Ross Chastain Replacement Confirmed for Pocono NASCAR Race JR Motorsports has confirmed that its fifth car will return to competition this weekend at Pocono Raceway, marking a shift in driver lineups for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team had previously limited itself to four full-time entries for the most recent race at Nashville Superspeedway, but the fifth car will be reintroduced for the MillerTech Battery 250. However, Ross Chastain, who previously drove the No. 9 Chevrolet to victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway, will not be its driver for the remainder of the season. Chastain’s participation in the No. 9 car was limited to a single start at Nashville, where he finished in the top 10, but his future plans beyond that race remain uncertain. The No. 9 car, which has been a regular entry for JR Motorsports this season, has already secured two wins this year. The most recent victory came in March at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), driven by Trackhouse Racing teammate Shane van Gisbergen. Chastain’s previous win in the series dates back to July 2019 at Daytona International Speedway, where he drove for Kaulig Racing. His return to the No. 9 car for the Nashville race was a notable moment, as it marked his seventh start of the 2026 season and the fourth appearance of the No. 9 Chevrolet. For the Pocono race, the No. 9 car will be piloted by Carson Kvapil, who previously drove the team’s full-time No. 1 Chevrolet at Nashville. Kvapil, a full-time driver across three entries, has demonstrated strong performance this season. He currently sits seventh in the point standings, 106 points ahead of the playoff cut line with eight races remaining in the regular season. His record includes eight top 10 finishes, with four of those placements inside the top five. Kvapil’s move to the No.#trackhouse_racing #jr_motorsports #pocono_raceway #ross_chastain #carson_kvapil
