Hendrick Motorsports is introducing several key Chase Elliott team changes ahead of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, notably impacting both crew assignments and team lineups as the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium approaches to launch the competition, weather permitting. These adjustments are part of a broader strategic refresh across the organization as teams seek an early edge for the new season.
Restructuring at Hendrick Motorsports for the 2026 Season
Hendrick Motorsports has unveiled updated crew rosters for the annual exhibition race, signaling significant movement within their ranks. With an eye on optimizing performance, the most prominent shifts involve teams supporting reigning champion Kyle Larson and 2020 series champion Chase Elliott. The Cup Series organization has redistributed vital personnel from their strategic command center, known as the “war room,” to active trackside roles for the upcoming season.
Kyle Larson’s Team: Engineering Moves to Pit Road
Kyle Larson, who secured his second consecutive Cup Series title after an intense victory at Phoenix Raceway, will see changes to the personnel supporting him at the track. Among these updates, race engineer Cal Stewart and team engineers Brian Ross and Nathan Woodby have been credited for their innovative strategies, particularly a notable pit call in the championship race that altered the outcome. Cliff Daniels, continuing as Larson’s crew chief, emphasized the unique decision-making within his team that contributed to their title win.
Nathan Woodby, after working from the war room in past seasons, will now transition to an engineering role on Larson’s road crew. This move reflects a strategy to inject firsthand race-day expertise into pit operations, hoping to replicate their success from Phoenix against formidable competitors such as Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing, who vied fiercely with Larson in that decisive event.
Chase Elliott’s Team Welcomes New Mechanic
For Chase Elliott, aiming for his second Cup Series championship in 2026, there are notable changes to the crew. Thomas Heslink, previously car chief for Alex Bowman, is joining Elliott’s crew as a mechanic. This adjustment in Elliott’s group follows the pattern of internal team movement designed to leverage experienced personnel across the Hendrick organization. Elliott, a consistent contender, will look to benefit from these tweaks in his quest for another title run.
Key Shifts on Alex Bowman’s Crew
Alex Bowman, another principal driver at Hendrick Motorsports, will enter the season seeing the most extensive changes to his support staff. His team faces a major overhaul: Nick Kerlin steps in as the new car chief, replacing Josh Kirk; Jonas Bell has joined as engineer from Kaulig Racing; Alex Mueller becomes the new mechanic in place of Carl Haag; and TJ DiBlasi succeeds Michael McAndrews as Interior Specialist. Crew chief Blake Harris remains with Bowman into their fourth year together, seeking improved results after a challenging 2025 season that saw Bowman finishing 13th in the standings and being the only Hendrick full-timer without multiple wins last year.
With the pressure on Bowman to deliver improvements, especially given his last win was on the Chicago street course in July 2024, the team’s fresh structure aims to spur better consistency and stronger results for the eight-time race winner. The competitive landscape is tight, with many Cup drivers, including Bowman, also facing contract expirations after the upcoming campaign.
Emergence of Young Talent in the Hendrick Pipeline
Hendrick Motorsports is also fostering talent for potential future roles. Rising driver Corey Day now represents the team full time in the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series, potentially preparing for an eventual Cup Series opportunity. Another young driver, Rajah Caruth, backed by Hendrick, is set to compete full time in the O’Reilly’s Series for 2026, splitting his schedule between Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing. These moves ensure Hendrick maintains a pool of skilled successors ready to step in when opportunities arise.
Wider Context: Uncertainty Across NASCAR Rosters
The changes at Hendrick come amidst a broader environment of transition and uncertainty across the Cup Series grid. Notable names such as Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing, Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, and Austin Cindric of Team Penske all enter seasons where future contracts are at stake. While some, like Larson and Keselowski, are expected to renew, the competitive pressure builds for others, making roster moves and team changes increasingly significant in shaping NASCAR’s next era.
Awaited Announcements for William Byron’s Team
Details regarding William Byron’s road crew are yet to be disclosed, making him the only Hendrick Cup Series regular without a publicly announced roster ahead of the exhibition opener. This pending information adds further suspense to how Hendrick Motorsports’ complete lineup will look as the 2026 season begins.
These Chase Elliott team changes, coupled with the shifting dynamics across other drivers and emerging young prospects at Hendrick, signal a proactive approach by one of NASCAR’s most storied organizations. How these adjustments affect performance and results will become clear as the season unfolds, starting with the much-anticipated Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
