Viking Motorsports, as a whole, took a giant leap forward during the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, as the organization made NASCAR’s post-season fight for a championship for the first time with Parker Retzlaff behind the wheel of the team’s No. 99 Chevrolet, and was consistently competitive with Anthony Alfredo driving the No. 96 Chevrolet.
Both drivers will be rewarded for their excellent performances in 2026 with a return to their rides for the 2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Viking Motorsports announced on Thursday that both blossoming drivers will return next year.
Additionally, Josh Graham and Danny Efland will continue in their roles as the crew chiefs for Retzlaff and Alfredo next season.
Keeping the key components of the race team, the drivers and crew chiefs, intact for 2027 was a pivotal piece of the plan for Viking Motorsports, which hopes to continue growing as a championship contender next season.
“Keeping Anthony, Parker, Josh and Danny together was a priority for us heading into 2027,” said Don Sackett, owner of Viking Motorsports. “Both of these teams have shown what they’re capable of this season. The way the No. 96 group has come together over the back half of the season has been impressive, and the No. 99 making the Chase in just its second full-time year says a lot about the people at Viking Motorsports. Continuity matters in this sport, and we believe these four give us the right foundation to keep moving forward.”
Retzlaff, who has had a breakout season in which he has done just about everything other than win a race, is proud to be heading back to Viking Motorsports in 2027.
“I’m really grateful to ownership and everyone at Viking Motorsports for the opportunity to come back,” said Retzlaff. “This has been the best year of my career, and a lot of that comes down to the team assembled around me. Making the Chase was a big goal for us, but none of us are satisfied. We know each other now and we know what we need, so having another year with the same group has me excited for what we can do in 2027.”
While he didn’t make The Chase this season, Alfredo is optimistic about next season based on how strong he and the No. 96 team were down the stretch in 2026.
“We’ve come a long way since this team was put together last December,” said Alfredo. “Josh and I have worked together before, and the whole No. 96 crew has put in the work to get where we are now. The way we’ve been running lately shows where this team is headed. Being able to carry that momentum into the offseason is huge for us.”
Retzlaff and Alfredo have combined to record seven top-five finishes and 22 top-10 results this season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026.
