Richard Childress Racing has decided against entering a fourth car for the 2026 Daytona 500, effectively ending Austin Hill’s hopes of making his Great American Race debut with the team. This decision, which centers on the Richard Childress Racing Daytona 500 program, comes as the competition for open entries in the season opener intensifies and team resources remain committed to their existing line-up.
RCR’s Focus Shifts Away from Extra Daytona 500 Entry
The upcoming Daytona 500 field will include 41 cars: 36 chartered spots and one Open Exemption Provisional, which has already gone to Jimmie Johnson and the Legacy Motor Club Toyota team. That leaves just four slots for non-chartered, open entries. With at least seven teams seeking to claim those final positions, making the race through an open entry is more challenging than ever before.
Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass addressed the unfolding entry situation by sharing:
“RWR spokesman told me they won’t field a second car and RCR has indicated unlikely a fourth car for Daytona.”
— Bob Pockrass, Fox Sports
This statement effectively ends speculation about Hill racing a No. 33 Chevrolet for RCR. Despite mounting interest around Austin Hill, who had been eyeing a Daytona 500 start after selected Cup Series appearances last season, attention from Richard Childress Racing leadership has shifted back to its primary two-car team. The organization remains focused on Kyle Busch’s No. 8 and Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet entries, with no new resources set aside for an additional superspeedway car for Hill.
Challenges Facing Open Daytona 500 Teams
Richard Childress Racing has not fielded a third Daytona 500 car since 2019, when Tyler Reddick attempted to qualify in the No. 31. Qualifying as a non-charter team has become increasingly difficult, as Austin Hill himself learned in 2023 when he fell short of making the race with Beard Motorsports. The technical partnership between RCR and Rick Ware Racing further narrows opportunities, since RWR has announced it will not attempt a second entry either.
This year, additional complexity arises because teams like RFK Racing and Front Row Motorsports will add fourth cars to their lineups for Daytona, making the battle for open spots even fiercer. For Hill and other drivers seeking a Cup Series breakthrough, the path is only becoming steeper as more established teams look to secure every possible position.
Austin Hill Continues with O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Expanded Sponsor Support
While racing in the Daytona 500 now appears out of reach for 2026, Austin Hill will return to full-time competition in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Richard Childress Racing announced that the Bennett Family of Companies will once again serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet, extending a successful multi-year partnership. Hill, entering his fifth year in the No. 21, also welcomes Distributor Wire & Cable to the program as part of a wider multi-car deal, bolstering the team’s financial strength moving into the new season.
NASCAR Introduces Chase Format and Sets Schedule for 2026
For the upcoming season, NASCAR will reintroduce The Chase playoff format across its three national divisions, including the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. In this format, twelve drivers will advance into the O’Reilly playoffs. The points reset after the regular season, shifting focus onto performance throughout the year, as points, stage wins, and overall results become more critical for postseason qualification.
The 2026 O’Reilly campaign launches with the United Rentals 300, held on February 14 at Daytona International Speedway and broadcast on the CW Network. This marks the first chance for Hill to compete under NASCAR’s revised postseason system, with all eyes on how he and other key drivers respond to the added pressure and heightened expectations.
Implications of Hill’s Daytona 500 Absence
The decision by Richard Childress Racing not to enter Austin Hill in the Daytona 500 highlights the increasing complexity and intensity of open entry competition at NASCAR’s signature event. With only a handful of spots available and more organizations entering additional cars, drivers like Hill must now look to alternate opportunities. As Hill focuses on chasing an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship and benefiting from a solid sponsor platform, his path to the Cup Series remains open for future seasons—though, for now, the Richard Childress Racing Daytona 500 story is paused.
RWR spokesman told me they won't field a second car and RCR has indicated unlikely a fourth car for Daytona. https://t.co/n96UFaI7dQ
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 20, 2026
