The 2027 NASCAR Cup Series will be the 79th season for NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States and the 56th season for the modern-era Cup Series. The preseason will feature the Wheatley Vodka Clash at Daytona International Speedway, the first time back for the event since 2021, on February 13. It will be followed by the season-opening 69th running of the Daytona 500 on February 21, and will end at Homestead–Miami Speedway on November 14. [1]
The season will mark the first full time season without Kyle Busch starting a race since the 2002 season, following his death on May 21, 2026. [2] [3] [4]
The following teams and drivers are confirmed to be returning in 2027:
| Manufacturer | Team | No. | Driver | Crew chief | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Haas Factory Team | 41 | Cole Custer | Aaron Kramer | Cole Custer will return to HFT in 2027. [5] |
| Hendrick Motorsports | 5 | Kyle Larson | Cliff Daniels | Larson is signed through 2031. [6] | |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Alan Gustafson | Elliott is signed through 2027. [7] | ||
| 24 | William Byron | Rudy Fugle | Byron is signed through 2029. [8] | ||
| TBA/48 | Alex Bowman | Blake Harris | Bowman is returning to HMS for 2027 for his final full-time season. [9] With Jimmie Johnson running the No. 48 at the Daytona 500, Bowman will run a different number for the race. [10] | ||
| Hyak Motorsports | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Mike Kelley | Stenhouse will return to Hyak in 2027. [11] | |
| Kaulig Racing | 10 | Ty Dillon | Andrew Dickeson | Ty Dillon is likely to return to Kaulig in 2027. [12] | |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Trent Owens | Allmendinger will return to Kaulig in 2027. [13] | ||
| Richard Childress Racing | 3 | Austin Dillon | TBA | Dillon is likely to return to RCR in 2027. [12] | |
| 33 | Austin Hill | Andy Street | Kyle Busch had a contract to drive for RCR in 2027, [14] before his passing in May 2026. [15] Austin Hill is signed for 2027. [16] | ||
| Rick Ware Racing | 51 | Cody Ware | Billy Plourde | Cody Ware is likely to return to RWR in 2027. [12] | |
| Spire Motorsports | 7 | Daniel Suárez | Ryan Sparks | Suárez is returning to Spire in 2027. [17] | |
| 71 | Michael McDowell | Travis Peterson | McDowell is likely to return to Spire in 2027. [12] | ||
| 77 | Carson Hocevar | Luke Lambert | Hocevar is signed through 2030. [18] | ||
| Trackhouse Racing | 1 | Ross Chastain | Brandon McSwain | Chastain is likely returning to Trackhouse in 2027. [12] | |
| 88 | Connor Zilisch | Randall Burnett | Zilisch will stay at Trackhouse for one more year before his planned departure to Hendrick. [14] [19] | ||
| 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Stephen Doran | Van Gisbergen signed a multi-year extension with Trackhouse during 2025. [12] [20] | ||
| Ford | Front Row Motorsports | 4 | Noah Gragson | Grant Hutchens | Gragson signed a multi-year extension with FRM during 2026. [14] [21] |
| 34 | Todd Gilliland | Chris Lawson | Gilliland signed a multi-year extension with FRM during 2026. [14] [22] | ||
| 38 | Zane Smith | Ryan Bergenty | Smith signed a multi-year extension in 2025. [23] | ||
| RFK Racing | 6 | TBA | TBA | Brad Keselowski will leave RFK Racing as both driver and owner after 2026. [24] [14] | |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | TBA | Buescher signed a multi-year extension in 2026. [25] | ||
| Team Penske | 2 | Austin Cindric | Brian Wilson | Cindric will return to Penske in 2027. [26] | |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Jonathan Hassler | Blaney signed a long-term contract extension with Penske during 2026. [27] | ||
| 22 | Joey Logano | Paul Wolfe | Logano will return to Penske in 2027. [28] | ||
| Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Jesse Love (R) | TBA | Josh Berry will not return to WBR in 2027. [29] Love signed a deal with the team to replace him. [30] | |
| Toyota | 23XI Racing | 23 | Bubba Wallace | Charles Denike | Wallace is likely to return to 23XI. [12] |
| 35 | Corey Heim | TBA | Heim will replace Riley Herbst for his first full-time season. [31] | ||
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | Billy Scott | Reddick signed a multi-year extension with 23XI during 2026. [32] | ||
