Rajah Caruth to anchor Hendrick-backed JRM entry in 2026
CONCORD, N.C. — JR Motorsports revealed the lineup for its No. 88 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chevrolet in 2026.
Rajah Caruth will serve as the anchor driver for 23 of the 33 NOAPS races including the seven Chase races. Hendrick Motorsports’ four NASCAR Cup Series drivers will fill out the remainder of the schedule. HendrickCars.com will sponsor the car in every race.
Caruth will open up the season with driving duties for the first three races of 2026. Then, William Byron will take over March 7 at Phoenix and Kyle Larson will get his chance March 14 at Las Vegas.
In total, Byron and Larson will race the car three times each while Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott will race two times each.
Although Caruth will be out of the car for 10 races, JRM co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. previously stated he will fill out the schedule in one of the team’s other cars.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome back all four of Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers into the JRM family to join Rajah (Caruth) behind the wheel of our No. 88 Chevrolet,” JRM CEO Kelley Earnhardt Miller said. “Chase, William, Alex and Kyle all have such a unique history with us and it’s just a testament to the relationship that we have built with Mr. Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports and HendrickCars.com that we can bring them all together with Rajah to race for an owner’s championship in 2026.”
Caruth is moving up from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he raced with support from HendrickCars.com at Spire Motorsports in 2024 and 2025. Rick Hendrick effectively took Caruth under his financial wing when his prospects looked low at the end of the 2023 season. Together, they have won twice and Caruth was named the NCTS’ Most Popular Driver in 2024 and 2025.
“We’re looking forward to our program with JR Motorsports, both on and off the track,” Hendrick said. “Having our four Cup Series drivers join Rajah in the No. 88 provides HendrickCars.com a powerful platform with a championship organization. This team is capable of competing for race wins throughout the 2026 season, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.”
Here is the schedule for the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet:
- Feb. 14 – Daytona International Speedway (Rajah Caruth)
- Feb. 21 – Atlanta (Rajah Caruth)
- Feb. 28 – Circuit of the Americas (Rajah Caruth)
- March 7 – Phoenix Raceway (William Byron)
- March 14 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Kyle Larson)
- March 21 – Darlington Raceway (Alex Bowman)
- March 28 – Martinsville Speedway (Rajah Caruth)A
- April 4 – Rockingham Speedway (Rajah Caruth)
- April 11 – Bristol Motor Speedway (Kyle Larson)
- April 18 – Kansas Motor Speedway (William Byron)
- April 25 – Talladega Superspeedway (Rajah Caruth)
- May 2 – Texas Motor Speedway (Kyle Larson)
- May 9 – Watkins Glen International (Rajah Caruth)
- May 16 – Dover Motor Speedway (Rajah Caruth)
- May 23 – Charlotte Motor Speedway (Rajah Caruth)
- May 30 – Nashville Superspeedway (Alex Bowman)
- June 13 – Pocono Raceway (William Byron)
- June 20 – Naval Base Coronado (Rajah Caruth)
- June 27 – Sonoma Raceway (Rajah Caruth)
- July 4 – Chicagoland Speedway (Chase Elliott)
- July 11 – Atlanta (Rajah Caruth)
- July 25- Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Chase Elliott)
- Aug. 8 – Iowa Speedway (Rajah Caruth)
- Aug. 28 – Daytona International Speedway (Rajah Caruth)
- Sept. 5 – Darlington Raceway (Rajah Caruth)
- Sept. 12 – World Wide Technology Raceway (Rajah Caruth)
- Final seven races: Rajah Caruth
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com