Power Move: Two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Teams Strike Major Technical Alliances
In the world of NASCAR, standing still is the same as going backward, and this refers to technical alliances.. The relentless grind for a hundredth of a second, for that tiny edge that separates the victor from the pack, is what defines this sport. It’s a chess match at 200 miles per hour, where the moves you make in the garage are just as critical as the ones on the track.
For two teams in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the 2026 season just got a whole lot more interesting. They’re not just hoping for a better future. They’re building it, bolt by bolt, through a technical alliance. The air in the shop is about to change for Jeremy Clements Racing and Viking Motorsports.
These aren’t just handshakes and press releases. These are game-changing moves. We’re talking about a fundamental shift in how these teams will go to battle each weekend. It’s about survival, growth, and the raw, unadulterated hunger to win.
What is a Technical Alliance in NASCAR?
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of these deals, let’s talk about what a technical alliance really means. Forget the corporate jargon. At its heart, it’s about the big fish helping the smaller fish swim faster. A larger, powerhouse team like Richard Childress Racing or Haas Factory Team shares its equipment, chassis, engineering data, brainpower, and sometimes even its shop space with a smaller team.
For the smaller team, it’s like getting the keys to a kingdom. All of a sudden, you’re gaining access to resources that were once viewed as a pipe dream. It cuts the middleman out of competitiveness and becomes a way to bridge the gap between money and manpower. Suddenly, you have access to resources that were previously just a pipe dream.
For larger teams, technical alliances are about strengthening on-track presence and piecing together data with allied cars to build lasting relationships. Though the move is strategic, it must come from both sides of the aisle.
Jeremy Clements Racing and Haas Factory Team: A New Beginning
Let’s be honest, Jeremy Clements is the embodiment of the underdog spirit. The man has clawed and fought for everything he’s earned in this sport. His family-run, single-car team has pulled off miracle wins at Road America and the high banks of Daytona. But racing on heart alone can only get you so far.
Now, Jeremy Clements Racing is linking up with Haas Factory Team. This isn’t just a small step; it’s a monumental leap. The No. 51 Chevrolet will be prepped and housed right inside the HFT facility in Kannapolis. Think about that. The same roof that covers cars that made the playoffs and won races last season will now shelter Clements’ operation.
“We’ve always fought hard as a single-car team, but this is a major opportunity for us,” Clements said, and you can feel the weight of that statement. It’s the sound of a driver who knows this is his shot to level up, to trade punches with the big dogs every week, not just on the days when the stars align. This technical alliance is his ticket to consistency.
Viking Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing: Forged to Race
On the other side of the coin, you have Viking Motorsports. A newer team, but one with a fiery ambition to make its mark. They’ve announced an “enhanced” technical alliance with a name that echoes through NASCAR history: Richard Childress Racing.
RCR isn’t just a team. It’s an institution. They’re fresh off a championship season with Jesse Love. For Viking Motorsports, this technical alliance means tapping into that championship DNA. It’s access to RCR’s entire support network, their operational know-how, and those beastly ECR engines.
Jeremy Lange, the General Manager at Viking, put it perfectly: “This partnership truly embodies what it means to be Forged to Race.” It’s a declaration. Viking Motorsports isn’t here to just participate. They’re here to contend. With Parker Retzlaff sliding into the No. 99 seat and the full might of RCR’s resources behind them, they’re arming themselves for a serious assault on the 2026 season.
Final Thoughts
The emotions attached to these technical alliances are both commonplace and palpable. It’s equivalent to the hope for a brighter tomorrow, coupled with the validation of years of hard work and dedication, and the foresight to know that, in the modernized world of NASCAR, you can’t go it alone. Think about it. These teams are betting on collaboration to ignite their dreams of reaching victory lane. And of course, for fans of pure hard-nose racing, it’s a heck of a story to watch unfold.
