RCR names Smith to No. 21, Brown to No. 2 for 2027
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 26, 2026
Smith takes No. 21
Richard Childress Racing is turning to Chandler Smith and Carson Brown for its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program in 2027, with Smith set for the No. 21 Chevrolet and Brown headed to the No. 2 Chevrolet on multiyear deals. The move gives RCR a new driver lineup in both cars and shifts two of its current prospects into different lanes at the top of the organization. Smith replaces Austin Hill in the No. 21, while Brown takes over for Jesse Love in the No. 2. Hill is moving to RCR’s No. 33 Cup Series car full time, and Love is set to join Wood Brothers Racing in Cup in 2027. The sponsor setup stays in place, with 1-800-PACK-RAT serving as the primary sponsor on the No. 21 and Whelen continuing with the No. 2. The announcement ties RCR’s Xfinity-level program to a broader pipeline that now reaches from ARCA and the Truck Series into Cup, with the team keeping its development path clear for the next stage of its roster.
Smith returns
Smith comes back to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series after two Truck Series seasons with Front Row Motorsports. He won four races there and added to a résumé that already includes nine NASCAR Truck Series victories. Smith also owns three wins in 71 career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, a record built during previous runs with Kaulig Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. That background gives RCR a driver with both series experience and recent success in high-level stock car competition. Smith has already shown he can win in different settings, and his move back to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series puts him back in the series where he has three victories on his record. The No. 21 seat also carries weight inside the RCR program, since Hill had held the ride before his move to Cup. Smith will step into a role that asks for pace, consistency and the ability to help keep the program competitive while the team works through a multiyear driver change. RCR made the choice with a clear emphasis on continuity at the top of the lineup and a proven race winner behind the wheel.
Brown joins
Brown brings a different profile to RCR’s No. 2. He is 17 years old and has spent this season in ARCA, while also getting his first taste of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Brown made his series debut at Iowa and finished 15th, a useful first step into a new level of racing. He also won his first ARCA race at Phoenix earlier this year and led every lap in that victory, a strong sign of control and speed in a stock car. RCR’s decision to move Brown into the No. 2 gives him a direct path from ARCA into a major national series seat. Whelen remains with the car, giving Brown a familiar sponsor backdrop as he makes the jump. The move also keeps the RCR driver ladder moving, with Love advancing to Cup and Brown taking over the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series slot. That gives the team another young driver in a prominent ride and leaves RCR with a refreshed lineup built around drivers who have already put results on the board in other series.
