Matt Johnson
Legacy Motor Club will become a three-car team in the Cup Series beginning in the 2027 NASCAR season, but it remains to be seen who will get behind the wheel as a full-time driver. While far bigger dominoes still have to fall in NASCAR silly season this year, it appears there are a few leading candidates.
According to Stockcar Rumors & Nostalgia, NASCAR drivers Jesse Love and Riley Herbst have emerged as early contenders to become the third full-time driver for the Legacy Motor Club in 2027.
Read More: NASCAR Weekend Schedule Phoenix 2026
Bringing in Love could be a bit more complicated for LMC. He’s widely viewed as the second-best NASCAR prospect in 2026, only behind Corey Heim. The 21-year-old is a development driver for Richard Childress Racing and the team is already giving him limited opportunities in the Cup Series this season behind the wheel of the No. 33 car.
With Kyle Busch in a contract year and potentially headed to another team for the 2027 season, the No. 8 car could be opening up at RCR. Driver Austin Dillon, who is taking on more leadership responsibilities at RCR, would certainly recognize the value in bringing Love into a full-time role as soon as next year. While he would only be 22 years old, he could develop into an excellent driver and the sooner he gets more experience in the Next Gen car the better.
Related: NASCAR Power Rankings Today, 10 Best NASCAR Drivers Before Phoenix
Herbst might be a more realistic target for Legacy. He’s on the hot seat with 23XI Racing as the full-time driver of the No. 35 car. With the success 23XI is already having this season with Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, the team could decide next season is the perfect time to give Heim a full-time ride in the No. 35 car.
Heim, who many around the industry already believe is ready to race a full season in the Cup Series, is coming off a record-breaking year in the Truck Series. He’ll be splitting his time between the Cup, Truck and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this season and could replace Herbst in 2027.
Read More: Spire Motorsports to go ‘Big-Game Hunting’ in NASCAR Silly Season
For a team like Legacy, Herbst could be particularly appealing because of his relationship with Monster Energy and the strong financial ties his family has. That kind of funding would be an added benefit for LMC and the expectations for him would certainly be lower than at 23XI.
