NASCAR Cup Series
Danny Emerick Extends Record with Eighth Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown Win
Nov 14, 2025
On Monday morning, a pair of NASCAR Cup Series organizations, Richard Childress Racing and Haas Factory Team, announced new technical alliance partners for the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly NASCAR Xfinity Series) season.
Haas Factory Team, which will move from Ford Racing in 2025 to Chevrolet in 2026, has struck a technical alliance with Jeremy Clements Racing, which fields the No. 51 Chevrolet, for the upcoming season.
According to a press release from JCR, the partnership will allow the Clements team to run its operation out of Haas Factory Team's race shop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Prior to the alliance, the Jeremy Clements Racing team had been fielding its entry from its own shop in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Due to the alliance, the team will be able to prepare and execute its day-to-day operations within the heart of NASCAR's hub in the Charlotte, NC area.
“We’ve always fought hard as a single-car team, but this is a major opportunity for us, and partnering with the Haas Factory Team means a lot! We’re excited for what’s ahead!” said Jeremy Clements, the driver of the No. 51 Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet.
Following the announcement of Haas Factory Team's technical alliance with Jeremy Clements Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Viking Motorsports announced a new technical alliance of their own for the upcoming NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
According to Viking Motorsports, the technical alliance will give its organization access to RCR's support network, operational resources, and collaborative processes, which should allow the team to continue its ascent within the series.
“Forming this partnership with RCR represents another important step in our mission to continue improving and growing as a competitive team,” said Jeremy Lange, General Manager of Viking Motorsports. “Our foundation is built on hard work, teamwork, and determination — and with RCR’s engineering expertise and ECR engines supporting our program, we’re gaining the tools and knowledge to take the next step forward. This partnership truly embodies what it means to be Forged to Race.”
While Viking Motorsports is understandably excited for the partnership, Richard Childress Racing is happy to work with the growing race team.
“We’re proud to work with Viking Motorsports and help provide many of the same resources that have contributed to RCR’s long term success in motorsports," said Danny Lawrence, Vice President, Alliance Operations / Director, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Program for RCR. "Their commitment to excellence and relentless drive align perfectly with our philosophy. We look forward to seeing Viking Motorsports continue to grow stronger and more competitive each week.”
With the Haas Factory Team committed to swapping from Ford to Chevrolet, and their 2025 alliance partner, RSS Racing, yet to announce a similar change, that left a void for the Haas team. Same thing for RCR, which saw its alliance with Kaulig Racing come to an end at the conclusion of the 2025 season as Kaulig Racing was announced as the anchor program for the newly created Ram Trucks program in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026.
It's a win-win situation for all involved, as RCR and HFT have new alliances for the upcoming season, and both teams they are now partnered with will have the opportunity to have banner years for their organizations due to the new partnerships.
Photo Credit: Jonathan McCoy | TobyChristie.com
