Where Does Josh Berry Go in 2027?

What’s Happening?

Josh Berry’s free agency saga has already taken the NASCAR community by storm, so what could 2027 look like for the veteran driver?

Josh Berry will not return to Wood Brothers Racing in 2027. The 35-year-old confirmed yesterday that the team informed him it will not exercise his 2027 contract option.

While Berry is not the first free agent on the board for 2027, the Tennessee native is the first driver out of his ride with no hot rumors as to where he could land, with fellow free agent Riley Herbst rumored to be heading to Legacy Motor Club after his ousting from 23XI Racing.

So, what are Berry’s options, and where have NASCAR fans theorized that he could land in 2027?

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing is in a difficult situation entering this offseason following the passing of Kyle Busch, who was set to return to the No. 8, now No. 33, team in 2027.

While the team plans to round out the 2026 season with Austin Hill behind the wheel, RCR needs to look for at least a short-term option to pilot their No. 33 next season.

Hill could be an option alongside his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teammate, Jesse Love; still, each has their own issues with their candidacy.

Hill lacks experience in the Cup Series, and Love, despite his success at lower levels, could be locked out of the seat due to his age relative to the team’s pre-existing sponsorships.

So, some fans have already suggested that Berry, as a veteran race winner, could be a solid fit for the team until they can get 17-year-old ARCA Menards Series prospect Carson Brown ready for Cup.

But unlike Hill or even Love, Berry brings little in the way of sponsorship, something that has proven to be a major roadblock for Berry throughout his accomplished racing career.

Front Row Motorsports

While they may not have an opening at the current moment, there are a lot of rumors surrounding Front Row Motorsports’ second-year driver Noah Gragson.

Gragson, who joined the team after bouncing from Legacy Motor Club to a shuttering Stewart-Haas Racing, has not had the best go of it, and, per reports from insiders like Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, the team could move on from Gragson at year’s end.

While Berry might not be an upgrade over his former SHR teammate (and it would be odd seeing him back in the No. 4), he could hold down the spot while FRM continues to prep Layne Riggs for a spot in the Cup Series.

As far as this theory goes, some fans are already asking just how long Riggs might be willing to wait out a spot in Cup with FRM, given his success in the Craftsman Truck Series over the past three seasons.

Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing currently exists in a limbo state amongst the Cup Series garage. In reality, most fans feel that the team is just buying time until Dodge has its Cup Series program ready.

For now, the team is just passing time while rumors swirl that Dodge could return in 2027 or 2028, with many feeling 2028 is an unrealistic timeline.

Still, the team needs to field a second car in 2027, and if they were to move away from Ty Dillon after just two seasons in the No. 10, Josh Berry could again be another short-term option while the team, and presumably Dodge, get their feet under them.

Nonetheless, this decision for the driver of the No. 10, or even the No. 16 (as Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reports, neither of Kaulig’s two drivers has a contract for 2027), could come down to sponsorship, something that has time and time again been rumored to be a problem for Berry.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

When NASCAR fans first heard that Berry was going to be a free agent for the 2027 season, a large majority almost immediately posted photos of Berry during his time at JR Motorsports.

This was the height of his NASCAR National Series career, after serving as JRM’s late model driver for years, Berry literally won his way into a full-time ride at JRM for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, before doing the same to earn a full-time Cup Series ride.

While Berry still has a close relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr., unlike last season, the 2027 Silly Season rumor mill for the OAP Series garage is much quieter than the Cup Series.

Regardless, many fans have suggested that once Justin Allgaier retires (if that ever happens), Berry could take over as the veteran cornerstone of JRM, just like Allgaier and Regan Smith before him.

Of course, for now, Berry has yet to announce his plans for 2027, and with the wild rumors surrounding NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season, there’s no telling where he could end up by Daytona.

Stay close to the on-track action this weekend and every weekend by following our Race Weekend Dashboard for everything you need to know before, during, and after the race. Share your thoughts by joining the discussion on Discord or X, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for further updates.