On October 3, 2026, Sheldon Creed announced his move to Sam Hunt Racing, leaving the organization’s No. 00 open. HFT, who currently lead the points with Creed, will have an all new lineup in 2027. Sam Mayer, their other full-time driver, will return and instead go to JR Motorsports next year.
Dean Thompson is the only confirmed HFT driver. Thompson will drive a third full-time entry for the team. This leaves two open seats for the team, and two open O’Reilly seats that can contend for the championship. This article outlines seven drivers that could move to the team in 2027.
Current Cup Drivers
Cole Custer, the son of HFT’s Chief Operating Officer Joe Custer, has driven for a Haas-owned team since 2017. Custer spent two stints in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the team. His first lasted from 2017 to 2019, with nine victories and two runner-up finishes in the points standings. Following this, the Californian earned a promotion to the Cup Series from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, Custer returned to the O’Reilly Series where he won five races in two seasons and the 2023 championship.
Currently, the 28-year-old drives the team’s sole Cup entry. His return to Cup has been a struggle, with only 18 top-20 finishes in 67 starts between 2025 and 2026. Given that HFT’s 2027 O’Rielly lineup will see zero returning drivers, Custer returning to the O’Reilly Series as the veteran anchor could make sense for both sides.
If the team wants a Cup driver while keeping Custer in their Cup ride, John Hunter Nemechek would make sense. Nemechek has driven for Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series since 2024, but will not return in 2027. The 29-year-old has seen great success in the O’Reilly Series, with 11 wins in 111 starts between 2018 and 2024. Additionally, he was mentioned as a contender by Door Bumper Clear.
Current O’Reilly Drivers
Like Custer and Nemechek, Harrison Burton could provide the team a winning anchor with recent Cup experience. 2020 through 2021 and 2025 through 2026 have seen full-time O’Reilly seasons for the 25-year-old. 2026 has been disappointing, as he only has three top-10s and no finish above eighth, but Burton has shown flashes of brilliance in the series as recently as 2025. That season, Burton took AM Racing to a playoff spot. There could be a very high upside to the four-time series winner returning to a top tier ride.
Sammy Smith is leaving a top tier team in JR Motorsports. The only other championship caliber rides open are the two Haas Factory Team Chevrolets. Like the previous three drivers, Smith could provide Haas an experienced anchor. While he has not seen their success, the 22-year-old has three O’Reilly wins in four seasons with four postseason appearances. If Smith returns to O’Reilly, 2027 will be his fifth consecutive NOAPS season for his third different top team.
Additionally, this would keep Smith in the Hendrick-alliance system. Two other drivers currently in the Hendrick alliance system, Rajah Caruth and Anthony Alfredo, could also land at Haas. Caruth is currently in his first full season, splitting time between JRM and Jordan Anderson Racing. If a full-time JR Motorsports season is not an option, a full season at another Hendrick-alligned team could make sense. Caruth has been a Hendrick development driver since 2024.
Alfredo is the Hendrick Motorsports simulator driver, but has never driven full-time for a Hendrick-alligned team. The 27-year-old is no stranger to moving teams, as he has never driven for the same team in consecutive seasons. Alfredo’s 2026 season has been strong, with three top-5s and eight top-10s in the opening 28 races.
Craftsman Truck Series Drivers
If the team chooses to promote a Truck Series driver, Tyler Ankrum would make sense. While he only has one career O’Reilly start, the 25-year-old is a NASCAR veteran. He has been full-time in the Truck Series since 2019, with two victories and five playoff appearances in nine seasons. Ankrum made his series debut at Talladega Superspeedway for Jordan Anderson Racing and has been rumored to move to the O’Reilly Series. This, combined with funding from LIUNA, could see Ankrum move to the O’Reilly Series
