Impending Richard Childress Racing signing emerges | Sports News

Richard Childress Racing is closing in on a new signing after Chandler Smith parted methods with Front Row Motorsports.

Smith has established himself as one of the Truck Series’ prime performers, incomes 9 profession victories, together with 4 with Front Row Motorsports since becoming a member of this system forward of the 2025 season. The driver has been in sturdy type not too long ago, recording one win and 4 top-five finishes in his final six begins, highlighted by a fourth-place consequence at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday.

“Chandler Smith will not return to Front Row Motorsports in 2027,” the group mentioned in a assertion. “We would like to extend our gratitude to Chandler for being a great representative of our CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program. The list of accomplishments that he and the No. 38 team have obtained is impressive, with four wins to date over the past two seasons, and we wish him the best on his continued career path.

“The group will stay dedicated to competing on the highest stage within the sequence and contending for championships, for the rest of 2026 and past. Additional updates on our 2027 plans will probably be shared when obtainable.”

The Georgia native brings significant experience across NASCAR’s top levels, having competed full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2023 and 2024. During that time, Smith recorded three wins, 25 top-five finishes and 36 top-10 results across 71 starts.

Smith has also made three Cup Series appearances, finishing inside the top 20 in each outing, including a career-best 11th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2023. With four Truck Series victories in two seasons, Smith is expected to be one of the most sought-after drivers available for the 2027 season as teams assess their line-ups following the playoffs.

Austin Hill has emerged as the leading candidate to take over RCR’s No. 33 full-time in the Cup Series in 2027. Hill has been behind the wheel since Kyle Busch’s passing in May and is predicted to proceed driving the car for the rest of the 2026 season whereas competing for the NASCAR O’Reilly title.

The 32-year-old’s expertise with RCR, sturdy sponsor relationship, and familiarity within the group are considered as key components in favor of a long-term deal. Hill has recorded a best end of 18th since taking on the car, though his marketing campaign included a crash whereas battling for the lead during a mid-race restart on the San Diego Street Course.

Should Hill transfer up to Cup competitors, RCR might create alternatives for rising prospects comparable to Carson Brown or Smith within the O’Reilly Series.

Smith has emerged as an intriguing option for RCR because the group considers its future driver line-up. The 24-year-old has endured a turbulent few seasons, coming close to securing a Cup Series alternative with Kaulig Racing earlier than his profession path stalled.

While his expertise has hardly ever been questioned, Smith has struggled to seek out the long-term stability needed to determine himself at NASCAR’s prime stage. However, his backing from sponsors comparable to QuickTie, which has supported him throughout all three national sequence, might strengthen his case for a transfer. If Hill does make the step up to the Cup Series in 2027, Smith might present RCR with an skilled presence alongside a developing prospect comparable to Brown.