NASCAR Silly Season Tracker: Josh Berry Out Of Wood Brothers Ride In 2027

Two current Cup drivers hold the keys to the NASCAR silly season. And one isn’t even in a contract year. Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) is the most high-profile driver who is not signed for next year. Whether he continues at Hendrick Motorsports could determine how silly season evolves. The other driver who is key is Connor Zilisch, who is signed through next season. He’s one of the most heralded prospects and Trackhouse is struggling. Could he sign early with another team — much like Tyler Reddick did a few years ago, a move that eventually led to him leaving a year early at season’s end? It’s possible. Obviously, there are things that can’t be predicted. The devastating death on May 21 of Kyle Busch leaves a much bigger void beyond a seat in the Cup Series. It will likely take some time for Richard Childress Racing to determine how it will move forward for 2027. The most recent silly season development came on June 10, when Josh Berry confirmed he had been told by Team Penske that he would not be back in the No. 21 car next year. Here is how things look at each organization, in order of owner points following the May 31 race at Nashville. 23XI Racing That news came less than two weeks after Corey Heim was announced as a full-time driver, replacing Riley Herbst. Tyler Reddick just signed a contract extension. Bubba Wallace is in an option year and would expect him back. Joe Gibbs Racing It would be a surprise if JGR has any changes for next year. Ty Gibbs isn’t expected to be going anywhere and Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell are signed beyond this season. The one thing that JGR might need to anticipate is Hamlin retiring from full-time racing after 2027 then having to fill that ride. Brent Crews, who drives for JGR in the O’Reilly Series, is the team’s focus on the development driver side who could be Cup ready. Hendrick Motorsports Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and William Byron are signed through next year. Bowman is the question and not just because it could be time for a change. He’s also in limbo because of injuries that have sidelined him three times over the last five years. The team does have Corey Day competing in the O’Reilly Series but he’s likely a year away. Although his recent performances — including victories at Talladega and Dover — have some thinking he could move up for 2027. Zilisch is also a possibility. It wouldn’t be out of the question to extend Bowman for another year until HMS can lock down one of those drivers. It also wouldn’t be out of the question if Bowman decides he is too beat up to continue racing. Team Penske With Ryan Blaney having recently signed a contract extension, Team Penske has its former champions Blaney and Joey Logano under contact. Austin Cindric doesn’t have a deal yet for next year. He’s 16th in the points, and it appears all those ahead of them could very well return to their same rides next year. RFK Racing Ryan Preece, at 19th in the standings, is a driver whose future appears mildly unclear. RFK likely will have just two charters for next season (it is leasing one that will go to Legacy Motor Club next year) but it also has strong sponsorship from Kroger and its vendors to the point where running Preece as an open car next year is definitely a possibility. But he still needs to sign a deal. Chris Buescher (eighth in the standings) and Brad Keselowski (15th) will most likely return to their seats, although Buescher certainly has talent to continue to get some interest from other organizations. Keselowski will race at RFK until he is ready to retire, which he says won’t be for several more years. Spire Motorsports Spire Motorsports has Carson Hocevar locked in long-term, while Michael McDowell and Daniel Suárez are not. Spire has shown the willingness to eat a year of a contract to get a driver it wants. But who would that be at this point? Suárez is ninth in the standings and McDowell is 29th. Spire, which has an alliance at Hendrick, also could be a spot for Day or Zilisch or Bowman, if Hendrick needs to find a Cup spot for any of them. Trackhouse Racing All three Trackhouse drivers — Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen and Zilisch — are signed at least through next season. Zilisch is the one who could be on the move if there is enough money that money talks. Only van Gisbergen (14th in the standings) is having a season to be happy about as Chastain is 24th and Zilisch is 34th. Front Row Motorsports Zane Smith signed a contract extension last year that has him solid at FRM (which is good for FRM as Smith has surged to 22nd in the standings) and team owner Bob Jenkins and sponsor Love’s like Todd Gilliland (25th), who should get renewed. Noah Gragson? He’s a strong personality but hasn’t had the results that would wow many, as he sits 29th in the standings. Would FRM move Layne Riggs or Chandler Smith to Cup? That depends on sponsorship most likely. And now that Berry is available, he could be considered a candidate for an opening at FRM but, again, sponsorship likely would be needed. Legacy Motor Club Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek could very well return next year, although some improved performance since April (Jones is now 18th in the standings) is an indication of progress at the organization. Legacy will add a third chartered car next year as well and that is the expected landing spot for Riley Herbst. Kaulig Racing Neither AJ Allmendinger nor Ty Dillon are locked in at Kaulig next year. The organization is in a tough spot without manufacturer support, and it would be a mild surprise and a huge scramble for Dodge to enter Cup in 2027. Any changes to this lineup are still TBD. Allmendinger is 21st in the standings; Dillon is 31st. If Kaulig does make a change, Josh Berry could be a candidate, but he currently doesn’t bring sponsorship. Hyak Motorsports Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (23rd in the standings) signed a contract extension in May and is set to remain with the organization. Richard Childress Racing Austin Dillon is expected to return in 2027 as he sits 27th in the standings. Who will fill the open seat is still to be determined. Austin Hill has been the driver of the renumbered No. 33 car for a few weeks, and he will be a candidate for that car long term. If the car continues to have sponsorship from alcohol, THC and nicotine pouches, that could require a driver who is 25 or older, as those companies typically want someone who doesn’t look close to being underage. Wood Brothers Josh Berry confirmed June 10 that he will not return to the team after this season. He sits 30th in the standings. Jesse Love, the defending O’Reilly Series champion, is a candidate for this ride. Haas Factory Team Cole Custer hasn’t had a good year (he’s 33rd in the standings) but whether a change is made is debatable as the team appears to be still trying to find its footing. He did have a respectable month of May. Rick Ware Racing As long as RWR doesn’t sell, this should remain Cody Ware’s ride.