foundation through a B.S. in Political Science and a Master’s in Project Management and Information Technology, and is an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success through the CTU Chapter, reflecting her commitment to growth and leadership in the industry.