Alpha Prime Racing has announced that the team's relationship with Brennan Poole will end after the 2026 season.
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According to a press release issued after a 10th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Poole informed Alpha Prime Racing that he will not return in 2027. His time driving the No. 44 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series entry will end after three seasons.
Alpha Prime Racing noted that it presented Poole with an offer to return to the team in 2027 as it switches fully to Ford Mustang race cars. However, he chose to pursue another opportunity.
"Of course we wanted Brennan and his partners to continue growing with us," team founder Tommy Joe Martins said, "especially as we begin this new chapter with Ford Racing.
"So, yeah, it's going to be really weird to see him driving another racecar because the forty-four means a lot to me. Ultimately he feels like he's making the right decision, and I respect it — I just disagree with him, obviously.
"But look, I know it was a hard decision. We've got a great relationship and we still will. This is the business we're in."
.@brennanpoole scored another top-10 finish at Charlotte in the continued push for top-20 in the owner's standings -- the No. 44 is 18th.
It was a strong night for Alpha Prime Racing, and it forced @TommyJoeMartins to make a late run to the truck for cigars. pic.twitter.com/JpcHs1RpEM— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) October 12, 2026
A Texas native, Poole has driven for numerous teams across the three national NASCAR series. He has made the majority of his starts (219) in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series while posting a career-best runner-up finish with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2017.
Poole joined Alpha Prime Racing in 2024, and he kicked off a successful partnership for a team fighting in the middle of the field. He has become the team's all-time leader in starts (95), top-20 finishes (64), top-10s (11), and top-fives (three).
Equally important for the team is that Poole has the No. 44 entry sitting 18th in the owner's points with four races remaining in the season. If he can maintain his current pace, he can help Alpha Prime Racing lock up some crucial bonus money to continue building for the future.
"We still have work to do," team president Jusan Hamilton said. "I know Brennan will give us everything he has, and we'll do the same for him.
"That's the best way we can thank him and his partners for three successful years together. It's been a special partnership for Tommy Joe and our entire organization."
