The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is ongoing with the best drivers in the sport focused on competing for this year’s championship. However, NASCAR silly season is just a few months away and there could be plenty of movement with outstanding racers eligible to hit the open market.
Let’s dive into the available NASCAR free agents after the 2025 Cup Series season. We’ve included asterisks for drivers whose contract status is uncertain for 2026, with an attached note to each driver.
NASCAR free agents: Upcoming free agents and re-signings
Austin Cindric, No. 2, Team Penske Racing
Austin Cindric signed a multi-year contract with Team Penske in 2023 and the deal for the No. 2 car is expected to expire after this season. Cindric finished 11th in the Cup Series during the 2024 season and he’s delivered wins in consecutive seasons. Just as important, Cindric’s average finishing position has improved over the last three seasons. He’ll be 27 in September and stands out as an obvious candidate for a new contract with Penske.
Related: NASCAR insider sheds light on Austin Cindric’s future with Team Penske
Kyle Busch, No. 8, Richard Childress Racing – Extended Through 2026
On May 24, Richard Childress Racing announced a one-year extension with Kyle Busch to drive the No. 8 car through the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. While Busch’s winning streak snapped last year and he hasn’t won a race for RCR since 2023, one of the best drivers of the modern era is still getting the most out of his car. Richard Childress Racing offers the best opportunity to win, including that elusive victory in the Daytona 500, which made it an easy decision for Busch to stay with RCR in 2026.
Related: Insider sheds light on Kyle Busch’s future with RCR after 2026
Denny Hamlin, No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing*
Denny Hamlin’s contract status is more uncertain than some of the known top NASCAR free agents this offseason. Hamlin signed a multi-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023, but it’s unknown just how long the deal is. Hamlin will be 45 in November, but he is arguably still one of the five best NASCAR drivers right now. If his deal expires after the season, a short-term deal with JGR is likely. It would leave open the possibility of Hamlin ending his career in a few years with 23XI.
Related: Denny Hamlin credits Kyle Busch for huge development in his career
A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16, Kaulig Racing
A.J. Allmendinger returned as a full-time Cup Series driver in 2025, reportedly landing a short-term deal with Kaulig Racing for the No. 16 car. He’s performed relatively well in 2025, even amid engine blowups, but this very public outburst at Kansas could jeopardize his future with the team. If he can’t find a team for 2026, Allmendinger could continue his roller-coaster career cycle with a return to the Xfinity Series.
Related: NASCAR schedule for Cup Series, Truck Series and Xfinity Series
Christopher Bell, No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing*
As with fellow Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, it’s uncertain exactly how much longer Christopher Bell is under contract for the No. 20 car. Before the 2023 season, he signed a ‘long-term deal’ with JGR that would seemingly open the door to him becoming a free agent after the 2025 campaign. However, Bell won three consecutive races this year and the 30-year-old is a perennial championship threat. There’s zero reason to believe, even if he’s on an expiring contract, that JGR won’t give him a new deal this year.
Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 23XI Racing*
- Bubba Wallace can leave 23XI if NASCAR strips the team of its charter
Much like teammate Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace becoming one of the top NASCAR free agents after this season means disaster has struck for 23XI Racing. Wallace and Reddick have provisions in their contracts that would allow them to leave for another team if NASCAR strips 23XI of their charters if the team loses its lawsuit against the sport. As long as 23XI has a charter, though, Wallace’s improved maturity and a strong supporting cast for the No. 23 car – top-five pit crew and crew chief Charles Denike – make this a perfect fit for him.
William Byron, No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports – Extended through 2029
On May 23, Hendrick Motorsports signed driver William Byron to a four-year contract extension through the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The deal ensures that Hendrick Motorsports will have Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman through the 2026 season. Byron now has one of the longest contracts in the Cup Series, keeping him at Hendrick Motorsports through his age-31 season. Byron remains one of the best NASCAR drivers right now and he gives Hendricks multiple perenial championship contenders.
Related: NASCAR standings for Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series
Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 23XI Racing*
- Tyler Reddick can leave 23XI if NASCAR strips the team of its charter
Tyler Reddick has found a home with 23XI, becoming the team’s first driver to reach the Championship 4 in 2024. He’s been one of the 10 best drivers in NASCAR over the last three years, maximizing the equipment and support staff put around the No. 45 car. If NASCAR were to strip 23XI of its charters, Reddick would instantly become one of the most in-demand racers ahead of his age-30 season.
Carson Hocevar, No. 77, Spire Motorsports*
Similar to Denny Hamlin, Carson Hocevar signed a multi-year deal before the 2024 season with no details available on the specific length of the contract. The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year hasn’t won his first race at the highest level yet, but he delivered a 2025 Truck Series victory and is racing closer to the front of the field more consistently in the Cup Series. Hocevar’s aggressive driving style hasn’t made him popular among fellow drivers, but he’s just 22 years old and keeps improving. If his contract expires after the 2025 season, he’ll almost certainly be prioritized for a multi-year deal by Spire Motorsports.
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, Trackhouse Racing
Shane Van Gisbergen received a one-year contract for the 2025 season to drive the No. 88 car in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing. The 36-year-old was brought in both for his popularity and his dominance on road courses. He’s been a non-factor everywhere else this year, but that’s also a reflection on the quality of equipment Trackhouse Racing has put out in 2025. Considering SVG’s popularity and the fact that his excellence on road courses at least gives Trackhouse a few shots at an automatic playoff bid, another short-term deal feels very likely after the 2025 season.
Daniel Suarez, No. 99, Trackhouse Racing
Among the top NASCAR free agents following the season, Daniel Suárez might be the likeliest to wind up on a new team next year. Connor Zilisch seems well-positioned to become a full-time Cup Series driver in 2026 and Trackhouse Racing would have the No. 99 car available for him. If that happens, Suarez could find a home with Kaulig Racing next season as Allmendinger’s potential replacement for the No. 16 car.
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