Who Should Take up the AM Racing Seat for 2026?

It’s been confirmed that Harrison Burton is leaving AM Racing after the 2 earned a playoff spot together in 2025!  So that leaves what is currently 1 of 2 of Ford’s remaining Xfinity teams with Haas leaving for Chevy, and no other teams announced have an open seat. So, then who should fill it?

AM Racing Candidate No. 1: Anthony Alfredo

When it comes to the Xfinity mid-pack, there’s no driver as prolific and who has been full-time on as many Xfinity midpack teams as Anthony Alfredo, so it’s almost a badge of honor to have Fast Pasta race for your team. Like a badge, you’re officially a midpack team in the Xfinity Series. But there are way more reasons to sign with Alfredo than that, however.

Although this season he’s been struggling, usually he’s able to get great results even with not-so-good equipment. Such as earning 7 top tens with the now dead Our Motorsports in 2024 with the No. 5. Not to mention, he also brings sponsorship, something that’s proven to be important to AM Racing in the past.

He has partnerships with big brands like Dude Wipes and iRacing through his massive social media presence. Another reason AM Racing should hire Anthony Alfredo. As it’s rare for drivers to be as outgoing, especially on social media like he is. Which is part of what makes him so appealing to brands in the first place!

AM Racing Candidate No. 2: Tyler Ankrum

As of right now, it’s unknown where Tyler Ankrum will race in 2025. While the truck series is likely, with his recent resurgence, why not try the Xfinity Series? If he decides to move up the ranks finally, AM Racing has a few reasons to make him their brand new driver for… whatever number they go with this time.

Obviously, there’s him living up to some of the potential he showed early on in his truck career and being a top 10 truck driver the past 2 seasons with MHR, and even finally getting that 2nd career win. But there’s also the fact that Ankrum is a frequent late model driver. Why this matters is that the Xfinity car is much closer to a late model than the aero-dependent trucks.

Leaving up the potential that he’s even better in Xfinity than in trucks, where he struggled to adapt for years. But as established as important for AM Racing, he also brings sponsorship from LiUNA! Which stands for Laborers’ International Union of North America. Why a union organization is sponsoring a NASCAR truck driver is beyond me. But all that matters to AM Racing is that they keep bringing money.

AM Racing Candidate No. 3: Layne Riggs

With FRM’s future unknown due to their involvement in the lawsuit against NASCAR, this leaves both of their promising truck drivers in limbo. Both Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs have been top 10 drivers in the truck series this season. With 2024 Truck Series Rookie of the Year Riggs, averaging the 3rd best average finish this 2025 season so far, and his more experienced teammate Chandler Smith having the 7th best average finish. Riggs beat Smith with a 9.8 to an 11.8.

Plus, they’re the only 2 drivers with multiple wins in the truck series so far this year, other than Heim. So, he’s got the results, but he lacks that all-important sponsorship, and that’s when AM Racing’s Manu Ford could make up for it. If Ford wants to keep on to their promising young star and doesn’t have FRM, the logical step is to move him up to Xfinity.

Final Thoughts

If AM Racing is willing to help develop the young talent, then Ford should invest more money and maybe even come on as a sponsor to help Riggs and AM Racing. As they don’t have a lot of upcoming younger drivers compared to Chevy and Toyota.But what about Chandler Smith, who does actually come with his own funding and has Xfinity experience? Well, he does, but as someone who’s won in both trucks and Xfinity and has been in the lower ranks forever. So, it’s more likely he goes for a Cup seat. Thanks a bunch for reading!