NASCAR’s Watkins Glen weekend is bringing more lineup changes than most fans realize.
Multiple drivers who competed at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend are suddenly out for the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen International, with several teams turning to replacement drivers and road-course specialists ahead of one of the most unpredictable races on the schedule.
And with Watkins Glen traditionally rewarding experience, adaptability, and road-course skill, some of these changes could end up having a major impact once the green flag waves Friday afternoon.
Kyle Busch Out of Truck Series Race at Watkins Glen
One of the biggest changes involves Kyle Busch.
Busch competed in last weekend’s Truck Series race at Texas for Spire Motorsports, finishing second behind Carson Hocevar after running near the front for most of the night.
But despite remaining entered for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, Busch will not compete in Friday’s Truck Series event.
Instead, Connor Mosack will take over driving duties in the No. 7 Chevrolet.
Mosack, who competes full-time for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, has quietly built a strong road-course résumé and already has multiple Truck Series starts with Spire this season.
The Watkins Glen race will mark another significant opportunity for the 26-year-old driver in top-tier equipment at one of NASCAR’s premier road courses.
Busch is still expected to make additional Truck Series starts later this season as part of NASCAR’s expanded participation limits for veteran Cup Series drivers.
Joe Gibbs Racing Also Making Changes
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Truck Series lineup also looks very different compared to Texas.
William Sawalich and Brandon Jones both competed in Tricon Garage entries last weekend, but neither driver is returning for Watkins Glen.
Sawalich drove the No. 5 Toyota at Texas, while Jones competed in the No. 1 Toyota during what was his first Truck Series start of the season.
Now, both seats will feature replacement drivers for the road-course weekend.
Adam Andretti is scheduled to drive the No. 5 Toyota, while Brent Crews will take over the No. 1 entry.
Crews, one of Toyota’s top developmental prospects, is expected to draw significant attention entering the weekend because of his background on technical tracks and aggressive driving style.
Andretti, meanwhile, continues adding starts across NASCAR’s national-series ladder as teams increasingly look toward younger drivers with road-course versatility.
Daniel Suárez Also Out of Truck Series Lineup
Another notable Watkins Glen lineup change involves Daniel Suárez and Spire Motorsports.
Suárez competed in the Truck Series earlier this season at Bristol Motor Speedway, marking his first start in the series since 2021. But despite Spire fielding an additional truck at Bristol for the Cup Series veteran, the organization will not enter the No. 71 Chevrolet for Suárez this weekend at Watkins Glen.
Instead, rising prospect Connor Zilisch is set to drive the truck.
Zilisch enters the weekend as one of the most closely watched young drivers in NASCAR, particularly on road courses. The Trackhouse Racing development driver already owns multiple road-course victories in lower-series competition and previously won at Watkins Glen in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The 19-year-old is also scheduled for triple duty this weekend, competing across all three national NASCAR series.
That makes Watkins Glen one of the biggest weekends of Zilisch’s season so far — and another example of teams leaning heavily into specialized road-course talent for the event.
Why Watkins Glen Changes Everything
Road-course weekends often create some of the biggest lineup shifts in NASCAR’s lower series.
Teams regularly use races like Watkins Glen to evaluate younger talent, place drivers with specialized road-course experience into competitive equipment, or rotate part-time entries based on sponsorship and scheduling opportunities.
That becomes even more noticeable now that NASCAR has loosened restrictions on Cup Series drivers competing in lower divisions.
The result is a field that can look dramatically different from one weekend to the next.
And historically, Watkins Glen has rewarded drivers who can adapt quickly under braking, manage tire wear through long green-flag runs, and survive the chaos that often unfolds late in the race.
A Weekend With More Storylines Than Usual
Between Kyle Busch stepping aside, Joe Gibbs Racing reshuffling its Truck Series entries, and Connor Zilisch taking over another high-profile ride, Watkins Glen’s lineup looks noticeably different than the field fans saw at Texas Motor Speedway.
And on a road course where strategy, braking, rhythm, and adaptability can quickly change the outcome, some of these replacement drivers may suddenly become contenders.
Watkins Glen International has historically produced surprise performances and chaotic finishes.
This weekend’s lineup shake-up only adds to the unpredictability.
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