Should have been Josh Berry.
Richard Childress Racing has announced that Austin Hill has signed an extension that will keep him in the #33 car in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, a move that was widely expected but has come into question in recent days after it was reported that the two sides were at an “impasse” in contract negotiations.
In a statement released by the team, owner Richard Childress praised Hill’s progress as a driver as well as the work he’s put in this season:
“Austin Hill is a talented race car driver and his continued growth, work ethic and success across multiple levels of NASCAR competition have positioned him for his next step with RCR. He’s put a tremendous amount of effort into his career, especially this year with everything he’s taken on. We’ve watched Austin grow as a driver and as a person, and we’re proud to have him continue that growth with RCR in the NASCAR Cup Series.”
And Hill expressed his appreciation to Childress for giving him a chance in NASCAR’s top series:
“I’m extremely thankful to Richard and everyone at RCR for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Every race car driver dreams of competing full time in the NASCAR Cup Series, and to have that opportunity with RCR is something I don’t take for granted. I’ve learned so much this year about what it takes to compete at this level, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned during my time at RCR and apply it to this next chapter. I want to do everything I can to help this organization continue moving forward. I’m excited for what’s ahead and ready to get to work.”
The #33 car is, of course, the former #8 car that was renumbered after the passing of Kyle Busch on May 21. Hill, who drives for RCR in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, was originally scheduled to fill in for Busch in the #8 car when it was announced that he would miss the Coca-Cola 600 due to “severe illness,” but after Busch’s death the team announced that Hill would remain in the car for the rest of the season.
Since getting behind the wheel of the car back in May, Hill has scored only two top-20 finishes, including a season-best finish of 18th at Pocono in June. His lack of success in the Cup Series has led many fans to call for changes, especially after Josh Berry became available for the 2027 season.
Berry has been the driver of the #21 car for Wood Brothers Racing since 2025, and scored his first Cup Series win last year at Las Vegas. But it was a slow start for Berry this season as Ford struggled to get their Cup Series teams up to speed, and back in June the team announced that Berry would not be returning next season and would be replaced by O’Reilly Series driver Jesse Love.
But the past four weeks, Berry has ripped off a string of four top-10 finishes, including a third place finish yesterday at New Hampshire (that probably would have been a win if it weren’t for a slow pit stop near the end of the race that put him back in the field with the fastest car).
Despite his success in a car that’s historically not been as good as the other teams on the track, Berry still is without a ride for next season in any of NASCAR’s top three series, something that even Dale Earnhardt Jr. has expressed his disappointment about:
“I will be pretty disappointed in the landscape of this industry if he – in February at Daytona, he doesn’t have a full-time gig in one of the three. If he doesn’t have a full-time gig in Truck, O’Reilly, or Cup, I will be pretty damn disappointed.”
Unfortunately, there aren’t many Cup Series rides available for 2027, especially now that the #33 car is filled. Legacy Motor Club is expanding to 3 cars next season, but it’s widely expected that Riley Herbst will get that ride after it was announced that Corey Heim would be replacing him at 23XI Racing. (Riley brings significant sponsorship with him from Monster Energy thanks to his family’s ownership of a chain of convenience stores).
Kaulig Racing has not announced their plans for the #10 car for 2027, though CEO Chris Rice has confirmed that the team is in talks with Ty Dillon to return next year. The team is also facing a lack of manufacturer support after switching to Dodge in the Truck Series, and is widely expected to be the flagship team for the manufacturer when it returns to the Cup Series – though when that’s going to happen hasn’t been announced yet.
It seems that once the music stops, Josh Berry may be the one left without a chair, despite proving himself to be a winner and easily deserving of a Cup Series ride.
And now, there’s one fewer seat available in his search for job in 2027.
