Sam Hunt Racing — Team Profile
Series: O'Reilly Auto Parts Series | Manufacturer: Toyota Organization Tier: Mid-Tier (Expanding)
2026 O'Reilly Program
Sam Hunt Racing fields two full-time Toyota entries in 2026 — a two-car expansion for an organization that has grown steadily within the mid-tier. Harrison Burton in the No. 24 brings Cup-level experience from two seasons at Wood Brothers Racing. Dean Thompson in the No. 26 is in his second consecutive full-time O'Reilly campaign with the team, backed by his family's Thompson Pipe Group sponsorship.
| Car | Driver | Crew Chief |
|---|---|---|
| No. 24 | Harrison Burton | Brian Gainey |
| No. 26 | Dean Thompson | Kris Bowen |
The Organization
Sam Hunt Racing is a Toyota-aligned O'Reilly Series program named for its founder and owner, Sam Hunt. The team has expanded its footprint over the past two seasons and now operates as a legitimate two-car mid-tier effort. The JGR Toyota affiliation provides access to manufacturer technical support while the team builds out its own organizational infrastructure.
2026 Story
Sam Hunt's 2026 season is a development story in two different directions. Burton is using the O'Reilly return to recalibrate after a difficult Cup tenure — he has the experience and the instincts, but the No. 24 is still working toward the execution consistency needed to turn starts into regular top-15 finishes. Thompson is building baseline national-series experience in his second year, with his 7th-place Martinsville result as evidence that the car can perform on the right track.
For the team as an organization, the question is whether two drivers in development mode can still push the team's technical understanding forward. The best version of this story is one where both cars's information-sharing accelerates the program's overall pace beyond what either car could achieve alone.