Noah Gragson is running out of road. Sure, he secured a second year with Front Row Motorsports, but let’s be real. He’s getting thoroughly outclassed by Zane Smith and Todd Gilliland. It’s embarrassing. Meanwhile, Layne Riggs is breathing down his neck, waiting for the inevitable slip-up. So, where does the driver of the No. 4 Ford end up when the music stops in 2027?
The smart money says he’s going down. Specifically, a return to JR Motorsports in the O’Reilly Series. It makes sense. Riggs is practically begging for a Cup Series promotion, and the No. 4 seat has his name written all over it. For Gragson, swallowing his pride and dropping back down to the lower tier might actually save his dying career. Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward.
Could Richard Childress Racing throw him a lifeline? Maybe. But putting Gragson in the No. 33 Cup car feels like a stretch, especially with Austin Hill putting up solid numbers after taking over for the late Kyle Busch. Gragson wants to stay in the big leagues. Obviously. But let’s face it: winning races in the O’Reilly Series beats running 25th every Sunday in Cup.
