Nathan Nicholson, a 19-year-old driver who finished third in the 2025 Mazda MX Cup championship, will have a three-race stint behind the wheel of the No. 76 Freedom Racing Enterprises Chevrolet Silverado during the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
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Nathan Nicholson will compete in select road course events in the No. 76 for Freedom Racing Enterprises this season.Read More ?? https://t.co/oNHj5a6pu9
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— Freedom Racing Enterprises (@FreedomRacing76) January 21, 2026
Spencer Boyd, who has served as the full-time driver of the truck and is the team’s owner, will step aside for the three races to make way for Nicholson to showcase his talents. According to a press release from Freedom Racing Enterprises, Whelen Engineering will serve as the primary sponsorship partner for Nicholson’s three-race excursion in the NASCAR Truck Series.
“We’re excited to continue our relationship with Nathan Nicholson as he takes this next step into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Freedom Racing Enterprises,” says Peter Tiezzi, General Manager of Motorsports for Whelen Engineering. “We’ve seen his talent firsthand in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series, and this is a great opportunity for him to showcase it on a new stage.”
Nicholson will compete for the team in the road course events at St. Petersburg, Watkins Glen International, and Naval Base Coronado.
“Nathan is precisely the type of driver and person that our team wants to help advance our program,” Boyd explained in the release. “We’ve been monitoring his progress and have been impressed with his performance. I believe Nathan has the personal character and driving potential that will turn heads in the garage, as well as make fans instant followers of him. This is an important step in the trajectory of FRE as we make yet another step towards building a team that will compete at the highest level of motorsports for years to come.”
Nicholson, who hails from Bloomington, Indiana, has been behind the wheel of a race car since the age of four. Nicholson collected multiple national karting championships before adding a NASA Spec Miata Championship in 2022, and a Spec MX-5 Championship in 2023. Nicholson is elated to make his NASCAR National Series starts for Freedom Racing Enterprises.
“I was looking to make the step up to NASCAR at the right time and with the right people, and when the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule was announced, I knew right away that the street courses presented a great opportunity for me,” Nicholson noted. “Spencer and I share a natural connection through our Midwestern roots and karting background, but what truly set this team apart were the values and integrity of the entire organization. I knew that Spencer would have my back as I made this move and I’m honored to drive the No. 76. I am also incredibly grateful to Whelen for their continued support as we begin this next chapter together. The team and I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.”
Freedom Racing Enterprises, which was founded by Boyd in 2024, will field the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado full-time in 2026 and the No. 67 Chevrolet Silverado part-time with multiple drivers behind the wheel of both trucks.
