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Christian Eckes returnings to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for 2026 NASCAR season

JHby: Jonathan Howard11/20/25Jondean25
Christian Eckes
Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Another reunion in NASCAR! Christian Eckes is heading back to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for the 2026 Truck Series season. Eckes immediately becomes a championship favorite. He had a fantastic 2024 season at MHR and is back for more.

While Corey Heim dominated the 2025 season and rewrote the history books, the 2024 season was much different. It was Christian Eckes who was most consistent, even if he won two fewer races. They were a two-man show each week in the Truck Series, and were neck and neck for best season overall despite both coming up short of the title to Ty Majeski.

After a year in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Kaulig Racing, Eckes is going back to the Truck Series. You could argue the Truck Series will be better for his development as a future Cup Series talent, which many believe he could be one day.

This is a big deal. Immediately, the 91 team are championship favorites. Columbia Bank and NAPA will be the anchor sponsors for the season.

Christian Eckes is going to be good next season. He’s only gotten better every year he’s been in NASCAR. His time at Kaulig wasn’t perfect, but he’s a future Cup Series driver. If he can find that fire he had in 2024 again, we are in store for another electrifying season in the Truck Series.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back at MHR,” Eckes said in a press release. “We had a lot of success in 2023-24, and we want to get back to that next year. Bill [McAnally] and I have always had a great relationship and we’re putting a lot of quality people and pieces together. We had two great years here, and I enjoyed the races I ran this past year. It’s great to stay in a Chevrolet and have their commitment to MHR. Also, the relationships with NAPA, their suppliers, and ownerships made a lot of sense to come back here and chase a championship together.”

Christian Eckes vs. Layne Riggs in 2026

While it was fun to watch Corey Heim make history this season, it is going to be so much fun to watch the epic championship battle we get in 2026. I’m limiting myself here, but if you just tell me that Christian Eckes and Layne Riggs are going to be head-to-head most weeks, I’ll tune in just for that.

There will be others who emerge in the absence of Heim. It is a series ripe for the taking to whoever can master their craft and be as consistent as they can be. 2026 will be a new championship format. That could play a role in whole wins and loses come November next season.

Seriously…Christian Eckes and Layne Riggs are going to make the Craftsman Truck Series worth watching. You’re going to want to tune in. If Butterbean Queen and the Ram Trucks crew ends up being worth a dang, that only makes it better.