Matt Johnson
We’ve already seen a few potential dominoes fall ahead of NASCAR silly season, primarily with re-signings as the likes of Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson landed new deals. However, there still are quite a few big things that could happen in the months to come.
Let’s dive into some of the latest NASCAR silly season rumors, providing a bit of analysis and forecasting for how likely they are to come true.
Where Will Riley Herbst Race in 2027?
The expected became official ahead of the Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway to wrap up May. 23XI Racing announced that top prospect Corey Heim would join the team full-time next season, giving 23XI three drivers with legitimate shots to win races and compete in The Chase. So, what happens to Riley Herbst? He’s shown real improvement in 2026, raising his average starting position (26.97 to 21.14) and average finishing position (26.39 to 22.54) considerably compared to last year.
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that Herbst is the front-runner to step behind the wheel of the new third chartered car for Legacy Motor Club next season. Given the on-track improvements Herbst has shown and the deep pockets he brings to the table—Monster Energy and the Herbst family—he feels like the right fit for LMC.
Noah Gragson, Josh Berry on The Hot Seat?
Smaller Cup Series teams are obviously the likeliest to see changes in 2027. Among two reportedly considering moves are Front Row Motorsports and Wood Brothers Racing. The Athletic shared on a live edition of the Door, Bumper, Clear Fan Day Show that Josh Berry and Noah Gragson are both on the hot seat right now. Berry (50-50) is the likeliest to be replaced, but Gragson (60-40) to stay is also racing for a full-time ride.
It would be hard to fault either team for wanting to make a change. Heading into the Cracker Barrel 400, Berry ranked 30th in points (168) with Gragson (181 points) one spot ahead of him. Given Zane Smith’s strong performance this season, the team can’t really be blamed for Gragson’s shortcomings. FRM has Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs in the pipeline, and we wouldn’t be surprised if a change is made. As for Berry, given he won a race in 2025, we wouldn’t be surprised if WBR gives him a one-year deal for a final shot in ’27.
Related: Another Cup Series Driver on The Hot Seat
Will RFK Racing Find a Third Charter?
RFK Racing is plenty happy with what the three-man team of Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece have delivered over the last two seasons. The issue for Keselowski in his ownership role is that RFK’s lease for the third charter expires at the end of the season, and it’s already going to Legacy. On top of that, all three of RFK’s drivers are on expiring contracts.
That would seemingly open the door for either Buescher or Preece to potentially land with another team that can guarantee them a chartered seat. However, RFK’s president recently stated the team will still run three full-time cars in 2027 with or without a charter. If there has to be an Open car, Keselowski will presumably drive it. However, there is reportedly a charter potentially available. That’s the good news for RFK. The bad news is it’s going to be extremely costly to acquire.
Related: RFK Racing Driver Has Interest from Multiple Teams
Will Alex Bowman Be Replaced?
It’s been a disastrous contract year for Alex Bowman and the No. 48 team. There’s been plenty of talk in anticipation of NASCAR silly season regarding his future with Hendrick Motorsports. What certainly doesn’t help his odds of sticking around is a multi-race absence due to vertigo, effectively eliminating him from The Chase contention before the summer. However, Hendrick has a bit of an issue.
Among the expected free-agent drivers, no one stands out as an obvious upgrade over Bowman. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic previously reported that Hendrick could make a run at Connor Zilisch, but that would require paying Trackhouse Racing a significant chunk of change to get him out of the final year of his two-season contract. As for the NASCAR pipeline, Corey Day is a great long-term option, but his inexperience still shows and he’s never raced in the Cup Series. Given all of those circumstances, we’d bet on Bowman getting a one-year, prove-it deal to stick in the No. 48 next season. If he again falters, Day gets his shot.
Related: Insider Names Potential Alex Bowman Replacement
Future of Spire Motorsports
Spire Motorsports has its face of the team for years to come with Carson Hocevar winning his first Cup race in 2026 and establishing himself as a future superstar in NASCAR. Spire also gave Daniel Suarez a one-year deal this past offseason, a chance to save his Cup career. The gamble has paid off. Suarez is enjoying a career-best season, sitting 10th in points with four top-10 finishes and a 13.923 average finishing position. A new contract is expected to follow suit, and he’s earned it.
That leaves Michael McDowell as the biggest uncertainty. Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports reported earlier this month that McDowell has given no indication he wants to retire anytime soon. In fact, he is even eyeing a successor to replace him years from now. With that said, he’s recorded just a single Cup win since 2022, and Spire’s expectations for its drivers are a lot higher than they used to be. We’d be keeping an eye on the No. 71 car as a potential surprise change.
