The JR Motorsports driver and crew chief lineup will look significantly different during the 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season after some offseason moves by the championship-winning team.
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JR Motorsports provided the first look at its crew chief lineup on Friday, nearly two weeks after three of the team's drivers finished second, third, and fourth in the championship standings.
The biggest of the changes will take place on the No. 7 team as Jim Pohlman departs for Richard Childress Racing. Andrew Overstreet will take over while joining veteran driver Justin Allgaier. Overstreet, a veteran of the organization, spent last season with Carson Kvapil and the No. 1 team.
Crew Chiefs - 🔒 pic.twitter.com/veDGHRAEz1
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) November 14, 2025
Cup Series champion Rodney Childers will lead the No. 1 team in 2026, which JR Motorsports revealed in a previous announcement. Mardy Lindley will remain with the No. 88 team after celebrating 10 wins in 32 races last year. He missed Pocono last year due to a suspension.
Phillip Bell will shift from the No. 8 team to the No. 9 team after winning two races with Sammy Smith in two years.
Cory Shea will round out the crew chief lineup. He will join Smith on the No. 8 team for the full 2026 season. Shea led the No. 9 team last season and celebrated race wins with Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Suarez.
The driver lineup will feature a mix of competitors, some of whom will compete full-time. Allgaier and Smith will return to their respective rides while continuing the pursuit of wins and championships.
Kvapil will also compete full-time, but he will drive two different cars. He will share the No. 1 Chevrolet with Connor Zilisch and will make the rest of his starts in another car. JR Motorsports has not revealed which of the other cars will also feature Kvapil.
Rajah Caruth will join JR Motorsports for a part-time schedule. He will drive the No. 88 in select races. The team has not provided the number of starts or any details about other drivers who will control this entry.
The No. 9 will feature two Cup Series winners. Chastain and van Gisbergen will both return to the entry for select races. The expectation is that Chastain will make 10 starts for JR Motorsports while pursuing 56 starts across all three series.
