標籤: silly

As of mid-May 2026, the road to NASCAR’s 2027 Silly Season is oddly quiet but already feels unusually crowded. There are over 20 Cup Series drivers going into contract years, and that alone is enough to get rumors flying long before anything is officially finalized.

Add in some volatile veteran situations, some fast-rising young drivers and ongoing charter pressure in the paddock, and we’ve got the early signs of a market that could change rapidly after the first dominoes fall. But in reality things are moving surprisingly slowly.

Kyle Busch remains the dominant domino in the field

At the center of it all is Kyle Busch and his situation with Richard Childress Racing. For months, there was real noise about a possible split. That chatter still hasn’t completely disappeared, but the atmosphere around the garage has changed. Industry reports indicate that despite the disappointing win, Kyle Busch should extend his contract to remain at RCR. Both sides have realized that there are few, if any, better options.

Still, nothing stays simple for long in NASCAR. If talks fail, Spire Motorsports continues to loom as the most logical alternative landing spot.

That scenario will rapidly ripple outward. One name often mentioned in that conversation was Daniel Suarez, who suddenly found himself under more pressure depending on performance.

And then there’s Jesse Love, a driver many see as already waiting for his Cup opportunity. If a seat opens up in RCR, he joins that conversation.

Bowman’s future at Hendricks unclear

Alex Bowman at Hendrick Motorsports is another position to watch. Nothing is changing officially yet, but the pressure is on. Bowman is approaching the end of his current deal through 2026, and Hendricks’ pipeline continues to get stronger year over year.

Names like Connor Zylisch and Corey Day are no longer just “future prospects” in the abstract, but they are actually real internal options.

So No. 48 looks like a seat that could become one of the most competitive seats in the garage.

Legacy, 23XI, and a growing youth movement

Momentum is building elsewhere too. Legacy Motor Club is preparing to expand to 3 full-time cars in 2027, and this opens up a huge opportunity.

Right now, Riley Herbst looks like the leading candidate for that seat, helped by his reforms and strong financial backing.

If that move happens, it could open up another series reaction at 23XI Racing, where Corey Heim is seen ready for a full-time Cup role.

However, Hem’s name keeps coming up again and again for a reason. He is considered one of Toyota’s most promising young drivers, and 2027 could finally be the moment he gets his chance.

RFK Racing and Charter Pressure Point

Then there’s RFK Racing, where the situation is more structural than driver-centric.

The team, co-owned by Brad Keselowski, is currently operating with two guaranteed charters. The third entry involving Ryan Preece was previously linked to a lease arrangement with Rick Ware Racing, but that charter has now reportedly been sold to Legacy for 2027.

This leaves RFK in a tricky position. Without another acquisition, they risk running a non-chartered car, which impacts everything from revenue to race access stability.

Depending on how things turn out, it could ultimately affect the futures of Keselowski, Chris Buescher and Preece.

Some teams have already locked their core

Not every story is about uncertainty. Ryan Blaney has secured a long-term deal with Team Penske after signing an extension a few weeks ago.

Denny Hamlin will remain with Joe Gibbs Racing until 2027.

William Byron is committed to Hendrick through 2029, and Tyler Reddick has also made a long-term commitment to 23XI Racing.

Right now, it’s quiet. Almost deceptively so. But that’s usually how these things start. A contract decision, a charter move, an underperforming season, and suddenly the entire 2027 driver market may not look so stable anymore.

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Kyle Busch has been the subject of speculation over NASCAR’s silly season for months, with many wondering if the future Hall of Famer will stick with Richard Childress Racing. What seemed like a foregone conclusion is no longer the case.

NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that it now appears “increasingly likely” that Busch will sign a new contract with RCR. The hope is that both parties will “stick together” and eventually sign a long-term agreement.

RELATED: What’s happened during and since Kyle Busch’s winless streak

Busch has now won 105 races without a Cup Series victory and is currently 24th in points, behind teammate Austin Dillon and slightly ahead of Erik Jones.

The issues resulted in RCR making another crew chief change for the No. 8 team with Jim Pohlman being replaced by Andy Street. It’s a move that appears to be paying off, with Busch finishing in the top-10 twice in the last three races, and would have made it three consecutive top-10s had he not gotten revenge against John Hunter Nemechek on the final lap at Texas.

Another reason Bush could re-sign with RCR. Hendrick, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and 23XI Racing don’t want him and clearly don’t see the 41-year-old as an upgrade from what they have. This potentially leaves a return to RCR as the best of Bush’s limited options.

RELATED: NASCAR All-Time Cup Series Winners, Including Kyle Busch

Who can replace Kyle Busch at RCR?

While Richard Childress Racing would obviously like to bring Busch back to the No. 8 car for the 2027 season, they have options. If he decides to leave or his contract demands become too high, there are two names to keep in mind as replacements.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

The most obvious RCR prospect is Jesse Love. In his age-21 season, Love is already a part-time driver for RCR in the No. 33 car and is poised to win the Xfinity Series this season.

Reigning Xfinity Series champion Love was previously looked at as an option for Legacy Motor Club in 2027 before their search focused on Riley Herbst. One reason for this could be the hope that Love is destined to occupy the number 8 car.

If RCR determines that Love is not quite ready for a full-time seat at the Cup Series level, the team could give Austin Hill a chance. He has proven to be far better racing in the lower levels than in the Cup, but he may be a short-term option until Love takes over.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A New York Jets insider this week revealed the unexpected reason why the team prefers to use the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft on David Bailey instead of Arvel Reese.

After another disappointing season in 2025, the Jets are in good position heading into next week’s draft. While they don’t have the No. 1 overall pick at the event, they might as well as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in Round 1. This allows the Jets to select the most talent-rich player available this year.

There is a lot of speculation about who that player will be. However, most mock drafts and expert opinions point to the Jets selecting Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey or his Ohio State counterpart Arvel Reese. The reason a lot of people are divided on them is the perception that Bayley is better right now, with Reese having a much better fit.

Well, it seems like the Jets’ decision makers aren’t thinking long term and want to get better immediately after a three-win season.

Do the New York Jets want David Bailey because he can make an impact quickly?

During a new appearance on the gang is all here podcast, Jets insider Brian Costello claimed that many around the NFL are convinced Bailey will be the choice for two reasons. First of all, Glenn is feeling the pressure of losing his job and needs a player who can be very good now, not later. The second reason is that Bailey is a “plug-and-play” talent. On the other hand, it is unclear where Reese will play in the NFL as an EDGE or outside linebacker.

Costello believes it would be a poor decision by Glenn and management to draft a player based on what they can do for them now rather than in the long term. However, this is the opinion of sources around the NFL as to how the Jets’ brain trust will view this incident.

Jets fans will find out which way the team goes during the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft next week.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos