Kyle Busch will not participate in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway, marking a change in his Truck Series schedule despite the easing of NASCAR’s restrictions for experienced Cup Series drivers competing in lower divisions. Instead, Busch is scheduled to make his first Truck Series start of 2026 at the EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta next Saturday, continuing his partnership with Spire Motorsports.
Having increased his involvement to eight races this season—up from the previous limit of five—Busch will miss the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona, where Michael McDowell will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet. The event is the first national NASCAR race of the year, held on the 2.5-mile, high-banked oval.
Truck Series Driving Lineup and Busch’s Planned Races
Carson Hocevar will also compete for Spire Motorsports by piloting the No. 77 truck at Daytona. Busch’s schedule includes eight events, featuring several high-profile tracks and superspeedways. Besides Atlanta, his starts will cover Bristol Motor Speedway on April 10, Texas Motor Speedway on May 1, Dover Motor Speedway on May 15, Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 22, Nashville Superspeedway on May 29, North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 18, and Richmond Raceway on August 14. This selection reflects Busch’s focus on tracks where he has previously found success.
At Atlanta, Busch’s history is particularly strong. He has won twice with Spire Motorsports in 2024 and 2025 and holds eight career Truck Series victories at this track. Notably, he did not race there after the venue was repaved in 2022, following his final win on the previous configuration in 2021.
Kyle Busch’s Recent Series Participation and Cup Series Status
In the 2026 season, Busch is not anticipated to compete in any O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races. This series has seen reduced priority for him in recent years after surpassing 100 wins in 2021. Since then, he has entered only five races at NASCAR’s second tier and just one since the end of 2023. His primary focus remains on the Cup Series, where he will enter the fourth year driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, with his current contract ending after the upcoming season.
Broadcast and Viewing Information for the 2026 Truck Series
All Truck Series races in 2026 will be aired live on Fox Sports 1, except for two events broadcast on Fox. The season opener at Daytona will be shown on FS1 starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night. Viewers can access the race coverage by starting a free trial with FuboTV to follow the entire Truck Series season live.
Kyle Busch’s adjusted schedule and selective race participation reflect both his continued commitment to the Truck Series and his efforts to balance competing priorities. His absence from the Daytona opener marks a notable shift but his return to Atlanta is expected to provide strong competition, continuing to highlight his dominant record at the track and his ongoing influence in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series.
