Key players in 2026-2027 Silly Season

Silly Season for 2026-2027 is in full swing as drivers and teams solidify their plans for next season. As these stories continue to develop, bookmark and save this page for all of the latest updates.

Austin Hill to drive No. 33 Chevrolet for full 2027 season (NCS)

The scoop: Richard Childress Racing announced Aug. 24 that Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet for the entire 2027 season. Hill has driven the No. 33 since Memorial Day Weekend, stepping in after the tragic death of Kyle Busch on May 21. 

Connor Zilisch signs multiyear contract with Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2028 (NCS)

The scoop: Hendrick Motorsports announced Aug. 17 that the 20-year-old phenom will take the reins of the No. 48 Chevrolet beginning in 2028. Zilisch is currently in his rookie season with Trackhouse Racing after taking the NASCAR world by storm in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series last season, winning 10 races for JR Motorsports. Zilisch will remain behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse in 2027 before moving over to Hendrick. 

Noah Gragson signs contract extension with Front Row Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: Front Row Motorsports announced Aug. 14 it had signed Noah Gragson to drive the No. 4 Ford through the 2027 season with options to extend. Gragson is in his second straight full-time Cup season with the Bob Jenkins-owned team.

Alex Bowman to retire from full-time competition after 2027 (NCS)

The scoop: Hendrick Motorsports will have a new driver for its No. 48 Chevrolet in 2028 after announcing July 23 that Alex Bowman will step away from full-time racing following the 2027 season. Bowman signed a one-year contract extension for 2027, which will mark his 10th consecutive full-time NASCAR Cup Series season with the Rick Hendrick-owned organization.

Ryan Preece to return to RFK Racing in 2027 (NCS)

The scoop: RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski told reporters on July 25 that Ryan Preece will return as pilot of the team's No. 60 Ford in 2027, exercising the driver's option after joining the organization on a multiyear contract.

Todd Gilliland signs extension to remain at Front Row Motorsports (NCS) 

The scoop: Front Row Motorsports announced July 17 that Todd Gilliland will remain with the team as pilot of the No. 34 Ford in 2027. Gilliland has been a NASCAR Cup Series mainstay with the team since 2022 and has wheeled the No. 34 full-time since 2025.

AJ Allmendinger to remain with Kaulig Racing (NCS)

The scoop: AJ Allmendinger confirmed June 20 that he will return to Kaulig Racing and the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027 and beyond. Team CEO Chris Rice said Allmendinger's contract runs through 2029 with options through 2032. Two of Allmendinger's three Cup wins have come in Kaulig equipment. 

Jesse Love to join Wood Brothers Racing in 2027 (NCS)

The scoop: Wood Brothers Racing announced June 17 that Jesse Love will take over the No. 21 Ford beginning in 2027. Love, the 2025 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, has been full-time with Richard Childress Racing in that division since 2024, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet. 

Chris Buescher signs multiyear contract extension with RFK Racing (NCS)

The scoop: RFK Racing announced June 16 that Chris Buescher has signed a multiyear contract to remain with the organization. Buescher has been part of RFK since 2009 and has wheeled the No. 17 Ford since the start of the 2020 season.

Josh Berry not returning to Wood Brothers Racing in 2027 (NCS)

The scoop: Berry revealed on a June 10 teleconference that he won't return to Wood Brothers Racing after the 2026 season. The Hendersonville, Tennessee, native joined the historic organization before 2025 and won that season's spring race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Berry's landing spot is currently unknown.  

Corey Heim to replace Riley Herbst in third full-time 23XI Racing entry (NCS)

The scoop: 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Corey Heim will take the reins of 23XI Racing's No. 35 Toyota in 2027, the organization announced May 30. Heim won 12 races in his championship campaign. He pulled a stunning upset in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Naval Base Coronado in 2026 while competing a part-time schedule for 23XI, doubling as his first premier-series win. 

Riley Herbst departing 23XI Racing after 2026 season (NCS)

The scoop: Riley Herbst won't return to 23XI Racing's No. 35 Toyota in 2027, the team announced May 30 while adding that Corey Heim will replace him. Herbst moved to Cup ahead of the 2025 season and has made significant gains in his sophomore campaign. His landing spot is currently unknown. 

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. signs multiyear contract extension with Hyak Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: Hyak Motorsports announced May 11 that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has signed a multiyear extension with the organization. Stenhouse joined the team in 2020 under the JTG-Daugherty banner, and won the 2023 Daytona 500. 

Ryan Blaney inks long-term contract extension with Team Penske (NCS)

The scoop: Team Penske announced May 6 that Ryan Blaney will return to the No. 12 Ford for years to come. Longstanding partner Menards also renewed. Blaney won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. 

Tyler Reddick signs multiyear contract extension to remain with 23XI Racing (NCS)

The scoop: Tyler Reddick revealed April 26 that he signed a multiyear extension to stay with 23XI Racing in 2027 and beyond. Reddick won the 2024 Regular Season Championship and qualified for the Championship 4, and additionally, won five of the first nine races in 2026. 

Legacy Motor Club expanding to three full-time teams in 2027 (NCS)

The scoop: Legacy Motor Club owner Jimmie Johnson confirmed March 12 that the organization will expand to three full-time entries next season. John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones currently pilot the Nos. 42 and 43 for the squad, respectively. Additional details about the team's third car are currently unknown. 

Kyle Larson signs five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: Hendrick Motorsports announced Feb. 11 that Kyle Larson will return to the organization through the 2031 season. HendrickCars.com will remain as the primary sponsor, and additionally, crew chief Cliff Daniels also signed a multiyear extension. Together, Larson and Daniels won the 2021 and 2025 NASCAR Cup Series titles. 

Spire Motorsports signs Carson Hocevar to long-term contract (NCS)

The scoop: Spire Motorsports announced Feb. 5 a contract extension for Carson Hocevar running "into the next decade." Hocevar is in his third full-time NASCAR Cup Series season and won the 2024 Rookie of the Year crown. His first win came in April at Talladega Superspeedway. 

Chandler Smith, Carson Brown join RCR's O'Reilly program for 2027 (NOAPS)

The scoop: Richard Childress Racing announced Aug. 26 that Smith and Brown would drive the Nos. 21 and 2 Chevrolets, respectively, on multiyear agreements starting in 2027. For Smith, it's a return to the O'Reilly Series after two full-time seasons with Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. For Brown, it's a step up from the ARCA Menards Series, where he has been a developmental driver for RCR.

Lee Pulliam to drive full time for Peterson Racing (NOAPS)

The scoop: Peterson Racing announced Aug. 25 that Lee Pulliam will drive the team's No. 87 Chevrolet for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Pulliam, a longtime late-model ace in the Southeast, made his series debut for JR Motorsports in March at Martinsville Speedway. 

Dean Thompson moves to Haas Factory Team (NOAPS)

The scoop: HFT announced on Aug. 8 that Dean Thompson will join the organization's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series program as it expands to a three-team stable. Thompson spent his first two years in O'Reilly with Sam Hunt Racing after making two part-time starts with the team in 2024.

William Sawalich re-signs with Joe Gibbs Racing (NOAPS)

The scoop: JGR announced Aug. 6 that Sawalich will return to the organization's No. 18 Toyota in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for the third consecutive season. A Minnesota native, Sawalich earned his first series victory in April 2026 at Rockingham Speedway. 

Taylor Gray returns to No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NOAPS)

The scoop: JGR announced July 21 that Gray would continue to be a part of its NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series program in 2027 with crew chief Jason Ratcliff staying to call the shots from atop the pit box.