The NASCAR Cup Series is knee deep in their Silly Season. From Corey Heim and Jesse Love moving up to the premiere series, to Todd Gilliland signing a contract extension. Even to drivers such as Riley Herbst and Josh Berry who need a new home, several moves have been announced in recent weeks and months.
On the contrary, Silly Season has been much quieter in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck Series. Limited announcements have been made, and a plethora of competitive rides are not confirmed for 2027.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports has run four full-time entries in recent seasons, and it is likely they will continue to do so. Justin Allgaier recently signed a multi-year contract extension. Allgaier has had a dominant 2026 season, with six wins in only 23 starts. Additionally, he has earned over 230 more points than the driver second in points. That driver, Carson Kvapil, appears likely to return as well. Language from Dale Earnhardt Jr. after the 23-year old’s first career win indicated that he needed a win to stay at the team, and two win have come.
“He’s got to win to keep going and he’s got to win to stay in this deal, and man he’s gotten so close,” Earnhardt Jr. said following Kvapil’s Indianapolis win. “I’m just so so happy for him.”
The No. 8 and No. 88 entries have had nothing confirmed. Sammy Smith brings funding from Pilot Flying J and has run respectably in his nearly three full seasons at the organization. Rajah Caruth has shared the No. 88 with Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series drivers, but is well liked in the Hendrick system. If Hendrick continues to sponsor the No. 88, either a similar set-up or running Caruth full-time are likely options.
If this does not happen, then pretty much anyone could land the seat. Notably, Dale Jr’s protegee Josh Berry is out of a ride for 2027.
Haas Factory Team
Haas Factory Team will expand to three entries with Dean Thompson joining the organization. As for the two existing cars, Sheldon Creed sits third in points with one win and nine top-5s. Mayer sits 10th, with only five top-5 and no wins, but had a strong 2025 season. Both drivers have not confirmed their 2026 plans as of the release of this article.
If HFT looses both Mayer and Creed, it leaves the door open for a funded driver like Sammy Smith or Tyler Ankrum to take those seats. Additionally, per Pockrass, Custer is not confirmed to drive the team’s Cup seat but is expected to return following statements made by team president Joe Custer on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. If he does not, then one of the two O’Reilly seats would be his likely landing place. Otherwise, nothing has indicated that the Creed/Mayer combination will not see a third season.
Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing is expected to have two new drivers in 2027. Jesse Love has been confirmed to move to Cup with the Wood Brothers, and Austin Hill is expected to remain in the No. 33 Cup entry full-time in 2027. The organization’s development driver, Carson Brown, just turned 18 and made his O’Reilly debut at Iowa Speedway. This could open the door for a full-time ride in the No. 2, which has been fully sponsored by Whelen in recent seasons. In six ARCA Menards Series starts, Brown has one win and has not finished off the podium.
Per Bob Pockrass, Chandler Smith is the leading candidate for an RCR ride. Smith has driven two full-time seasons in the series in 2023 and 2024. In these two seasons for Kaulig Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, he earned three wins, 25 top-5s, and 35 top-10s. He currently drives full-time for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. While consistently number two to Layne Riggs, Smith has earned four wins in nearly two seasons for the team.
Hendrick Motorsports
With the No. 48 filled, Hendrick Motorsports will all but certainly keep Corey Day in the No. 17 for another season. Day has two wins in his first full asphalt season, and is seen as a contender to remain in the Hendrick system for years to come. The only possible change is if Hendrick decides to add a second car, be it full-time or part-time, for Caruth, the team’s Cup Series drivers, or a darkhorse candidate such as Jake Finch who has made starts in the Hendrick system.
Joe Gibbs Racing
The only other confirmed seats are Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 54 and No. 18 entries. Taylor Gray and William Sawalich, who each have a win but sit right on the Chase bubble, will return for a third full season. Brent Crews, who has been named by Denny Hamlin as likely the next driver of the No. 11, will likely retain the No. 19 for 2027. Brandon Jones has also seen success with the team and brings the money to keep his seat.
