NASCAR’s rulebook has finally caught up with Ross Chastain. The veteran Cup Series regular, who has been a fixture in the Truck Series for the past several seasons, will see his streak of seven consecutive starts come to an abrupt halt. The series’ eligibility limits for full‑time Cup drivers have been reached, forcing the organization to move him out of the division.
The Regulatory Ceiling
Enter Landen Lewis, the 2025 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour champion, who is set to take the wheel of the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet for the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado. Though Lewis has only three career Truck Series starts to his name, his résumé includes a career‑high sixth‑place finish in a street race on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, and a respectable 14th‑place result at Rockingham Speedway in April.
The upcoming race marks the first time the Truck Series will run on the waterfront of San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado, a venue that blends military precision with the high‑octane atmosphere fans expect. Scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET, the event will be carried live on FOX Sports 1, giving viewers a chance to see Lewis make his mark on a new kind of track.
Stenhouse’s Role
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. remains the only other driver to have piloted the No. 45 truck this season, having taken the wheel in five races across three different trucks. His experience adds a layer of continuity for Niece Motorsports as they transition to a rookie driver, while also providing a benchmark for Lewis to measure himself against.
Beyond the driver swap, the race underscores a broader shift in the series’ scheduling strategy, bringing Truck Series competition to venues that have traditionally hosted other forms of motorsport. The blend of street circuits, military bases and classic ovals promises a diverse calendar that could reshape how fans engage with the series.