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NASCAR Amends Cup Driver Limits for O’Reilly & Truck Series

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NASCAR is amending its rules regarding the number of races NASCAR Cup Series drivers can run in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly the Xfinity Series) and Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, Racer first reported on Saturday (Nov. 1).

Under the new rules, drivers declared for Cup points with three or more years of full-time Cup experience will be eligible for a maximum of 10 races per season in O’Reilly and eight races per season in the Truck Series.

Previously, Cup drivers were only permitted to compete in five races in each series.

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The modified rules also state that full-time Cup drivers are ineligible for cutoff races, playoff races and any championship race for the lower series. This language implies there will be some version of a playoff format in 2026 for NASCAR.

In addition to the rule changes regarding Cup driver eligibility, NASCAR also lowered the minimum age limit from 18 years old to 17 for O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on road courses and tracks measuring 1.25 miles or less. The minimum age for the Craftsman Truck Series will remain 16 years old.

The change may immediately impact at least one NASCAR driver rising up through the ranks. FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass indicated above that 17-year-old Brent Crews will race full time in O’Reilly for Joe Gibbs Racing next year. If that’s the case, then this rule change will enable Crews to run more races before he turns 18 on March 30.

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Logan Kendall joined the Frontstretch team in 2025 as the Tuesday news writer and eventually branched out into assisting with Frontstretch's social media and video team operations as well. Outside of motorsports, he has an interest in history, meteorology, and government.

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3 thoughts on “NASCAR Amends Cup Driver Limits for O’Reilly & Truck Series”

  2. How about limiting Cup drivers to only running in those races with a team that is NOT in the top 10? Then they can take $ away from the series, but at least give a team some valuable feedback to maybe improve their program.

  3. Not a surprise. As the 23XI/FRM suit has brought to light, even the majority of cup teams are losing money, and now Kaulig is shuttering their Xfinity program.

    Gotta fill the fields somehow. Hard to do so when the monopoly which is NASCAR won’t pay enough from their profits to keep teams solvent.

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