Richard Childress Racing Adds Third Car for 2026 NASCAR Season

New No. 33 Chevrolet to compete in select races including Daytona and road courses

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Richard Childress Racing will increase its presence in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series by introducing a third car, the No. 33 Chevrolet, after running only two full-time cars during the recent season. This new addition aims to compete in selected races including high-profile events like the Daytona 500 and road course competitions, underlining the team's strategic expansion.

Why it matters

The decision to add the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing car reflects the team's intent to diversify its foothold across various race formats, including superspeedways and road courses. This move positions Richard Childress Racing to broaden its competitive edge during the evolving NASCAR Cup Series season.

The details

Reigning O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love is slated to drive the newly added No. 33 Chevrolet in the upcoming NASCAR Cup race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the first road course event of the 2026 season. The No. 33 car plans to participate in more races this year, with the next confirmed appearance at Talladega Superspeedway in late April.

  • The DuraMAX Grand Prix at COTA will be held this Sunday, March 1, 2026.
  • The No. 33 Chevrolet will compete at Talladega Superspeedway in late April 2026.

The players

Richard Childress Racing

A NASCAR team that will be expanding to a three-car operation for the 2026 season.

Jesse Love

The reigning O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion who will drive the new No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.

Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing's existing full-time driver in the No. 3 Chevrolet.

Kyle Busch

Richard Childress Racing's existing full-time driver in the No. 8 Chevrolet.

Austin Hill

A driver who had previously been considered for the No. 33 Chevrolet, particularly for the Daytona 500, but ultimately did not compete in that car.

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What’s next

The No. 33 Chevrolet will next compete at Talladega Superspeedway in late April 2026.

The takeaway

Richard Childress Racing's decision to add a third car, the No. 33 Chevrolet, for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season demonstrates the team's intent to diversify its presence and competitive edge across different race formats, including superspeedways and road courses.