NASCAR’s Texas weekend just changed — and most fans won’t realize it until the green flag drops.
Several lineup changes are set for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, quietly reshaping parts of the field ahead of the Friday race under the lights. In at least one case, a recent race winner won’t even be in the truck.
These changes carry more weight than they might appear at first glance.
Why the Lineup Looks Different at Texas
A mix of scheduling decisions, driver rotations, and NASCAR’s rules around Cup Series participation in lower series have all played a role in this weekend’s changes.
In recent years, NASCAR has relaxed restrictions on experienced Cup drivers competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series, allowing for more crossover starts throughout the season.
But that flexibility also creates movement.
With some Cup drivers already making their allotted starts — and others choosing different race weekends — teams are now turning to alternate drivers for the weekend at Texas. At the same time, part-time Truck Series competitors who have run earlier races this season will not be in the field this weekend.
Multiple Teams Making Quiet Changes
Three notable changes are confirmed for Friday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway:
- William Sawalich will drive the No. 5 Tricon Garage Toyota, replacing Chase Briscoe after Briscoe made a recent start but will not return this weekend.
- Cory Roper will be behind the wheel of the No. 62 Toyota, stepping in for Christopher Bell, who is not scheduled to run additional Truck Series races at this time.
- Brandon Jones will take over the No. 1 Tricon Garage Toyota, replacing Corey Heim, who is not competing in the Truck Series race at Texas.
These changes reshape multiple competitive entries heading into the weekend.
What It Means Moving Forward
While these changes may fly under the radar, they do carry real implications.
For younger drivers and part-time competitors, races like Texas offer valuable track time — especially on a 1.5-mile intermediate track where teams gather critical data for future events.
For teams, it’s an opportunity to evaluate depth, test different combinations, and build toward the second half of the season.
And for the race itself, it introduces a new level of unpredictability.
Several of the drivers stepping into new rides this weekend bring strong recent results, including top-10 finishes and momentum that could translate quickly if things go their way.
A Weekend Worth Watching
Texas Motor Speedway has a history of producing chaotic, wide-open racing — and with multiple lineup changes now in play, that unpredictability only increases. It also brings back a tried-and-tested tire package, which is expected to play a key role.
It may not be the main headline going into the weekend — but it’s the kind of shift that can decide how the race plays out once it starts.
On-track action kicks off Friday with the O’Reilly Series and Truck Series taking the track. The Cup field gets in on the fun Saturday with practice and qualifying before Sunday’s main event. Full schedule here.
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