| Joe Gibbs Racing | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chris Gayle | Hamlin will return to JGR in 2027 for what is expected to be his final full-time season. [33] | |
| 19 | Chase Briscoe | James Small | Briscoe is likely to return to JGR in 2027. [12] | ||
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Adam Stevens | Bell will most likely return to JGR in 2027. [12] | ||
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Tyler Allen | Gibbs is likely to return to JGR in 2027. [12] [14] | ||
| Legacy Motor Club | 42 | Josh Berry | Chais Eliason | John Hunter Nemechek was originally announced to return in 2027, [34] however news broke on September 1 that he will not return to LMC. [35] A week later, LMC announced that Berry would replace JHN. [36] | |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Justin Alexander | Jones will return to LMC in 2027. [37] [38] | ||
| 84 | Riley Herbst | Jeremy Bullins | LMC will add a third chartered car in 2027. [12] Herbst was announced the driver on September 3. [39] Bullins was announced to be the crew chief on September 23. [40] |
| Manufacturer | Team | No. | Driver | Crew chief | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford | RFK Racing | 60 | Ryan Preece | TBA | Preece has a multi-year contract with RFK. [24] [41] |
| Manufacturer | Team | No. | Driver | Crew chief | Races | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Spire Motorsports | TBA | Corey Day | TBA | TBA | [42] [43] |
| Ford | Garage 66 | 66 | Josh Bilicki | TBA | 1 | [44] |
| Toyota | Legacy Motor Club | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chad Johnston | 1 | [10] [45] |
On January 16, 2026, Ford announced their Mustang Dark Horse SC will be debuted this season for all of its teams. [46]
On September 29, 2026, Brad Keselowski announced that he will leave the RFK Racing ownership group. [24]
Following the death of Kyle Busch on May 21, 2026, Richard Childress Racing's No. 8, now renumbered to the No. 33, was left without a driver. [47] Austin Hill would take his place for that weekend's Coca-Cola 600, as was announced just hours before his passing, and later the remainder of the season. [48] Hill was announced to pilot the car in 2027 on August 24. [16]
Riley Herbst would not return to 23XI Racing for 2027, with Corey Heim stepping up to fill his slot at the team. [49] On September 3, 2026, it was confirmed Herbst would be driving for Legacy Motor Club in their newly opened third team.
Josh Berry would not return to Wood Brothers Racing for 2027, with Jesse Love stepping up to fill his slot at the team. Berry would move to LMC replacing John Hunter Nemechek. [35] [36]
Brad Keselowski announced on September 29, 2026, that he will be leaving RFK Racing as driver and owner in 2026. [24]
Jesse Love is the only expected rookie for 2027 so far, having signed a deal to race with Wood Brothers Racing in place of the outgoing Josh Berry. Austin Hill and Corey Heim will both be racing in their first full time Cup Series season in 2027, but will not be eligible for Rookie of the Year due to them both having already surpassed the 12 race limit.
The 2027 schedule was fully unveiled on August 26, 2026, and consists of 32 ovals, 3 road courses, and 1 street course, as well as 3 non-championship races to be held on ovals. [1]
Notes: Race names and title sponsors are subject to change. Not all title sponsors/names of races have been announced for 2027. For the races where a 2027 name and title sponsor has yet to be announced, the title sponsors/names of those races in 2026 are listed.
Bolded races indicate an event generally known as a Crown Jewel race.
O Oval track
R Road course
S Street course
The races at Richmond Raceway, Watkins Glen International and New Hampshire Motor Speedway return to "The Chase" for the first time since 2021, 2024 and 2025 respectively. [53] [54] [55] The Wheatley Vodka Clash will return to Daytona International Speedway for the first time since 2020, replacing Bowman Gray Stadium. [56] [51] Bristol Motor Speedway's Bass Pro Shops Night Race returns to its traditional August weekend, after six years in The Chase. [57] The NASCAR All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway as it was from 2023 to 2025. [58] Due to that change, Dover Motor Speedway regained its points race after a one year-hiatus. [59]