After spending two years with the Haas Factory Team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driving the number 41 car, Sam Mayer will be returning to JR Motorsports to drive the number one car in 2027. The communications service Starkey will serve as the primary sponsor on Mayer’s car.
Mayer is an eight time winner in the O’Reilly Series with seven of those victories coming while he drove for JRM.
Prior to driving for JRM in the O’Reilly Series, Mayer drove Late Model cars for JRM.
Speaking on his return to JRM, Mayer said, “I am really happy to be back with JR Motorsports and back behind the wheel of the number one Chevrolet. I’m really grateful to continue my career with the organization that gave me my start and thankful to Starkey for being an incredible partner and for their continued support in my racing career. There is still some racing left to do this year and I am focused on that, but I can’t wait to get the 2027 season underway at Daytona with JRM.”
Spread across four cars, JRM won a total of 15 of the 27 races that have been run so far. One third of The Chase drivers come from JRM – four of the 12.
JRM team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr spoke on Mayer saying, “I think he’s a different dude than when he left. And I think he also appreciates us a little more. … I don’t want that to sound the wrong way, but I think he realizes he was in a really good spot with us. And we’ve really worked hard to try to figure out how to put around him what he needed to win and be successful mentally, really. So I think he’s excited, and we worked with him all the way through the Late Models and all that so it’s very familiar. He’ll be a nice addition to what we’ve got going on.”
With the departure of Sammy Smith from JRM and the number eight car in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Carson Kvapil is moving over to the number eight car for next season.
Mayer and Kvapil will join fellow JRM driver Justin Allgaier who has dominated the O’Reilly Series this season.
Other Silly Season News…
Josh Berry has finally earned a ride for the 2027 season; driving the number 42 car for Legacy Motor Club. Berry will be replacing John Hunter Nemechek who at the moment does not have a ride for the 2027 season.
Also joining the Legacy Motor Club, Riley Herbst will be driving the new addition to the team – the number 84 car.
Richard Childress Racing has announced that replacement driver Austin Hill will be moving in to the 33 car full time for the 2027 season. Hill was called up to drive the eight turned 33 car after the death of Kyle Busch in May.
Getting a jump on things… Hendrick Motorsports has announced that they have signed Connor Zilisch to replace Alex Bowman in the 48 car beginning 2028 with a multi-year contract. Bowman announced that the 2027 season would be his final as a full time driver in the Cup Series. Zilisch current drives for Trackhouse Racing and will continue in that car for the 2027 season.
Noah Gragson will remain in the number four car at Front Row Motorsports. Teammate Todd Gilliland will also remain at Front Row Motorsports.
Ryan Preece will remain at RFK Racing next season to driver the number 60 car. After signing a multi-year contract, Chris Buescher will also remain at RFK Racing; joining Ryan Preece and team co-owner Brad Keselowski.
Over the past few seasons, AJ Allmendinger has switched back and forth between the Cup Series and the O’Reilly Series. Kaulig Racing has announced that Allmendinger will remain with Kaulig and in the Cup Series.
Jesse Love will be moving up from the O’Reilly Series and Richard Childress Racing to drive the Wood Brothers number 21 car next season.
After taking a year away from full time driving, Corey Heim will be joining 23XI next season to driver the number 35 car. Tyler Reddick has signed a multi-year contract to remain at 23XI and the number 45 car.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr has signed a multi-year contract to remain at Hyak Motorsports and the number 47 car.
Ryan Blaney has signed a long-term contract to remain at Team Penske and the number 12 car.
Kyle Larson has signed a five-year contract extension to remain with Hendrick Motorsports and the number five car.
The Hurricane will be around for the foreseeable future after Carson Hocevar has signed a long-term contract with Spire Motorsports to drive the number seven car.
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Hendrick Motorsports has signed Corey Day to a contract extension in the number 17 car.
Jordan Anderson Racing has signed Daniel Dye to a multiyear agreement to driver the number 32 car full time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Brandon Jones has announced that he will remain with Joe Gibbs Racing and the number 20 car. Fellow JGR drivers William Sawalich and Taylor Gray will be returning for next season.
Losing both of his O’Reilly Series drivers, Richard Childress Racing has signed Chandler Smith and Carson Brown to driver the number two and 21 cars for next season. Smith will replace Austin Hill in the 21 car and Brown will replace Jesse Love in the number two car.
Lee Pulliam is getting a full time ride next season when he will drive the number 87 car for Petersson Racing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Dean Thompson will be moving over to the Haas Factory Team to drive new expanded third car in the O’Reilly Series next season.
Layne Riggs has announced that he will be returning to Front Row Motorsports to drive the number 34 truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. Riggs currently leads the point standings in the Truck Series.