NASCAR Silly Season is one of the best parts of the NASCAR season. The unexpected moves and surprising driver changes make for many exciting off-track storylines. There are many to go through for next year; here are some predictions for where some of the top drivers may land.
Riley Herbst to the third Legacy charter is all but confirmed for 2027. The young driver will continue to have the opportunity to extend his Cup Series career. It has been a difficult journey to begin with, but he has shown real progress this season with 23XI. The jump to an improving Legacy team would give him another chance to stick around in the Cup Series.
Jesse Love going to the #21 is an absolute home run for both sides. Wood Brothers Racing gets a young star from the outside, and Love gets a deserved shot at the Cup Series. This would set him up for an eventual climb to Penske, where he can really get his Cup career going. This, which is the most likely scenario, would be the best move of the NASCAR Silly Season.
Noah Gragson or Josh Berry makes the most sense to drive the RCR #33 in 2027. In this case, Gragson gets the nod. Sponsorship plays the main role in this, with the current sponsors wanting someone who is older than 25 years old. This rules out Love, making an outside addition most likely. Gragson has not found his footing in the Cup Series; maybe another move can get his career kickstarted.
Layne Riggs would be an awesome addition to the NASCAR Cup Series field, and perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2026-27 NASCAR Silly Season. In this scenario, he would replace Gragson, who would be moving to RCR. Riggs is the current points leader in the Craftsman Trucks Series, winning three races in twelve starts.
Corey Day has been fast-tracked every step of the way in his NASCAR career. He found early success in the ARCA series, carrying that over to the O’Reilly Series in 2026. This move would be in part due to the alliance Spire has with Hendrick Motorsports. Replacing Michael McDowell in the 71 next year would give Day a year of Cup experience to set him up for the #48 car next year when Alex Bowman is replaced.
Corey Heim has the only confirmed change so far during this NASCAR Silly Season cycle. He will take over the 23XI number 35 Toyota, currently driven by Herbst. This is an absolutely deserved opportunity, potentially a few years too late. Heim is the greatest driver in Truck Series history. His 2025 season saw him break the series record for wins (12), laps led (1,625), and stage wins (23). He ended up leading a lap in every race that season, ending in a championship victory in Phoenix.
Heim has had limited opportunities in the Cup Series so far, getting 12 starts in the #67. He has exceeded any expectations when driving that car, easily being the best open driver all season long. He has even found a way to lead 77 laps this season from the unchartered 23XI car.
Brent Crews is the expected Denny Hamlin replacement when the veteran retires. Getting him some Cup experience for Hamlin’s 23XI race team makes a ton of sense for the 2027 season. Heim will no longer be an option in the 67, allowing another driver to make some spot starts.
RFK will either need to acquire a charter or run an open car every week for Ryan Preece in 2027. HAAS is seemingly on its way out of the NASCAR Cup Series, making this the perfect match for a potential charter swap.
NASCAR will have a ton of fun storylines to follow this offseason, making for an awesome Silly Season experience. The best way to approach this time of the year is to expect the unexpected, and some of these predictions are just that.
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