{"id":873972,"date":"2026-08-28T01:22:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T01:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/873972\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T01:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T01:22:19","slug":"nascar-silly-season-updates-latest-news-rumors-and-known-contracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/873972\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR Silly Season Updates: Latest News, Rumors, And Known Contracts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at what we do know about the contracts for all 15 teams on the NASCAR grid.<\/p>\n

Joe Gibbs Racing \"NASCARAug 15, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver\u00a0Denny\u00a0Hamlin\u00a0(11) during driver introductions before the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images Car20272028202911Hamlin??19Briscoe??20Bell??54GibbsGibbsGibbs <\/p>\n

All signs point to JGR having their 2026 driver lineup return in 2027. After that, things get much more uncertain. Bell\u2019s contract length is unknown past 2027. Hamlin is expected to retire following 2027. The likely successor seems to be current O\u2019Reilly Series driver Brent Crews.<\/p>\n

Ty Gibbs\u2019s contract is not officially known, but he will obviously be with JGR his entire career. Don\u2019t expect any change from the 54 team.<\/p>\n

Hendrick Motorsports \"NASCARAug 15, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Trackhouse Racing driver\u00a0Connor\u00a0Zilisch\u00a0(88) before the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images Car2027202820295LarsonLarsonLarson9Elliott??24ByronByronByron48BowmanZilischZilisch <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Penske \"NASCARMay 3, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Team Penske driver\u00a0Ryan\u00a0Blaney\u00a0(12) is introduced before the start of the 2026 Wurth 400 cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Car2027202820292Cindric ??12BlaneyBlaneyBlaney22LoganoLoganoLogano <\/p>\n

Logano and Blaney have both signed \u201clong-term contract extensions\u201d with Team Penske. The exact length of Joey Logano\u2019s contract is unknown, but it\u2019s expected that he will be with Penske until he decides to retire.<\/p>\n

Austin Cindric is reportedly in a contract year, but he has indicated he signed a contract extension to remain with Penske in 2027.<\/p>\n

23XI \"NASCARFeb 15, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0Corey\u00a0Heim\u00a0(67) during the 68th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Car20272028202923Wallace??35HeimHeim?45ReddickReddickReddick <\/p>\n

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 \u201cvery long time\u201d.<\/p>\n

Spire Motorsports \"NASCARJul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0Carson\u00a0Hocevar\u00a0(77) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Car2027202820297???71???77HocevarHocevarHocevar <\/p>\n

Carson Hocevar has signed an extension with Spire Motorsports that will keep him with the team \u201cinto the next decade\u201d.<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell are expected to return in 2027, but their contract statuses are unknown.<\/p>\n

Tristan McKee<\/a> is expected to take over for McDowell once his NASCAR Cup Series career is over.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

RFK Racing \"NASCARAug 15, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, USA; Roush Fenway\u00a0Keselowski\u00a0Racing driver\u00a0Brad\u00a0Keselowski\u00a0(6) before the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images Car2027202820296Keselowski ??17BuescherBuescher?60Preece?? <\/p>\n

Ryan Preece had his contract option picked up for 2027, keeping him with the team. Chris Buescher signed a multi-year extension this season.<\/p>\n

Trackhouse \"NASCARJul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA;NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0Ross\u00a0Chastain\u00a0(1) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Car2027202820291Chastain??88Zilisch??97SVG?? <\/p>\n

Trackhouse is in a really tough situation following 2027. All of their drivers have contracts that expire at the season\u2019s end. It\u2019s already known Zilisch will be going to Hendrick, but there is much more uncertainty regarding Ross Chastain and Shane Van Gisbergen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Legacy Motor Club \"NASCARMay 16, 2026; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0John\u00a0Hunter\u00a0Nemechek\u00a0walks in the garage during qualifying for the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O\u2019Haren-Imagn Images Car20272028202942Nemechek??43Jones??84??? <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Kaulig Racing \"NASCARJul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver AJ\u00a0Allmendinger\u00a0(16) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Car20272028202910???16Allmendinger Allmendinger Allmendinger <\/p>\n

AJ Allmendinger will be at Kaulig until he decides he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Ty Dillon<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Richard Childress Racing \"NASCARFeb 14, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA;\u00a0NASCAR\u00a0O\u00d5Reilly Auto Parts Series driver\u00a0Austin\u00a0Hill\u00a0(21) during qualifying for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Car2027202820293A.Dillon??33Hill?? <\/p>\n

There is no official confirmation that Austin Dillon will be back, but it would be hard to imagine he\u2019s not. RCR recently announced that Austin Hill will be driving the number 33 full time in 2027.<\/p>\n

Front Row Motorsports \"NASCARJul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0Noah\u00a0Gragson(4) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Car2027202820294Gragson??34Gilliland??38Smith?? <\/p>\n

Front Row will have the same drivers entering 2027, but that is all that\u2019s known. Noah Gragson signed a one-year extension through 2027, while the length of the Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith contracts is unknown.<\/p>\n

Hyak Motorsports \"NASCARJul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0Ricky\u00a0Stenhouse\u00a0Jr. (47) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Car20272028202947StenhouseStenhouse? <\/p>\n

Hyak announced a multi-year contract extension for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. that will keep him with the one-car team through at least 2028.<\/p>\n

Haas Factory Team \"NASCARJul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver\u00a0Cole\u00a0Custer\u00a0(41) before qualifying for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Wood Brothers \"NASCARFeb 14, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR O\u00d5Reilly Auto Parts Series driver\u00a0Jesse\u00a0Love\u00a0(2) during qualifying for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images <\/p>\n

Wood Brothers will not be retaining Josh Berry at the end of the season, and they have already announced that Jesse Love<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Rick Ware Racing \"NASCARFeb 11, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA;\u00a0NASCAR\u00a0Cup Series driver\u00a0Cody\u00a0Ware\u00a0(51) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images <\/p>\n

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\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

NASCAR Silly Season Updates <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NASCAR Silly Season is unlike the free agency period in most other sports. Driver contracts, team changes, retirements,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":873973,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,634,82],"class_list":["post-873972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nascar","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=873972"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873972\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/873973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=873972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=873972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=873972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}