Other Teams
The O’Reilly midfield and back-markers typically wait until the off-season to confirm drivers. All that is known is that Ryan Ellis has a multi-year deal to drive for Young’s Motorsports, Josh Williams has one to drive for DGM Racing, and Thompson will not return to Sam Hunt Racing.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is confirmed to have an open seat with Smith leaving. Their other seat is held by current points leader Layne Riggs, who will also potentially be a free agent. The 24-year old has mentioned a Cup Series seat is a possibility for 2027. If Riggs moves to Cup, one of the possible options is FRM’s No. 4. However, general manager Jerry Freeze is high on Gragson and is contemplating extending him for 2027. If the team wants to keep both in the fray, a Gragson/Riggs rideswap is possible. If Riggs does not move to Cup, he will likely return to the Truck Series.
The past two hires of the No. 34 have indicated that bringing money is not necessary for that seat. Drivers such as Nick Sanchez and Tyler Reif, who have had struggles with funding in recent seasons, could make sense. However, the No. 38 likely would need a driver with at least some funding to continue operation. Luckily for FRM, there is no shortage of those.
Tricon Garage
Tricon Garage has three full-time drivers right now. Kaden Honeycutt is in his first year with the team, and is currently second in points with a win. It is likely he will return for another season. For family reasons, it is likely Tanner Gray will join him for his seventh season at the team. Gio Ruggiero would likely only leave if he gets promoted in the Toyota Racing Development system, as the manufacturer seems to be high on him.
The No. 5 had a full-time driver in 2023, 2024, and 2025, but has served as a second rotational entry this season. If the team returns to having four full-time drivers, there is a plethora of candidates. Nitro Motorsports drivers Thomas Annunziata and Jake Bollman are battling for the ARCA Menards Series title, and their part-time teammate Gavan Boschele started a partial schedule for the team at the Indianapolis Racweay Park. Any of these three would make sense, or a funded driver such as the entry’s previous drivers in Dean Thompson and Toni Breidinger could land this seat.
The No. 1 has been a rotational entry since the team switched to Toyota, and will likely continue to be one.
Spire Motorsports
Like Tricon, Spire Motorsports is operating two rotational entries in 2026. Per competition director Kevin “Bono” Manion, the team will have one full-time and one rotational entry in 2027. It is likely that the rotational entry will include starts for Spire development driver Tristian McKee, who will make his series debut for the team at Richmond Raceway.
Connor Mosack, who is driving a majority schedule in the No. 7, has had multiple solid runs and could make sense as a full-time driver. Hendrick Motorsports, who the team is alligned with in the Cup Series, could move Caruth back to Trucks if an O’Reilly season does not come together. Nick Sanchez has won for a Spire affiliate in the past and finished top-5 for them at IRP, but struggles for funding.
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Christian Eckes has dominated with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the past and Daniel Hemric is their veteran anchor, so it is likely both will stay. Tyler Ankrum is below the Chase cutline, but has driven for the team for three seasons and has had success with them.
Their fourth driver, Kris Wright, has not seen much success and historically moves teams between seasons. If Wright does not return, then another funded driver would likely end up in this seat. Daniel Dye or Toni Breidinger, who drive for them part-time, could be candidates for this seat.
ThorSport Racing
Ty Majeski and Ben Rhodes have driven for ThorSport Racing for many seasons, and likely will return to the organization. Jake Garcia, in his third year, is winless but the organization has had two down seasons and have shown no signs of dropping him.
Cole Butcher, on the other hand, has had a difficult rookie season. The fourth ThorSport entry has been a paying driver in recent seasons, and likely will continue to be in 2027.
Niece Motorsports
Niece Motorsports currently has one full-time driver, Andres Pérez de Lara. The Mexico native has funding and has improved from his rookie year, so seeing him maintain his seat would make sense. If the organization decides to make a change or run a second full-time driver, promoting one or more of Landen Lewis, Tyler Reif, or Parker Eatmon to full-time status would make sense. Per Bob Pockrass, Lewis will likely run a full season in 2027.
Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing is operating five full-time Truck Series entries with three full-time drivers. Justin Haley has driven for Kaulig in all three series, and will likely remain with the organization. Brenden Queen is a rookie, but has been the best Ram driver and could return for a second season. If Ram: Race for the Seat gets a second season, that driver would need a ride. Tyrell, the first winner, has not been impressive but is in a difficult situation.
Funding has not been a factor in terms of deciding drivers. This casts the net wide open for open seats, and could make for an interesting lineup for Ram’s second season.
Other Teams
Like with the O’Reilly Series, the rest of the Truck Series field typically waits for the off season to finalize driver moves. Nothing is known in the rest of the field as of right now.
