Ross Chastain will return to Niece Motorsports for a part-time run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season. Niece announced on Friday, January 9th, that the Trackhouse Racing star will drive the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado in eight races with the team following the rule change by NASCAR in 2026.
Chastain knows Niece well. He first teamed with the team in 2018 and helped put it on the map with a string of strong Truck runs. In 2019, he claimed multiple Truck wins for Niece, including his first victory at Kansas Speedway, and finished second in the standings that season. Chastain has made at least five starts with the team in the past four years. His last Truck win came in 2024, when he beat a dominant run by Corey Heim at Darlington.
Niece Motorsports announced the ‘Melon Man’s’ return to the Truck on X, writing:
“Our 🍉 roots run deep! @RossChastain returns to the No. 45 Chevy Silverado for eight races in 2026.”
Castain shared the No. 45 Chevrolet with Bayley Currey and Matt Gould last season and had a best finish of second place behind Heim at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He will reunite with crew chief Phil Gould in 2026.
The Salisbury-based team will reveal the specific race dates and primary partners at a later date. Chastain will share the ride with Landen Lewis and at least one other driver who will be named later.
“Great To Be Back With Niece Motorsports in a Larger Capacity” – Ross Chastain Welcomes NASCAR Rule Change
NASCAR changed its eligibility rules for the 2026 season to let Cup Series drivers enter more races in the Truck and O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity) Series, and Ross Chastain plans to take advantage of all of its allowed starts.
Cup drivers with at least three years of full-time experience can now compete in up to 10 O’Reilly races and eight Truck races each year, instead of the five-race limit which was set in 2020.
“It’s great to be back with Niece Motorsports in a larger capacity this year. When I heard about the rule change, I knew we had to run more races together. We’ve got a great core group of people here in Salisbury and I want to bring them all back to victory lane,” Ross Chastain said in a team release.
“I’m thankful to have the opportunity and appreciate the ownership group and our partners for making it happen, along with everyone at Trackhouse for allowing me to run in the Truck Series.”
Chastain will start his fifth season with Trackhouse Racing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The 33-year-old will continue to drive the No. 1 Chevrolet with continued backing from sponsors like Moose Fraternity, but with a new crew chief, Brandon McSwain.
Chastain reached the playoffs last year after winning the Coca-Cola 600.
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