#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 26 Days!
Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 -- 26 Days Until Daytona!
26 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #26 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1950-13 — Darlington — Dick Linder
NXS: 1983-01 — Daytona — John Utsman
NCTS: 1995-07 — I-70 — Ron Esau
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 22 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Junior Johnson, 12)
NXS: P2 — 2002-20 (Gateway) — Ron Hornaday, Jr.
NCTS: P2 — 2020-05 (Homestead) — Tyler Ankrum
BEST START:
NCS: 36 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Junior Johnson, 11)
NXS: 3 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Bobby Hamilton, Jr., 2)
NCTS: 1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Pole (Tyler Ankrum, COTA 2020)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
The #26 is currently only active in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The number was not utilized in the NASCAR Cup Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, despite making multiple appearances in each series the year before.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Team Hezeberg Powered by Reaume Brothers Racing was the last organization to use the #26, which served as a second entry for the organization with former Formula 1 competitor Daniil Kvyat.
Kvyat made three starts in the #26 Toyota Camry TRD during the 2022 season, including events at Watkins Glen, Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course, and Charlotte’s ROVAL, earning a best finish of 36th.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Sam Hunt Racing has been utilizing the #26 since establishing the organization in 2020 with Colin Garrett. Since then, several drivers have run for the team, including Kaz Grala, who ran full-time in 2023.
Grala managed to secure nine finishes inside the top-10 by the end of the season, a season-high total for Sam Hunt Racing. However, it was announced that the Boston native wouldn’t return to the team in 2024.
Jeffrey Earnhardt and Corey Heim have been confirmed to pilot the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra on a part-time basis in 2024.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the #26 was last used by Rackley WAR, who fielded a second entry for Tate Fogleman in three events — in which the former winner in the series only qualified for one.
Fogleman would qualify for a single event with Rackley WAR that season, starting 36th and finishing 20th for the organization at Pocono Raceway.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #26?
NASCAR Cup Series: Brett Bodine — 144 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Bobby Hamilton, Jr. — 65 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Tyler Ankrum — 45 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #26 IN NASCAR
Tyler Ankrum is the only driver to score a top-10 finish while driving the #26 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In 45 starts, the California-native managed to score 15 top-10s driving for GMS Racing.
With nine finishes inside the top-10 in 34 starts, Kaz Grala is the leader in top-10 finishes for drivers piloting the #26, beating out Bobby Hamilton, Jr. — who recorded eight top-10s in 65 starts.
Junior Johnson assembled an incredible statline while piloting the #26 in the NASCAR Cup Series, with 12 wins, 16 top-fives, 18 top-10s, and 4,403 laps led, boasting an average start of 3.7 and an average finish of 12.3.
Jamie McMurray has utilized the #26 in each of NASCAR’s National Series, but did so with two different organizations — Roush Racing in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series, and Mittler Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Truck Series.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, only Tyler Ankrum and Jamie McMurray have made more than 10 starts while driving the #26.
Throughout NASCAR’s National Series, Ford has predominantly been the manufacturer most used with the #26, leading among other manufacturers in Cup and Trucks. However, Toyota leads in Xfinity, albeit barely over Chevrolet.