Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Brent Crews will take the wheel of the No. 19 Toyota for the entire 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, despite the fact that he won’t turn 18 until March 30, causing him to miss four of the first seven races. This decision comes as the team has yet to finalize drivers for its other entries, including the No. 18 Toyota, previously driven by rookie William Sawalich, and the No. 54 Toyota, which saw rookie Taylor Gray behind the wheel in 2025.
During the 2025 season, the No. 19 car was designated as the “star car,” primarily competing for the owner championship. Aric Almirola served as the main driver, achieving three wins that secured the team a place in the Championship 4, even without having a designated driver in title contention. Notably, the No. 19 team claimed the championship in the owner standings, overshadowing Jesse Love’s No. 2 team, which finished fifth despite Love winning the series championship.
The unique structure of the NASCAR playoffs allows for distinctions between owner playoff standings and driver playoff standings. This played a significant role in the outcome, as the No. 19 team advanced through the playoffs while other teams faced obstacles like penalties. Almirola’s triumph at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the round of 8, paired with Austin Hill’s victory at Talladega, solidified their spots in the Championship 4 for owners, creating a competitive edge for the No. 19 team.
As Brent Crews prepares to join Joe Gibbs Racing, he will collaborate with Brandon Jones, who drives the No. 20 Toyota, as part of a focused team effort aimed at maintaining their status as owner champions. The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Season is set to commence on February 14 at Daytona International Speedway, with the United Rentals 300 race airing live on the CW Network.
With the infusion of new talent in Crews, there is optimism within Joe Gibbs Racing about their prospects in the upcoming season, as the team aims to build on its previous successes while navigating the challenges of a highly competitive field.