Recent speculation about Team Penske Xfinity Series plans and Spire Motorsports joining forces for a 2026 return to NASCAR’s second-tier series, soon to be known as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, has been unequivocally dismissed by reliable sources. An insider with direct knowledge of both organizations has addressed the swirling rumors, shedding light on the realities behind these claims as the current NASCAR silly season intensifies.
Origins of the Xfinity Series Speculation
The buzz began when Spire Motorsports, known for running four teams in the Craftsman Truck Series, was rumored to be selling off much of its equipment, especially vehicles purchased from Kyle Busch Motorsports. This prompted some in the NASCAR community to believe Spire was downsizing in order to funnel resources into a 2026 Xfinity Series campaign. Those assumptions, however, have recently been proven to be unfounded.
Attention then shifted to Team Penske, particularly after JR Motorsports announced its split with Carson Kvapil, a regular driver in the Xfinity Series. Gossip quickly linked Kvapil to Roger Penske’s camp, sparking talk about him becoming a developmental driver for the team. This fueled additional suggestions that Penske might reactivate its Xfinity operations with Kvapil at the helm.
Official Word Denies Xfinity Entry for 2026
NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass provided a clear statement on the situation, putting the rumors to rest with a direct communication from key leadership inside both organizations:
“Unless something has changed in last week or two, team executives at Penske and Spire who would be responsible for putting personnel and equipment in place have repeatedly told me they are unaware of any plans for their organizations to race Xfinity (O’Reilly Series) in 2026.”
– Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Journalist
This statement makes it evident that groups such as Team Penske and Spire Motorsports are not planning to make a move to the Xfinity—or soon O’Reilly—Series for 2026. The rumor mill has, for now, been sharply silenced regarding their involvement.
The Challenge Top Teams Face in Xfinity
Spire Motorsports last appeared at the Cup level in 2023 with Carson Hocevar and has since not made any further starts in that division. Team Penske, meanwhile, ended its full-time Xfinity tenure after 2021 and has not returned. Behind these withdrawals lies a larger trend: leading organizations like Hendrick Motorsports and RFK Racing have also exited the series, primarily due to persistent sponsorship difficulties.
The dynamic between JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports illustrates one reason; after JR Motorsports became active in the late 2000s, Hendrick, as their partner, saw no reason to operate a separate Xfinity team. More significantly, Penske and other top-tier teams have struggled to secure the financial backing necessary to sustain a full-time effort in NASCAR’s second-level competition. Sponsorship woes led directly to the exits of both Penske and RFK Racing, with the latter leaving the series in 2018 due to lack of support.
The Perceived Value of the Second-Tier Series
This sponsorship drought reveals a wider issue: the Xfinity Series, despite being marketed as the primary path for developing drivers en route to the Cup Series, isn’t always seen as a vital step. As a result, top Cup teams often hesitate to invest in the second tier.
Insight from Ford Performance Global Director Mark Rushbrook underscores this view. As he stated in the past, Ford places greater emphasis on the Craftsman Truck Series as the premier development ground for future Cup drivers. According to Rushbrook, it’s unnecessary for emerging talent to participate in the Xfinity Series prior to advancing to the Cup ranks, a philosophy that is increasingly shared by leading teams.
Why a Return Remains Unlikely
With teams like Team Penske, Spire Motorsports, Hendrick Motorsports, Trackhouse, and 23XI Racing all now focusing their resources outside the Xfinity Series, it appears improbable that they will establish full-time operations at this level anytime soon. Their collective strategy reflects an unwillingness to commit substantial investment to a series that does not promise meaningful returns, whether in driver development or sponsorship value.
For now, despite the rumor mill and the persistent interest each silly season brings, Team Penske Xfinity Series plans remain non-existent, as do similar ambitions for Spire. Unless the climate of sponsorship and developmental priorities undergoes a significant shift, the field will likely stay sparse of major full-time Cup-affiliated teams in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Unless something has changed in last week or two, team executives at Penske and Spire who would be responsible for putting personnel and equipment in place have repeatedly told me they are unaware of any plans for their organizations to race Xfinity (O'Reilly Series) in 2026. https://t.co/TLG0qb6nku
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 24, 2025
Ford has more of a commitment to its truck racing program than in the Xfinity Series. Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook explains why: pic.twitter.com/SX4PqXERQg
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 1, 2023
