Two current Cup drivers held the keys to the NASCAR silly season, and it appears both of them are staying put … for one more year.
Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) was the most high-profile driver who was not signed for next year. HMS announced on July 23 that Bowman would return next season and that 2027 would be his final year before retiring from full-time competition.
The other driver who is key is Connor Zilisch, who is signed through next season and now, by all appearances, won’t have his contract bought out. He’s one of the most heralded prospects, and Trackhouse is struggling. He could sign early with another team — much like Tyler Reddick did a few years ago, a move that eventually led to him leaving a year early at season’s end. Zilisch will race for Trackhouse in 2027 and his most likely landing spot for 2028 is to replace Bowman.
Obviously, there are things that can’t be predicted. The devastating death on May 21 of Kyle Busch leaves a much bigger void beyond a seat in the Cup Series. It will likely take some time for Richard Childress Racing to determine how it will move forward for 2027.
Here is how things look at each organization following the Aug. 14 announcement that Noah Gragson will remain at Front Row Motorsports.
Joe Gibbs Racing
(L-R) Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell will all be back at JGR next season (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Barring an unforeseen occurrence, JGR will not have changes for next year. Ty Gibbs (second) isn’t expected to be going anywhere and Denny Hamlin (first), Chase Briscoe (fifth) and Christopher Bell (sixth) are signed beyond this season. The one thing that JGR might need to anticipate is Hamlin retiring from full-time racing after 2027 then having to fill that ride. Brent Crews, who drives for JGR in the O’Reilly Series, is the team’s focus on the development driver side who could be Cup ready in 2028.
23XI Racing
Corey Heim — who already has won twice this year on a part-time schedule – has been announced as a full-time driver, replacing Riley Herbst (25th in the standings). Tyler Reddick (fourth in the standings) signed a contract extension earlier this year. While sources had indicated Bubba Wallace (14th) was in an option year, both 23XI and Wallace camps have indicated he is set to race for 23XI next season.
Team Penske
Ryan Blaney will be back at Team Penske for the 2027 season. (Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images)
With Ryan Blaney (third) having recently signed a contract extension, Team Penske has its former champions Blaney and Joey Logano (13th) under contact. Austin Cindric is 16th in the points and indicated he has signed a contract extension, saying his contract details are between him and Team Penske but that he is confident fans will see him in the car next season.
Hendrick Motorsports
The Hendrick stable will return intact for 2027. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Chase Elliott (seventh), Kyle Larson (10th), William Byron (11th) and Alex Bowman (29th) are all now signed for next year. If you want to look ahead to the 2027 silly season, Zilisch and HMS O’Reilly Series driver Corey Day are the top candidates to replace Bowman for 2028 with Zilisch the favorite.
Spire Motorsports
Carson Hocevar is locked in at Spire. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Spire Motorsports has Carson Hocevar (eighth) locked in long-term, while Michael McDowell and Daniel Suárez are not. Spire has shown the willingness to eat a year of a contract to get a driver it wants. But who would that be at this point? Suárez is 12th in the standings and McDowell is 21st. Now that Bowman is set to return at Hendrick next season, it appears that the Spire lineup likely will be the same for 2027.
RFK Racing
Brad Keselowski has noted he’s not yet ready for retirement. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ryan Preece, at 17th in the standings, was a driver whose future appeared mildly unclear, but team co-owner Brad Keselowski confirmed July 25 that RFK had picked up his option for next season. RFK possibly will have just two charters for next season (it is leasing one that will go to Legacy Motor Club in 2027) but it also has strong sponsorship from Kroger and its vendors to the point where running Preece as an open car next year appears to be the plan. Chris Buescher (ninth) has signed a contract extension (announced June 16). Brad Keselowski (19th) will race at RFK until he is ready to retire, which he says won’t be for several more years.
Trackhouse Racing
Shane Van Gisbergen will have a home again at Trackhouse next year. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
All three Trackhouse drivers — Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen and Zilisch — are signed through 2027, and the onus is on the organization to try to keep them beyond next year. Only van Gisbergen (15th in the standings) is having a season to be happy about as Chastain is 18th and Zilisch is 34th.
Legacy Motor Club
Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek could very well return next year, as some improved performance since April (Jones is 20th in the standings; Nemechek is 28th) is an indication of progress at the organization. Legacy will add a third chartered car next year as well and that is the expected landing spot for Riley Herbst.
Kaulig Racing
Ty Dillon (L) and AJ Allmendinger are not locked in at Kaulig next year. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Neither AJ Allmendinger nor Ty Dillon are locked in at Kaulig next year, although Allmendinger has the option to race as long as he wants. The organization is in a tough spot without manufacturer support. It would be a huge scramble for Dodge to enter Cup in 2027 despite that being their hope. And if they do so, whether that could impact DIllon is to be determined. Allmendinger is 22nd in the standings; Dillon is 32nd. If Kaulig does make a change, Josh Berry could be a candidate, but he currently doesn’t bring sponsorship.
Front Row Motorsports
Noah Gragson and his big personality got an extension. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
This team will have the same lineup in 2027 as Todd Gilliland (23rd in the standings) signed a contract extension earlier this month, Zane Smith (24th) signed a contract extension last year that has him solid at FRM and Noah Gragson (31st) announced a contract extension on Aug. 14. Gragson’s extension runs through 2027 with options to keep him there longer.
Hyak Motorsports
Ricky Stenhouse Jr is set for next season. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (26th in the standings) signed a contract extension in May and is set to remain with the organization.
Richard Childress Racing
Austin Dillon should be back at RCR for the 2027 season. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Austin Dillon is expected to return in 2027 as he sits 27th in the standings. Who will fill the open seat is still to be determined. Austin Hill has been the driver of the renumbered No. 33 car, and he has remained the leading candidate for the ride for 2027.
Haas Factory Team
It has not been the best year for Cole Custer. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cole Custer hasn’t had a good year (he’s 33rd in the standings) but whether a change is made is debatable as the team appears to be still trying to find its footing. He has had a respectable summer. Joe Custer, who operates the team, reiterated in early August that the organization is not looking to sell its charter.
Wood Brothers
Jesse Love will replace Josh Berry in the Woods Brothers ride. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Josh Berry (30th) will be replaced next season by defending O’Reilly Series champion Jesse Love, who turns 22 next January. Wood Brothers Racing President Jon Wood, in a news release, said: “Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age. He’s demonstrated the ability to win races, compete for championships and handle the expectations that come with racing at a high level.”
Rick Ware Racing
Cody Ware should be set for next season. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As long as RWR doesn’t sell, this should remain Cody Ware’s ride. Ware is 35th in the standings.
WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT
While Hendrick Motorsports has time to wait to name its driver of the No. 48 car for 2028, making a move for Connor Zilisch makes too much sense.
