Matt Johnson
NASCAR silly season this year hasn’t delivered much movement thus far, with a majority of teams extending their drivers through the 2027 season. However, there is now some buzz about one potential change looming for Kaulig Racing.
According to Stock Car Rumors & Nostalgia, there is a rumor around the Kaulig shop that Ty Dillon won’t return to the team next season in the No. 10 car.
Related: Kaulig Racing CEO Addresses AJ Allmendinger’s Future with Team
- Ty Dillon stats (2026): 221 points (32nd), 0 top 10s, 1 DNF< 3 laps led, 31.105 average starting position, 25.421 average finishing position in 19 races
Dillon’s future with Kaulig has been an uncertainty for a while. Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported back in June that Dillon was not “locked in” with the team next year.
The 34-year-old certainly hasn’t been put in the greatest position for success. Kaulig doesn’t have manufacturer support this season and its drivers don’t have the sim to practice virtually on different tracks in the days leading up to a race.
However, that hasn’t been nearly as much of an issue for Dillon’s teammate AJ Allmendinger. In his age-44 season, Allmendinger sits just 16 points below The Chase cutline with the 19th-most points (395) on the season. In contrast, Dillon is 32nd in the NASCAR standings right now and 190 points back of The Chase. It’s one of the reasons why Kaulig has essentially signed Allmendinger to a lifetime contract.
There has been chatter in the past about Dillon being on the hot seat, including after a 2025 campaign where he finished 33rd in points with a single top-10 finish. Kaulig has tried to be patient with him, but the results are even worse this season with his average starting position (25.94 to 31.11) and average finishing position (24.48 to 25.42) dropping.
If Kaulig decides to pull the plug, Pockrass did mention in June that Josh Berry could step behind the wheel of the No. 10 car. Wood Brothers Racing announced earlier this summer that Jesse Love would take over the No. 21 car in 2027, leaving Berry without a seat. While he doesn’t bring the sponsorship support that would benefit Kaulig, he does have a better track record in the Cup Series and could be a viable short-term replacement until Dodge enters the Cup Series down the line. Kaulig could also consider Justin Haley or Corey LaJoie.
Dillon still has the remainder of the season to prove to Kaulig why he should keep his seat next season. Given how this year has already unfolded for him, however, his results through 19 races this year suggest that’s unlikely to happen.
