{
  "id": 3526966,
  "title": "Richard Childress Racing announces new 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly driver lineup",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/richard-childress-racing-announces-new-2027-nascar-oreilly-driver",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T14:38:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motorsport.com",
    "slug": "motorsport-com",
    "url": "https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-os/news/richard-childress-racing-announces-new-2027-nascar-oreilly-driver-lineup/10849588/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Richard Childress Racing has unveiled its new driver lineup for the 2027 NASCAR O Reilly Auto Parts season. Carson Brown and Chandler Smith will join the team, replacing Jesse Love and Austin Hill. The 18-year-old Brown secured his first ARCA win earlier this year at Phoenix, leading every lap, and made his NASCAR O Reilly debut with Jordan Anderson Racing at Iowa, finishing 15th. He expressed his gratitude for being selected, promising to give his all to the team. Smith, 24, is a multi-year deal holder, having competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with nine career wins and ranked No. 3 in the 2026 Chase for the championship. In the secondary level of NASCAR, he boasts 71 starts, winning three races. He also made three Cup starts in 2023, finishing 17th or higher in each. Both drivers expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for this opportunity with Richard Childress Racing, emphasizing their commitment to hard work, improvement, and representing the organization.",
  "summary": "Richard Childress Racing has announced its new driver lineup for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts season, signing Carson Brown and Chandler Smith. Jesse Love to leaving the No. 2 to go race for the Wood Brothers full-time in Cup next year, while Austin Hill is leaving the No. 21 to race for RCR full-time in Cup next year as well. In their place, Brown (No. 2) and Smith (No. 21) will ... Keep…",
  "key_points": [
    "Carson Brown and Chandler Smith join RCR for 2027 NASCAR season.",
    "Brown, 18, won ARCA race earlier this year, made NASCAR O Reilly debut.",
    "Smith, 24, multi-year deal holder with 9 Truck Series wins."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Motorsport.com",
        "title": "Complete 2027 NASCAR schedule released for Cup, O'Reilly, and Craftsman Trucks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/complete-2027-nascar-schedule-released-for-cup-oreilly-and-craftsman",
        "published": "2026-08-26T15:33:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}