Joe Gibbs Racing makes double driver decision for – Sports News
Joe Gibbs Racing’s four-driver lineup for the newly renamed NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series has taken form for the 2026 season, simply weeks away from the opener in Daytona.
With up-and-comer Brent Crews already confirmed because the driver of the No. 19 Toyota, although at age 17 he received’t be eligible to compete on 4 of the bigger tracks early within the season, and Brandon Jones set to return behind the wheel of the No. 20, the group’s plans for the No. 18 and No. 54 have emerged.
Returning behind the wheel of the No. 19 will probably be 20-year-old William Sawalich, seeking to construct off his combined debut full-time season within the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series with JGR in 2025, as per Jayski. The Minnesotan completed 18th within the driver’s standings with three top-five finishes and a additional six prime 10s.
Sawalich, a two-time ARCA Menards Series East Champion, very practically reached victory lane twice in 2025, ending behind JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch at each Portland International Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway.
Joining Sawalich will probably be Taylor Gray, who, like his fellow 20-year-old teammate, will probably be back for a second season within JGR in 2026. The teen from New Mexico received as soon as final season at Martinsville Speedway within the Playoffs, though this wasn’t enough for him to succeed in the ultimate 4, ending seventh within the driver’s standings.
Along together with his win late within the season, Gray managed six prime fives and eight prime 10 finishes, shedding out on a win at Texas Motor Speedway to JRM’s Kyle Larson and at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to JRM’s Daniel Suárez.
But whereas all 4 will probably be seeking to show themselves, probably the most strain arguably lies upon the shoulders of Crews. The No. 19’s first full-time driver since Brandon Jones in 2022, the journey has since been pushed by a plethora of drivers, together with Aric Almirola, whose three wins in 2025 had been a team-high, regardless of solely competing in 17 races.
At 17 years previous, Crews will probably be ineligible to compete at NASCAR national sequence tracks longer than 1.25 miles earlier than his 18th birthday on March 30. As such, he’ll miss not solely the season opener in Florida, but additionally subsequent races on the EchoPark Speedway, Circuit of The Americas, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
He joins JGR after successful 4 ARCA Menards Series races in a part-time schedule in 2025 for each JGR and Nitro Motorsports. 2025 additionally noticed Crews make his Craftsman Truck Series debut, making 9 appearances for Tricon Garage, ending within the prime 5 twice and prime 10 as soon as, whereas he additionally made a one-off look for his own group at Watkins Glen International.
The group of 4 will probably be seeking to defend JGR’s homeowners championship crown, its seventh so far and second in 4 seasons.
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