​Spire Motorsports announced that Chase Elliott will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro, marking his first Truck start since the 2023 season opener at Daytona. The sponsorship for the entry will come from HendrickCars.com, underscoring a strong alliance between Spire Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. This event had originally been on the schedule as one of Kyle Busch’s 2026 Truck appearances with Spire, but Busch’s unexpected passing last month altered those plans and shifted the spotlight to Elliott.
Throughout the 2026 season, the No. 7 Spire truck has featured a rotating lineup, with drivers including Kyle Busch, Rajah Caruth, Connor Mosack, Corey Day, Sammy Smith, and Michael McDowell taking the wheel. Busch stood out as the only driver to win in that truck this year, claiming the final two NASCAR victories of his career with Spire. Elliott’s involvement brings a new chapter to the team’s efforts at North Wilkesboro, a venue that has not hosted him in a Truck Series race before. Elliott, renowned as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, brings a wealth of experience to the grid, though his Truck resume is modest compared with his Cup Series accolades.
Elliott’s Truck experience comprises 18 prior starts, with three victories earned in 2013 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, in 2017 at Martinsville, and in 2020 at Charlotte. While he has not previously competed in a Truck race at North Wilkesboro, he has notable Cup Series results at the historic short track, including top-five finishes of fifth, eighth, and fifth in the All-Star Race. In 2026, Elliott recently opened the O’Reilly Auto Parts season by finishing second at Chicagoland, just a week before this announced Truck entry. In the Cup Series this year, he has secured two wins and currently sits near the top of the points standings, leading Hendrick Motorsports in fifth place as the season progresses.
The partnership with HendrickCars.com highlights a strategic sponsorship that complements Elliott’s return to the truck series. This collaboration not only provides financial backing but also reinforces the connection between Spire Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports, offering fans a unique convergence of two prominent teams under one competition umbrella. As the North Wilkesboro race approaches, anticipation builds around how Elliott will adapt to the Truck Series machinery and what impact his experience and speed will have on the No. 7 entry.
Fans and followers of motorsport coverage can expect continued updates on this development as race weekend approaches. For broader coverage and more Motorsport.com articles, readers are encouraged to visit our site for in-depth reporting, analyses, and race-day insights surrounding Elliott’s first Truck start in North Wilkesboro and the evolving 2026 season landscape.