The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season began with so much promise and optimism for Peterson Racing and Austin Green, who was set to contend full-time as the driver of the organization’s No. 87 Chevrolet.
However, Green’s bid for a full-time season came to an end after the team flexed him out of the seat of the No. 87 Chevrolet following the 16th race of the season at Nashville Superspeedway. Instead, the team placed Nick Sanchez, who was out of a ride following the shutdown of AM Racing, in an effort to determine where the No. 87 team’s equipment needed improvement.
Green would compete in just three more NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events for the team, and after a 23rd-place result at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team is officially parting ways with the 25-year-old racer.
“We recognize the frustration and disappointment surrounding our decision to part ways with Austin Green, particularly regarding the changes to our driver lineup for Charlotte, Phoenix, and Talladega,” the team said in a statement on Wednesday. “We understand that expectations were established for these events, as well as for Austin’s full-time 2026 season. We acknowledge the disappointment caused by those plans changing and respect everyone’s right to question our decision.”
The team went on to make it clear that Peterson Racing still supports Green, and hopes for the best for the driver going forward in his career.
“Our decision to move in a different direction does not change our respect for him or our desire to see him succeed,” the team explained.
Additionally, the team acknowledged a slew of online attacks against the driver, the team, and all parties involved as the slow trickle of Green being removed from the No. 87 Chevrolet took place.
“Disagreement is understandable, but personal attacks against anyone involved are not acceptable,” the team said.
The organization owned up to its own responses on social media, which in retrospect, the team feels may have contributed to further adding gasoline to the fire.
“We also acknowledge that some social media interactions associated with our organization have contributed to the tension,” Peterson Racing explained. “We apologize for those exchanges and recognize that we should have handled them more professionally.”
The team continued, “We are also reviewing our social media moderation practices, including concerns about blocked accounts. Respectful criticism and differing opinions should always have a place in our community.”
Following the ever-changing driver lineup for the Peterson Racing team was one of the more bizarre storylines to follow in 2026, but as the team is set for a full-time run with Lee Pulliam (No. 87) and Harrison Burton (No. 78) next season, it seems the organization is taking a step to mend fences with some of the NASCAR fanbase that it was at odds with throughout the year.
