JR Motorsports has been extremely successful in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, and that likely won’t change any time soon. Justin Allgaier is expected to return for a “couple of years” amid a career-year at the NASCAR level. With Allgaier back in the fold, how should JR Motorsports fill out its driver lineup?
Allgaier and Sammy Smith are the only drivers competing in all 33 races with JR Motorsports, and that shouldn’t be altered. Smith has been running well in recent weeks, while Allgaier continues to win races. However, what about Carson Kvapil and Rajah Caruth? If JR Motorsports can’t commit to running an entire schedule, it might make sense for one or both drivers to find a new situation.
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What about Josh Berry? The former JR Motorsports driver would slot right in next to Allgaier and Smith, becoming one of the championship favorites. The same can be said for Noah Gragson, who could be on the verge of leaving Front Row Motorsports after 2026. After all, JR Motorsports would be an unstoppable force if Allgaier, Smith, Berry, and Kvapil/Caruth were full-time.
Then, the fifth car could be used for select races with Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen. If JR Motorsports wants to win even more races, adding Berry or Gragson to the lineup would give them an even better opportunity. For now, it’s unclear if either driver will be realistic, but it is something that JR Motorsports should heavily explore.
More: 5 best Josh Berry landing spots for the 2027 NASCAR season
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: What JR Motorsports should do with O’Reilly driver lineup for 2027
