NASCAR team technical alliances are set to reshape the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts season, as Jeremy Clements Racing and Viking Motorsports both announced new partnerships on Monday. These agreements come as both single-car teams seek to enhance their competitiveness next season by linking up with established powerhouses in the sport.
Jeremy Clements Racing Forms Alliance with Haas
Jeremy Clements Racing, a long-standing presence in the NASCAR landscape, revealed it will collaborate closely with the Haas Factory Team for 2026. Jeremy Clements, who serves as both driver and owner of the No. 51 Chevrolet, aims to reverse recent struggles through this new partnership. Haas itself is set to transition from Ford to Chevrolet, building on its own technical relationship with Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series.
This arrangement means Jeremy Clements Racing vehicles will be built at the expansive Haas facility in Kannapolis, North Carolina, a location that also serves teams like RSS Racing. For Clements and his team, this marks their sixteenth consecutive season in the NOAPS series. Despite two past wins, including notable victories at Road America in 2017 and Daytona in 2022, JCR finished 21st in the 2025 driver standings—its lowest finish since becoming a full-time operation.
“We’ve always fought hard as a single-car team, but this is a major opportunity for us, and partnering with the Haas Factory Team means a lot,”
said Jeremy Clements, Owner/Driver. “We’re excited for what’s ahead!”
Viking Motorsports Strengthens Ties with RCR
Monday also saw news of another alliance within the Chevrolet camp as Viking Motorsports forged a deeper partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) for 2026. With Parker Retzlaff slated as their upcoming driver, Viking now gains access to RCR’s robust infrastructure and knowledge base—critical assets for a team eager to make strides after recent developments in the sport.
The agreement allows Viking to benefit from RCR’s
“support network, operational resources, and collaborative processes”
—advantages proven effective, as RCR recently captured the 2025 driver’s championship with Jesse Love. This collaboration is seen as a vital component in Viking’s plan to increase competitiveness and sustainability within NASCAR.
“Forming this partnership with RCR represents another important step in our mission to continue improving and growing as a competitive team,”
said Jeremy Lange, General Manager of Viking Motorsports.
“Our foundation is built on hard work, teamwork, and determination — and with RCR’s engineering expertise and ECR engines supporting our program, we’re gaining the tools and knowledge to take the next step forward. This partnership truly embodies what it means to be Forged to Race.”
What These Alliances Mean for NASCAR’s Future
With Jeremy Clements Racing and Viking Motorsports both deepening their technical roots, the 2026 season could see a greater spread of competitive teams in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. These collaborations highlight a shift in how smaller teams leverage alliances to level the playing field with established organizations like Haas and RCR. As partnerships like these become more common, fans could witness tighter races and more unpredictable outcomes, shaping new storylines for NASCAR’s future seasons.
