Story & Photo By Patricia McCormack/TheFourthTurn.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Every season NASCAR has a so-called season within itself, and it’s called the Silly Season. A season that is devoted to all the changes being made between drivers, organizations, crew chiefs and more.

This year is like every other, many drivers have negotiated extensions where others are left to look elsewhere. With a recent uptick in activity, here is what we know so far:

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Front Row Motorsports

While there are some changes being made within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, their Silly Season has just begun and is expected to ramp up soon given the recently announced departure of Chandler Smith, who currently races the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports. He will be moving on to Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet team in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series come 2027.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Haas Factory Team

Dean Thompson was announced as the third driver for Haas Factory Team full-time. He’ll join Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer.

Joe Gibbs Racing

Those extending their stays are William Sawalich, Taylor Gray, Brent Crews and Brandon Jones for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“It’s just the place that we’ve got a lot of comfort at and got a lot of speed at on a consistent basis,” Jones said. “Everybody’s really bought in on the 20 group. So, yeah, it’s been a really, honestly, an easy transition back.”

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Daniel Dye has signed a multi-year contract with Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport to pilot the No. 32 Chevrolet full-time.

“I feel like there is so much that I want to prove as a driver and show that I belong at this level each week,” Dye said. “I think Jordan and everyone at the team have very similar goals to mine. They’ve been steadily climbing the ladder year after year, and I’m proud that I have the chance to be a part of this team’s growth.”

Dye started the 2026 season at Kaulig Racing but chose to leave after a controversial comment was made public. After making a public apology, Dye has spent the remainder of 2026 racing in all three of NASCAR’s top three series gaining as much experience as he can. 

JR Motorsports

As per usual, there are comers and goer’s. Sammy Smith announced that he will be leaving the JR Motorsports No. 8 Chevrolet after the 2026 season. Carson Kvapil, who has earned two series wins this season, will take over the No. 8 (which is the number he ran for JR Motorsports in Late Models) full-time with crew chief Rodney Childers in 2027. 

Peterson Racing

Lee Pulliam, an established Late Model Stock Car driver who owns Lee Pulliam Performance, a Late Model organization where many up and coming drivers have gotten their start, announced that he will be competing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time for Peterson Racing in the No. 87 Chevrolet. Pulliam made his series debut earlier this season while driving the JR Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway, and he finished an impressive fifth.

“So many people have helped me get to this moment in my career and believed in me along the way,” Pulliam said. “This proves that hard work and determination is still rewarded today.”

Richard Childress Racing

Carson Brown who has raced for Lee Pulliam Performance on the Late Model Stock Car level, is set to replace Jesse Love at Richard Childress Racing in the No. 2 Chevrolet. He’ll be teamed with with previously mentioned, Smith. Brown comes to Richard Childress Racing with an impressive Late Model resume and experience in the ARCA Menards Series. He also debuted in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series earlier this year at Iowa, when he finished 15th for Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport.

NASCAR Cup Series

23XI Racing

Riley Herbst will be leaving 23XI Racing and will be replaced by Corey Heim. The number in which Heim will run has not yet been confirmed; however, Heim has two wins (San Diego Street Course & Indianapolis Motor Speedway) so far this season in the No. 67 Toyota Camry.

Hendrick Motorsports

Alex Bowman will retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after 2027, and it was announced that Connor Zilisch will take over the ride in 2028.

Legacy Motor Club

Legacy Motor Club will expand to three teams, the driver of the third team has not yet been announced. That driver will join Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek.

Richard Childress Racing

On the NASCAR Cup Series side of the Silly Season, Austin Hill will continue driving the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, replacing the late Kyle Busch. Only one other driver in this era of racing has had to endure the aftermath of losing an iconic driver and having to succeed and that driver was Kevin Harvick, who was moved to the NASCAR Cup Series after Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s fatal incident in the 2001 Daytona 500.

“I’m trying to get to know these guys on a personal level outside of the racing world, and just to show them that I care about these guys more than just what the results are on the racetrack.” Hill said. “As a human being, I really appreciate the conversation that Kevin [Harvick] and I had. I could sit here and talk all day about some of the takeaways from it, but one of the biggest things that stuck with me is that you’ve just got to be that guy. You’ve got to be that leader. I’ve been trying to do that as best I can.”

Wood Brothers Racing

Jesse Love will replace Josh Berry in the Wood Brother’s No. 21 Ford.  

Wrap-Up

NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have extended their contracts with their respective organizations are: AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

With only 10 races remaining in the regular season for both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Aeries and eight races remaining in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, drivers and organizations will look to close deals for 2027 soon. The Silly Season is in full swing with more changes to come.