In 2016, after the merger with the former No. 40 team, Cole Whitt was announced as the new driver of the No. 98, running the full season. The team inherited a charter from the No. 62 (formerly Baldwin's 36) but leased it to HScott Motorsports for 2016, leaving them without a guaranteed starting spot in races under NASCAR's new qualifying system. Whitt missed the Daytona 500 after spinning and breaking his transmission in his Can-Am Duel race. However, due to a shortage of entries for the next 3 races with only 39 cars at Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Fontana, Whitt and the 98 team made all of the races. The team would later miss the race at Richmond due to the field having 41 cars, a qualifying rainout and Whitt's practice speed being the slowest of the Open teams. Whitt bounced back at Talladega, posting an 18th-place finish despite being involved in a last-lap crash. Later, starting at Pocono, Whitt was moved to the No. 55, with Sorenson coming over from that team to field the No. 98 there and at Michigan. Whitt returned to the No. 98 at Sonoma, with Sorenson sitting out the weekend due to Cody Ware running the 55. The next week at Daytona, Whitt posted Premium's best ever finish after coming home 11th. After finishing 21st at Kentucky, Whitt sat out New Hampshire due to sponsorship issues, with Ryan Ellis running the No. 98. Whitt returned at Indianapolis. Timmy Hill drove the car at Dover. Whitt returned at Charlotte, however Whitt was released by the team after Kansas for a lack of sponsorship. Sorenson drove the car at Kansas (Whitt was in No. 55) after that the team skipped some races. Sorenson returned at Phoenix.