Christian Eckes has a new home for the 2026 NASCAR season. Well, sort of new.
After running the full 2025 season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, Eckes is returning to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) — the organization he raced for in 2023 and 2024.
So, what brings Eckes back to the Truck Series, and what are the details concerning his McAnally-Hilgemann Racing reunion?
Christian Eckes Had No Choice But To Seek New Ride For Next Season
When Kaulig Racing announced late in the 2025 NASCAR season that it was suspending the NASCAR Xfinity Series arm of the organization, Christian Eckes knew he wouldn’t be continuing in his current role in 2026.
So, with limited options on the heels of his first season of Xfinity competition, Eckes has decided to take a demotion of sorts by re-enrolling in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. That’s the bad news. The good news is that he’s in familiar territory at McAnally-Hilgemann. The even better news is that his first stint with the Statesville, North Carolina-based organization was highly successful.
How successful? Well, in over two full seasons with the company, Eckes won a total of eight races. And he finished fifth in the 2023 standings and came home third in 2024, reaching the Truck Series Championship 4.
RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE CHRISTIAN ECKES ON HIS NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WIN AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY! pic.twitter.com/KPsqV8XcOz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 18, 2023
This past season in the Xfinity Series wasn’t nearly as kind to Eckes, however. Winless in 33 starts, he recorded only six top-five finishes. He also missed the playoffs, finishing 13th in the standings.
Naturally, Eckes is expecting much-improved results in 2026 as he rejoins the Truck Series and his former team, owned by garage area veteran Bill McAnally.
“I couldn’t be happier to be back at MHR,” the 25-year-old Middletown, New York native said in a team release. “We had a lot of success in 2023 and 2024. And we want to get back to that next year. Bill 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.”
Christian Eckes Will Experience Both Old And New In 2026
Although Christian Eckes will have a new primary sponsor (Columbia Bank), a different chief (Dave Elenz) and a different truck number (91) than he did in his first go-round with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, not everything is changing.
For example, he will be with the same manufacturer (Chevrolet) and receive funding from NAPA, which will serve as a co-primary sponsor alongside Columbia Bank.
NAPA likewise sponsored Eckes during his first run with the organization.
“It’s great to stay in a Chevrolet and have their commitment to MHR,” he said. “Also, the relationships with NAPA, their suppliers, and ownerships made a lot of sense to come back here and chase a championship together.”
Elenz — a winner of 15 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, two Xfinity championships and one Cup Series race as a crew chief — joins MHR for his first season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
“I’m looking forward to working with Christian and everyone at MHR,” said Elenz, who most recently worked as the Cup Series crew chief for Erik Jones in 2024. “This will be a new challenge. And there’s a lot of optimism for what we can accomplish together. It’ll be great to have a full off-season to prepare so we can show up to Daytona ready to compete for wins.”
Team owner Bill McAnally believes Eckes’ previous stint with the organization will make his transition a smooth one, even if some things are different.
“We’re excited to have Christian back,” McAnally said. “He certainly has his fingerprints on our program. And all of us were proud to see him in the Xfinity Series last year, but we have unfinished business.
“Between him and Dave, we’re putting a great team together to chase that championship. I’m excited to see them work together and see the impact it makes throughout our company.”
