The NASCAR Cup Series changes for 2026 have introduced significant shifts in team lineups and car numbers, breaking a two-decade streak at Daytona. With notable moves among drivers and numbers, this season marks the return of the No. 97 to full-time competition for the first time since 2005.
Key Driver Lineup and Team Changes for 2026
The transition from the 2025 to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season brought fewer changes than normal, but those that did occur stood out for their impact. Connor Zilisch, after competing in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, has stepped into a Cup seat at Trackhouse Racing, replacing Daniel Suarez. In turn, Suarez moved to Spire Motorsports to replace Justin Haley.
Justin Haley, who raced full-time in the Cup Series in 2025, is no longer present in the top-tier Cup field. He has shifted to the Truck Series with Kaulig Racing, rejoining the organization where he previously competed in both Xfinity and Cup events between 2019 and 2023. This reshuffling left the Cup roster with a new look and set of storylines going into the new season.
Notable Adjustments to Car Numbers and Legacy
One of the most striking NASCAR Cup Series changes in 2026 is that Connor Zilisch will not be driving the No. 99 Chevrolet, a car number long associated with Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse Racing. Instead, Zilisch will be piloting the No. 88 Chevrolet, which had previously seen full-season action with Alex Bowman at Hendrick Motorsports in 2020 and was last used by Shane van Gisbergen in 2025.
The No. 99 has returned to RFK Racing for a brief appearance during the Daytona 500, with Corey LaJoie attempting to qualify the entry. However, LaJoie did not make the starting field. Shane van Gisbergen, meanwhile, returns to his familiar No. 97, the number he used during his racing career in Australian Supercars as well as in the 2024 Xfinity Series.
This adjustment marks the first time since 2005 that the No. 97 has featured as a full-time entry throughout the Cup season. Historically, the No. 97 was a significant Roush Racing number. Kurt Busch drove the No. 97 Ford beginning late in 2000 and continued in the seat until late 2005, stepping aside before the season finale.
No. 97’s Tumultuous Past and Return to Competition
Kurt Busch vacated the No. 97 for the final two races of the 2005 season following an incident in Maricopa County, Arizona, where he was cited for reckless driving and became
“belligerent with Maricopa County (Arizona) sheriff’s deputies during a traffic stop”
– Kenny Wallace filled in behind the wheel at Phoenix Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The No. 97 then faded from the Cup scene, making only sporadic appearances. Its most recent use came in 2018 when Obaika Racing entered Tanner Berrhill in the No. 97 Toyota at Phoenix and Homestead, while David Starr also drove it at Texas Motor Speedway after an unsuccessful qualifying attempt at Talladega Superspeedway.
Between Busch’s departure and 2018, only a handful of drivers made rare starts in the No. 97. Jeff Fuller attempted to qualify at the Daytona 500 in 2010 for NEMCO Motorsports and later appeared at Talladega that same year. In 2011, Kevin Conway drove the same entry for two races at Daytona and two at Talladega, though none included the main Daytona 500 race. In the following year, Bill Elliott took the wheel at Talladega and Daytona, with Timmy Hill joining for a race at Talladega after Elliott’s unsuccessful Daytona 500 attempt.
Implications of the New Number Landscape
Prior to the 2026 season, the No. 97 had not been a fixture in the Cup Series since 2018, resulting in a nearly eight-year absence. The number’s legacy stretches from championship runs with Roush Racing and Kurt Busch through sporadic attempts by teams like Obaika Racing and NEMCO Motorsports.
The reshuffling of numbers and driver seats, especially with the return of the No. 97, brings a historical dimension back to the Cup grid for 2026. As fans and teams adjust to the new combinations, the season represents both an end to a long-running trend at Daytona and a nod to NASCAR’s evolving legacy, highlighted by familiar names like Daniel Suarez, Shane van Gisbergen, and fresh opportunities for rookies such as Connor Zilisch.
