Gray Gaulding intended to make his first NASCAR Cup Series start since June 2023 back in the August regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, but his No. 66 Garage 66 Ford was the one and only car that ultimately failed to qualify for the race.
But multiple races were added to his schedule, and he ended up getting the opportunity to officially end his 124-race absence at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this month. He also competed at Talladega Superspeedway this past weekend.
This weekend's race at Martinsville Speedway was also part of his schedule, and the No. 66 Ford is the only non-chartered (open) car on the entry list.
Who is actually driving the No. 66 car at Martinsville?
But on the entry list, the driver was listed as Josh Bilicki for the fourth time this year and first since the September race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Then when the qualifying order, determined by the metric (30% owner standings, 70% results of most recent race), was released, Gaulding's name was once again listed.
Yet according to the team's social media and sponsorship, it is indeed Bilicki who is set to be behind the wheel for Sunday's 500-lap Xfinity 500 around the four-turn, 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometer) Ridgeway, Virginia oval.
NEWS: Kickback Jack's (https://t.co/tw729WczCu) has signed as @joshbilicki's primary sponsor for the Xfinity 500 at @MartinsvilleSwy!
— Garage 66 & MBM Motorsports (@MBMMotorsports) October 29, 2026
Scratch-made cuisine. Sports-forward scene. Locations across NC, TN, and VA!
READ: https://t.co/lhCU7Mukcw#NASCAR #Xfinity500 pic.twitter.com/IN8KvyUIKG
The decision leaves Gaulding with just two starts in 2026, as the team do not currently plan to run the No. 66 car at all in next Sunday afternoon's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
After crashing at Charlotte, Gaulding placed 23rd at Talladega, his best finish since running 20th at Texas Motor Speedway in 2018.
As for Bilicki, his top finish this year is 34th at Watkins Glen International back in May.
Martinsville Speedway is scheduled to host the Xfinity 500 this Sunday, November 1, with live coverage set to be provided by NBC from the "Paperclip" beginning at 2:00 p.m ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV today and catch all of the action from the ninth of 10 races on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series postseason calendar!
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