The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series continues to deliver some changes as the end of the season approaches. This includes a reunion between a driver and his former team.
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According to a Thursday announcement, series veteran Ryan Ellis has inked a multi-year deal to return to Alpha Prime Racing. He will drive a Ford Mustang for the organization as it receives support from Roush Yates Engines. Ellis will have Tablo TV along for the ride as the anchor partner.
Ellis, a Virginia native, spent three seasons with Alpha Prime Racing. He joined the organization on a part-time basis in 2022, and then he expanded his schedule to 31 races in 2023. He competed full-time for the team in 2024.
Signed on the dotted line for 2027. ✍️
Welcome back home, @ryanellisracing! @TabloTV | @FordRacing pic.twitter.com/fILK5MbGhu
— Alpha Prime Racing (@TeamAlphaPrime) October 15, 2026
Ellis left Alpha Prime Racing to join DGM Racing in 2025. He scored his first top-10 finish while driving for the Florida-based team. He then moved to Young's Motorsports for the 2026 season.
"There's a ton of positive momentum at Alpha Prime Racing right now," Ellis said in a press release. "Not only with the speed they show each week, but also the way they're positioning for the future.
"The opportunity with Ford made it even more enticing to return to my first NASCAR 'home,' and a multi-year deal lets us build our team and program the right way, creating value for our partners on and off the track over multiple seasons.
"I'm very familiar with their group, and I feel like I gel really well with the way their cars drive. That's a huge part of this decision. I think the familiarity will help us get off to a fast start and show that speed consistently year after year."
The reunion with Ellis answers one question about the Alpha Prime Racing lineup. The team has yet to provide an answer about its second car after Brennan Poole announced his departure. Lavar Scott is an option, but the team has not provided any information about whether he will return.
"Lavar Scott's a guy that we think very highly of and has done very well for us on track this year," team president Jusan Hamilton said when asked about Scott's status in early September. "So those conversations will be ongoing, but hopefully make those announcements at a later date."
