Ford faces both a crossroads and untapped potential heading into the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts season. The season, which begins in February will look different from year’s past. Many drivers, team, and manufacturer changes have already created a new landscape for the upcoming season.
This is where Ford’s lack of presence in the series comes into play. With the loss of Haas Factory Team and RSS Racing to Chevrolet, and the sale of the now closed AM Racing…Ford was left with no presence in NASCAR’s premier stepping stone to a Cup Series career. This however has created a unique opportunity for two new-comer teams to forge a path.
These new Ford-backed teams come in the form of Sigma Performance Services, and Hettinger Racing. Sigma Performance already has the wheels in motion, having purchased the assets of the AM Racing #25 team. Team owner Joe Farre has a wealth of experience fielding competitive cars, having fielded Chevrolets in the ARCA Menards, East, and West Series. The Sigma team however, has never fielded cars on a national level. As of this writing, the team has not announced 2026 details of yet.
Hettinger Racing, also a newcomer to the NASCAR ORAP Series, will be fielding a #5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, with no further details announced as of yet. The Hettinger team has been a fixture in Late Model and CARS Tour Series competition, while also fielding a truck for Mason Maggio at Daytona in 2025.
All this being said, and with no driver announcements as of yet, which drivers left available in 2025 could be a good fit for these growing teams?
Nick Sanchez: Sanchez, a former Drive for Diversity driver could be the biggest get for either of these teams. Released from Big Machine Racing following a winning rookie season in the Xfinity Series, Sanchez wrapped up 2025 with an 11th-place points finish, one win, and 12 top ten finishes. Sanchez also has two full-time seasons in trucks, with two career wins.
A wealth of winning experience at a relatively young age, Sanchez could be the perfect driver to build a team around and be Ford’s new flagship development story.
Sanchez in victory lane at EchoPark Speedway. Photo Credit: speedsport.com and HHP Photo
Ryan Truex: The brother of former Cup Series star Martin Truex, Jr. could also be a huge get for either of these new teams. Unofficially under the Toyota banner, the younger Truex has only been able to make sporadic starts in NASCAR’s junior division with Joe Gibbs Racing and Sam Hunt Racing, but has won three times with Gibbs in 2023 and 2024. Truex’s victories came at Dover in 2023 and 2024, as well as summer 2024 at Daytona.
Why Truex? Toyota has seemingly lost a talented driver in the shuffle, with Truex only making two Xfinity Series starts in 2025, along with a one-off Cup run as a substitute for Denny Hamlin in Mexico City. Despite these setbacks, Truex has amassed three Xfinity wins between 2023 and 2024, along with consistent runs in the top five and top ten despite a partial schedule. Truex can perform and has proven so, which also makes him a solid choice to develop a team around.
Thus far, Truex has no announced plans for 2026.
Truex drove Gibbs’ #20 Toyota to the win at Daytona / Summer 2024. Photo Credit: nascar.com
Jake Finch: A bit more of a wild card, but certainly a developing talent is Jake Finch. The son of former team owner James Finch, the ARCA Menards Series driver has showcased he has was it takes to run in NASCAR’s premier series, cutting his teeth in a mix of ARCA Menards, East, and West Series starts in 2025. With the uncertainty of Toyota development team Venturini Motorsports being sold to Nitro Motorsports in late 2025, Finch’s schedule for 2026 seems in doubt. Finch started only 8 races between all three series, but collected six top ten finishes spread across all.
The highlight of 2025 however came at Dover in 2025, where Finch made a one-off start for Hendrick Motorsports, driving their #17 Chevrolet to a 17th-place finish in his series debut.
Photo Credit: Jayski and Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Finch could certainly qualify as a wildcard for one of these Ford seats open, but has proven he has the talent and patience to be a solid first-year driver if given the right chance. Sigma Performance could be the best fit for the young driver, having bought into an already established team. The foundation is already there.
Please note, this is only speculation. As of January 2026, neither Sigma Performance of Hettinger Racing have announced driver or team details as Daytona draws near.