Hill Named No. 33 Driver for 2027

Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing on a full-time Cup Series basis in 2027, continuing in the renumbered ride after Kyle Busch’s death led to the change this season. Hill has been filling the No. 33 seat since Memorial Day, with the team confirming the full-time promotion but not disclosing the length of his contract. Despite struggles in Cup this season, including 15 starts without a top-10 finish, Hill is a proven winner in NASCAR’s lower levels with 16 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins and multiple Truck Series titles, and RCR executives tout his growth and work ethic. The announcement underscores RCR’s long-standing focus on developing top driving talent, a lineage that includes drivers like Harvick and Dillon, and signals Hill’s stepping-stone to a longer Cup opportunity. Hill expressed gratitude for the opportunity and stressed his readiness to help RCR move forward in the Cup Series, while acknowledging the significance of assuming a full-time role after a year of learning at the team.