ThorSport Announces Changes to 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Lineup

SANDUSKY, Ohio -- ThorSport Racing announced the signing of a new driver to the team and other changes to its 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series lineup. 

Late model ace Cole Butcher will race the organization's No. 13 Ford F-150 full-time in 2026. Butcher will take over the number Jake Garcia piloted in 2026 as he sets his sights on his first full-time NASCAR season.

Butcher made two NCTS starts in 2025 -- finishing 23rd at Bristol in September and at Phoenix in October. The stats only tell part of the tale, however. Butcher had a great run going at Phoenix and ran inside the top-10 at times until a late-race crash put him out of the race. 

Butcher is known for his wins in several prominent short track races, including the Winchester 400, the Redbud 400, and the Oxford 250.

While Butcher is taking over his number in 2026, Jake Garcia isn't going anywhere.

Garcia will race the organization's No. 98 Ford F-150 full-time in 2026. He will take over the number Ty Majeski sported from 2023 to 2025, including in 2024 when he won the NCTS championship.

Majeski is relinquishing the No. 98 to take over the flagship No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 after Matt Crafton retired from full-time competition in 2025.

Meanwhile, two-time NCTS champion Ben Rhodes is expected to return to the No. 99 Ford F-150 he has piloted in recent years. 

In 2025, ThorSport Racing went winless for the first time since 2007. Past champions Rhodes and Crafton struggled for speed, ultimately missing the Chase and combining for just 13 top-10 finishes. 

The season wasn't all bad for ThorSport. Majeski and Garcia made the Chase and each had their own successes, including double-digit top-10 finishes on the season.

Majeski finished the season with 10 top-fives and 18 top-10s in 25 races. Although he didn't win, he scored his best career average finish (9.8) and came up a very close second in points to Corey Heim in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway. 

Meanwhile, Garcia made the Chase for the first time in his career and was second on ThorSport to Majeski in terms of laps led (199 vs. 62). He also significantly improved his average finish, from 19.2 in 2024 to 14.4 in 2025.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season starts Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway. ThorSport last won the season opener at Daytona in 2021 with Rhodes, who went on to win the title that year.