The Search Begins
Richard Childress Racing announced that it will need a new full‑time Cup Series driver for the 2027 season following Kyle Busch’s unexpected departure. The team has traditionally been a fixture in the series, and the vacancy has sparked an early‑season scramble to identify a driver who can stabilize the No. 33 entry.
Austin Hill has emerged as the leading candidate. He is currently piloting the same car for the remainder of the 2026 schedule, yet his Cup résumé consists of just 24 races with a single top‑10 finish and an average finish of 28.1. Those numbers underscore the challenge Hill faces, but the team believes that additional time in the Next Gen platform could translate into the consistency needed for a championship‑contending ride.
A Shifting Roster Landscape
The pool of viable replacements is narrow. Jesse Love, who had been linked to RCR, signed with Wood Brothers Racing, removing him from consideration. Meanwhile, Carson Brown and Chandler Smith are being evaluated for roles in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, leaving RCR to weigh whether internal development or an external hire better serves its long‑term goals.
Looking Toward 2027
RCR’s leadership remains optimistic that Hill’s familiarity with the car and the organization will accelerate his adaptation to the Cup level. If the team can pair him with the right crew and engineering support, the hope is that the driver who once struggled to break into the top‑10 will evolve into a reliable points‑collector as the 2027 season unfolds.