Chase Elliott will drive the No. 7 Spire Chevrolet Silverado at North Wilkesboro, marking his first Craftsman Truck Series start since the 2023 Daytona opener.
HendrickCars.com will back the effort, a partnership that follows a season of lineup changes for Spire’s No. 7 ride.
Spire’s evolving roster
Kyle Busch was slated to appear at the 2026 race, but his untimely death left the team retooling. The truck has seen a rotating cast of drivers this year, including Busc, Rajah Caruth, Connor Mosack, Corey Day, Sammy Smith and McDowell.
Busch secured the only victories for the entry – his last two wins of a NASCAR career – but the number has introduced uncertainty as the team prepares for Elliott’s arrival.
Elliott’s Truck Series résumé
In total, the 18‑time Truck starter has captured three poles, winning in 2013 (CTMP), 2017 (Martinsville) and 2020 (Charlotte). He has never contested a Craftsman race on North Wilkesboro’s historic short track, making his debut there all the more notable.
Beyond the Trucks, Elliott has finished fifth, eighth and fifth in the Cup Series All‑Star races at this venue, and opened the 2026 O’Reilly season with a second place at Chicagoland a week ago.
Impact on the championship landscape
Elliott’s Cup wins this year, combined with his fifth‑place standing for Hendrick Motorsports, highlight a driver poised to influence the height of the competition at North Wilkesboro.
The return of a high‑profile Cup star to the Trucks could reshape expectations for the remaining races of the season as teams tweak strategies and fans scramble for premium seating.
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