Hettinger Racing will field a full-time NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series entry in 2026 for the first time in program history, the team announced Tuesday.
Owned by longtime late model competitor Chris Hettinger, the team will enter the No. 5 Ford Mustang beginning with the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14 (5 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The team will receive technical support from Ford Racing, while Roush Yates will supply the team‘s engines.
The announcement comes after Haas Factory Team and RSS Racing, previously two of Ford‘s flagship teams in NASCAR‘s No. 2 series, switched to Chevrolet for 2026.
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“This is about putting our race team in the right place at the right time,” Hettinger said in a team release. “The NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series has incredible momentum. It features great racing and the series gets significant exposure thanks to coverage from The CW. Combining that platform with the support of Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines gives us the opportunity to grow our program into one that competes at a national level.”
Hailing from Dryden, Michigan, Hettinger grew up racing late models and open-wheel midgets before transitioning into an ownership role in recent years. Previously, Hettinger also fielded entries in the CARS Tour, ARCA Menards Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. His daughter, Katie, also competed in the late model ranks.
While the team has not yet announced a driver, Hettinger inked veteran Joe Williams Jr. to serve as competition director for the No. 5 entry. Williams led Alpha Prime Racing‘s No. 4 Chevrolet with Parker Retzlaff in 2025, recording three top 10s. He earned his lone series victory with Cole Custer in 2022.
“[Williams] brings a ton of experience, a ton of knowledge and we‘re looking forward to how he can grow this program going forward,” Hettinger said. “Our goal for this year is to continue to build our program as the year goes on, finish races, run all the laps and be prepared for every race that we go to and put ourselves in position to win.
“I actually feel really, really good about our program right now. Joe Williams and our guys have worked really, really hard. We basically have cars ready for the first four events … We feel like we‘re way ahead of the game right now.”
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Before acquiring chassis for the team‘s fleet, according to the release, Hettinger purchased owner‘s points from the No. 70 Cope Family Racing team to guarantee an entry at Daytona.
“I‘ve been impressed by what Chris Hettinger has already built, and Roush Yates Engines is proud to be a part of Hettinger Racing‘s future growth,” said Doug Yates, president and CEO, Roush Yates Engines. “Chris is a racer and a very good businessman who is taking a smart and methodical approach to 2026. All of us at Roush Yates Engines are committed to him and his vision for Hettinger Racing.”
In addition to a driver, partnerships will be announced at a later date.