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.
The team had previously considered fielding the No. 33 Chevrolet for superspeedway specialist Austin Hill during the offseason, particularly targeting the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, but ultimately chose not to enter the car in that race. Hill had faced intense competition to qualify, contending in a nine-car battle for just four available spots at the 200-lap event held at the high-banked 2.5-mile Daytona Beach oval. His focus instead remained on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where he secured another Daytona victory.
Jesse Love to Pilot No. 33 Chevrolet at Circuit of the Americas
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. This race, known as the DuraMAX Grand Prix, will mark Love’s initial road course competition in the Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing.
Love previously showed strong performances at COTA in the O’Reilly Series, finishing sixth in both 2024 and 2025 across two different track layouts. Although his Cup Series debut came in 2025 with three races for Richard Childress Racing and two for Beard Motorsports, none were on road courses, with his best finish being 24th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The No. 33 car plans to participate in more races this year, with the next confirmed appearance at Talladega Superspeedway in late April. Love, who has yet to race a superspeedway in the Cup Series but holds two career superspeedway wins in the O’Reilly Series, is expected to continue driving the car at that event.
Current Team Drivers and Entry Details
Richard Childress Racing’s existing full-time drivers remain Austin Dillon in the No. 3 Chevrolet and Kyle Busch in the No. 8 Chevrolet. Recently, at EchoPark Speedway (previously Atlanta Motor Speedway), Austin Hill nearly claimed victory driving for the team, although the No. 33 car was not entered.
The No. 33 Chevrolet will be the only non-chartered (open) car on the entry list for the upcoming races, as other open teams like the No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet and the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, driven by J.J. Yeley and B.J. McLeod respectively at Daytona and Atlanta, will not be competing.
Broadcast and Viewing Information for Upcoming Races
Fans can watch Jesse Love compete at the DuraMAX Grand Prix this Sunday, March 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET on Fox. The race will cover 95 laps around the COTA road course, offering viewers a glimpse of the 2026 season’s road course action. For those interested in streaming, a free trial of FuboTV is available to catch the live coverage.
Implications of Introducing a Third Car for the 2026 Season
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. With Jesse Love’s promising record and Austin Hill’s ongoing success in other series, this move positions Richard Childress Racing to broaden its competitive edge during the evolving NASCAR Cup Series season. How the third entry will influence the championship dynamics remains to be seen, but the expanded lineup suggests a strategic effort to strengthen the team’s overall performance.
