Truck Series: MHR makes Sweeping Changes; Adds Sanchez for 2027
While others use the first week of the offseason to catch their breath, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing are making moves.
The NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series organization is undergoing sweeping changes as they look to bounce back in 2027.
The biggest addition to MHR’s lineup is Nick Sanchez, who will replace Tyler Ankrum in the No. 18 Chevrolet as Ankrum prepares to move to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
After spending 2026 piecing together a part-time schedule between the O’Reilly Series and Truck Series, Sanchez finally secures a full-time ride for next season.
Sanchez made four Truck Series starts last year, earning a pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a top-five finish at IRP.
The-25-year-old will look to recapture the form that carried him to a fifth-place championship finish in 2024, when he earned both of his career victories.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to join MHR and compete full time again at a high level,” Sanchez said in the team’s announcement.
“I’ve always held myself to a high standard, and I know the entire team is incredibly motivated and hungry for 2027. Huge thanks to Bill McAnally for putting this together, Chevrolet, and everyone involved at MHR. It was a challenge to only run a limited schedule this last year, so I have a ton of energy and excitement for what’s ahead of us in February. There are a lot of great people here, and the desire from everyone to win races is off the charts.”
A Necessary Downsize
MHR’s offseason overhaul extends beyond its driver lineup. After fielding four full-time trucks in 2026, the organization will scale back to three entries next season.
Sanchez joins returning drivers Christian Eckes (No.91) and Daniel Hemric (No.19) as the team’s three full-time competitors. Meanwhile, Kris Wright will depart after spending one season behind the wheel of the No. 81 Chevrolet.
Wright is expected to remain in the series, with strong rumors linking him to a second entry at Spencer Boyd’s Freedom Racing Enterprises in 2027.
The team will also maintain its part-time No. 20 program, rotating in drivers from its ARCA Menards Series West stable alongside other potential drivers.
Hailie Deegan is expected to serve as the entry’s anchor driver next season as well as her full-time ARCA return with BMR in 2027.
Deegan recently returned to stock car racing following a brief stint in open-wheel competition. She earned two victories in 2026, at Madera and Kern, as she began rebuilding her stock-car career.
MHR plans to expand her schedule in 2027 with select Truck Series starts with the potential for a full-time time opportunity in 2028.
Organizational Shifts
After a winless season and setting a low standard in pit stop efficiency, the team rightfully downsized and made even more organizational shifts.
Kevin Bellicourt, who has served as crew chief of the No. 19 entry, will transition into a General Manager role with MHR in 2027, effective immediately.
Matt Barndt joins MHR as a new addition to the operation, and will take over crew chief duties for Christian Eckes and the No. 91 team.
Barndt joins the organization from Hendrick Motorsports, where he served as car chief of the No. 9 team in the NASCAR Cup Series. Eckes’ previous crew chief, Dave Elenz, will transition to an advisory role within the company.
Darren Fraley shifts from crew chief on the No. 81 team to the No. 19, where he will be paired with Daniel Hemric. In 2025, Fraley began the season working with Hemric as the race engineer on the No. 19 team before earning crew chief roles within the organization.
Edward “Dewey” Townsend will move from MHR’s part-time No. 20 program to the No. 18, where he will serve as crew chief for Nick Sanchez.
Mark Hillman will assume MHR’s Operations Manager role. Then, Stephen Poswiatowski moves from the No. 19 team to assume the Lead Engineer position. He will be tasked with maximizing General Motors tools across all teams in house.
McAnally’s 2027 Outlook
“We have high expectations of ourselves, to win races and compete for championships”, team owner Bill McAnally said.
“Having Kevin [Bellicourt], Matt {Barndt], Darren [Fraley], and Dewey [Townsend] put us in the right spot to build on how strong we ended the season and will prepare us to come out of the box even better in February. We’re confident in the direction we’re going and excited about how we’re developing for 2027.”
MHR’s new combinations will make their competitive debut in the 2027 NFFTS season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 19th.
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Ryan Kemna View All
Ryan Kemna is a photojournalist for The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2025.
Currently residing in the Minneapolis, MN, area, Kemna brings his passion for motorsports, photography, and a good story to readers.