Richard Childress Racing has revealed its revamped lineup for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
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Both of the team's cars in the secondary series will feature new drivers as Jesse Love and Austin Hill move up to the Cup Series. Love will join Wood Brothers Racing to drive the No. 21. Hill will remain with Richard Childress Racing while driving the No. 33 full-time.
According to an announcement, Chandler Smith will return to the O'Reilly Series after signing a multi-year deal. He will take over the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro moving forward. RCR development driver Carson Brown will take over the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro while taking on his first full season.
The next chapter starts now.🏁
Carson Brown and Chandler Smith are officially joining the Richard Childress Racing driver lineup for 2027. Welcome to the team.
Read more about RCR’s 2027 driver lineup at https://t.co/RDWDbVPKFk.@cbrownracing | @WhelenEng | @WhelenMTRS |… pic.twitter.com/bR1RG5pj1v
— RCR (@RCRracing) August 26, 2026
Brown has already achieved success in other racing series. He has won in the CARS Tour, ARCA Menards Series, and ASA STARS National Tour this season. The ARCA win, in particular, featured him leading all 157 laps at Phoenix Raceway.
Brown also made his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut this season. He drove at Iowa Speedway for Jordan Anderson Racing, and he finished 15th.
"I'm incredibly grateful to everyone at Richard Childress Racing and Whelen for believing in me," said Brown. "This is something I've dreamed about for as long as I can remember, and I know how rare and special it is to be in this position. What an absolute honor to drive for Richard Childress, and to be able to represent Whelen, an American-made brand that has invested so much into motorsports over the years.
"I don't take a single part of it for granted. I'm going to give everything I have and do whatever it takes to outwork, outlearn, and prepare myself every week. My goal is to work as hard as I can, continue to improve and give RCR and Whelen everything I have every time we go to the racetrack. I'm really proud to be part of this program."
Smith, a current championship contender in the Craftsman Truck Series, is no stranger to the O'Reilly Series. He has made 71 starts split between four teams, and he has won three races.
Smith joined the Kaulig Racing lineup on a full-time basis in 2023. He celebrated a win at Richmond Raceway, and he finished the season ninth in the championship standings.
The Georgia native then moved to the Joe Gibbs Racing lineup in 2024. He celebrated two wins while driving the No. 81, and he finished fifth in the standings.
Smith has spent the last two seasons competing in the Truck Series for Front Row Motorsports. He has won four races and locked up a spot in the playoffs both seasons.
"Chandler has earned this opportunity," said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "He has shown throughout his career that he knows how to win, he knows how to compete and he understands what it takes to be successful at this level.
"We've watched him develop, and we believe he has all the tools to be a great fit at RCR. The No. 21 has a lot of history with our organization, and we're excited to put Chandler in that car and give him the opportunity to continue building his career with us."
