DARLINGTON, S.C. — Alpha Prime Racing is making a significant move ahead of the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
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The Tommy Joe Martins and Caesar Bacarella-led team has announced that it will become a Ford Racing operation. The team, which has used Chevrolet Camaro stock cars since 2020, will now field the Ford Mustang in O'Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.
The team will provide more details about the driver and crew chief lineup, as well as the sponsorships at a later date.
For Martins, this marks a significant opportunity for his small team. He and everyone at the shop will have access to new pathways to improve.
"Sam Hunt got to go do a Goodyear tire test," Martins said in response to a question from FanBuzz. "Well, why is that? It's like well, there aren't that many Toyotas in the series, right?
"I mean, there has to be a manufacturer representative right now for Ford. We are the manufacturer representative, right? And that's going to create some pathways for us to develop and get better that we just haven't had access to."
Photo credit: Alpha Prime Racing
Alpha Prime Racing has fielded two full-time entries and one part-time entry this season. Brennan Poole has driven the No. 44 Chevrolet while Lavar Scott has driven the No. 45 Chevrolet. Anthony Alfredo and Bacarella have each driven the No. 4 one time.
Partnering with Ford Racing will mark a major move for both sides of this deal. Alpha Prime Racing will be the direct representative of one of NASCAR's top OEMs. Ford Racing will also be back in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series after being largely absent this season.
The OEM partner started the season working with AM Racing and driver Nick Sanchez. However, AM Racing ceased operations after the spring race at Martinsville.
Ford Mustang stock cars have made sporadic appearances at the track this season, but the series has not truly had a strong presence from the Blue Oval.
The emblem and the Mustang will both return as the end of the season approaches. Team President Jusan Hamilton said that Alpha Prime Racing will begin fielding some Mustangs in the closing races so that they can build the technical baseline before the offseason and then hit the ground running in 2027.
"Our goals are not changing to now be a premier team in the O'Reilly Series," Martins clarified. "We know exactly what we are. We do believe that access to more information and having more priority within inside a manufacturer ecosystem, yeah, that's going to help.
"And I think ultimately we're in a spot right now where, as competitive as the field has been, and as more teams are kind of boosting affiliations, whether that be through some of the top teams in the series or manufacturers, we feel like we needed to do the same thing."
