NASCAR Silly Season is unlike the free agency period in most other sports. Driver contracts, team changes, retirements, and rumors can completely reshape the NASCAR Cup Series lineup.
Let’s take a look at what we do know about the contracts for all 15 teams on the NASCAR grid.
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Joe Gibbs Racing
Aug 15, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (11) during driver introductions before the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
11 |
Hamlin |
? |
? |
|
19 |
Briscoe |
? |
? |
|
20 |
Bell |
? |
? |
|
54 |
Gibbs |
Gibbs |
Gibbs |
All signs point to JGR having their 2026 driver lineup return in 2027. After that, things get much more uncertain. Bell’s contract length is unknown past 2027. Hamlin is expected to retire following 2027. The likely successor seems to be current O’Reilly Series driver Brent Crews.
Ty Gibbs’s contract is not officially known, but he will obviously be with JGR his entire career. Don’t expect any change from the 54 team.
Hendrick Motorsports
Aug 15, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Trackhouse Racing driver Connor Zilisch (88) before the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
5 |
Larson |
Larson |
Larson |
|
9 |
Elliott |
? |
? |
|
24 |
Byron |
Byron |
Byron |
|
48 |
Bowman |
Zilisch |
Zilisch |
Hendrick landed the biggest name of the NASCAR Silly Season period. Connor Zilisch will be driving for HMS in 2028 once Alex Bowman retires from full time racing.
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Penske
May 3, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney (12) is introduced before the start of the 2026 Wurth 400 cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
2 |
Cindric |
? |
? |
|
12 |
Blaney |
Blaney |
Blaney |
|
22 |
Logano |
Logano |
Logano |
Logano and Blaney have both signed “long-term contract extensions” with Team Penske. The exact length of Joey Logano’s contract is unknown, but it’s expected that he will be with Penske until he decides to retire.
Austin Cindric is reportedly in a contract year, but he has indicated he signed a contract extension to remain with Penske in 2027.
23XI
Feb 15, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey Heim (67) during the 68th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
23 |
Wallace |
? |
? |
|
35 |
Heim |
Heim |
? |
|
45 |
Reddick |
Reddick |
Reddick |
Tyler Reddick and Corey Heim have both signed multi-year contracts with 23XI. The lengths are unknown, but Reddick is expected to be with the team for a “very long time”.
Spire Motorsports
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
7 |
? |
? |
? |
|
71 |
? |
? |
? |
|
77 |
Hocevar |
Hocevar |
Hocevar |
Carson Hocevar has signed an extension with Spire Motorsports that will keep him with the team “into the next decade”.
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Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell are expected to return in 2027, but their contract statuses are unknown.
Tristan McKee is expected to take over for McDowell once his NASCAR Cup Series career is over.
Corey Day is a name to watch for a seat at Spire. The Chevy driver may need a Cup Series seat after Hendrick decided to go with Zilisch to drive the 48.
RFK Racing
Aug 15, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver Brad Keselowski (6) before the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
6 |
Keselowski |
? |
? |
|
17 |
Buescher |
Buescher |
? |
|
60 |
Preece |
? |
? |
Ryan Preece had his contract option picked up for 2027, keeping him with the team. Chris Buescher signed a multi-year extension this season.
Trackhouse
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA;NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
1 |
Chastain |
? |
? |
|
88 |
Zilisch |
? |
? |
|
97 |
SVG |
? |
? |
Trackhouse is in a really tough situation following 2027. All of their drivers have contracts that expire at the season’s end. It’s already known Zilisch will be going to Hendrick, but there is much more uncertainty regarding Ross Chastain and Shane Van Gisbergen.
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Legacy Motor Club
May 16, 2026; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver John Hunter Nemechek walks in the garage during qualifying for the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
42 |
Nemechek |
? |
? |
|
43 |
Jones |
? |
? |
|
84 |
? |
? |
? |
Erik Jones has not officially been confirmed to be returning next season. At this point, it would be a shocking move if he departs the team. All signs point to him remaining at Legacy in the number 43.
The current focus is on the new third car (#84). The expectation is that current 23XI driver Riley Herbst will fill that seat in 2027, but no announcement has officially been made.
Kaulig Racing
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger (16) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
10 |
? |
? |
? |
|
16 |
Allmendinger |
Allmendinger |
Allmendinger |
AJ Allmendinger will be at Kaulig until he decides he’s finished in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has an option at the end of 2029 to decide if he wants to extend his contract through 2032.
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Ty Dillon is considered likely to return to the number ten car, but his contract has no public information. This could be one of the few remaining seats if a free agent driver wants to stick in the Cup Series.
Richard Childress Racing
Feb 14, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR OÕReilly Auto Parts Series driver Austin Hill (21) during qualifying for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
3 |
A.Dillon |
? |
? |
|
33 |
Hill |
? |
? |
There is no official confirmation that Austin Dillon will be back, but it would be hard to imagine he’s not. RCR recently announced that Austin Hill will be driving the number 33 full time in 2027.
Front Row Motorsports
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson(4) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
4 |
Gragson |
? |
? |
|
34 |
Gilliland |
? |
? |
|
38 |
Smith |
? |
? |
Front Row will have the same drivers entering 2027, but that is all that’s known. Noah Gragson signed a one-year extension through 2027, while the length of the Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith contracts is unknown.
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Hyak Motorsports
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
|
Car |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
|
47 |
Stenhouse |
Stenhouse |
? |
Hyak announced a multi-year contract extension for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. that will keep him with the one-car team through at least 2028.
Haas Factory Team
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Cole Custer (41) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
If Haas retains their charter next year, there is no question that the driver will be Cole Custer. There is still some uncertainty regarding the charter.
Wood Brothers
Feb 14, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR OÕReilly Auto Parts Series driver Jesse Love (2) during qualifying for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Wood Brothers will not be retaining Josh Berry at the end of the season, and they have already announced that Jesse Love will drive for the team in 2027. Considering his youth and potential, it would be hard to imagine that this is only a one-year pairing.
Rick Ware Racing
Feb 11, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Cody Ware (51) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Rick Ware Racing is in the same situation as Haas. There is nothing known about the contract of Cody Ware, but if RWR has a charter, he will be driving for his father’s team.
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NASCAR Silly Season Updates
The post NASCAR Silly Season Updates: Latest News, Rumors, And Known Contracts appeared first on Stadium Rant.
Read the full article here
