Following the 2021 season, Team Penske had shut down its Xfinity Series program. Austin Cindric had moved up to the Cup Series and replaced Brad Keselowski, and without any developmental driver present, it didn’t make sense to run the program. So could the team be thinking of potentially restarting it for 2026? After all, there are some rumors floating around that they have signed a new Xfinity driver!

Could it be a Ford driver? Well, there doesn’t seem to be much information available currently, but if you’d ask the hosts of the Closing Laps podcast, they would be more than happy to satisfy a bit of your curiosity. In their discussion from three days ago, Cameron, a former crew member of a NASCAR team, stated:

“There is a Penske driver. I am not going to say who because I want people to figure about who they want, who they think works or drives in the Xfinity. That you’ll never get. […] I mean, there will probably be a couple of people in the sport that know it, but other than, there’s, and he doesn’t drive a Ford.” The revelation that Penske poached someone from another manufacturer rules out Ford Performance stars like Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, and the Sieg brothers. It also eliminates Harrison Burton, recently cut from the Penske-adjacent Wood Brothers’ No. 21, and Connor Zilisch, who’s locked in with Trackhouse for their No. 99 Cup ride in 2026.

Matt from ‘Brake Hard’ responded to Cameron, “I was baffled. Like I genuinely was like, ‘There’s no way.’ And then talked to some other people and was like, ‘There’s a way.’ It doesn’t make sense.” Cameron further added, “When I told you, you were like, ‘No, that’s not true. Not at all. What?'”

For Matt, the rumor didn’t make much sense and so he stated, “You told me that at probably like four o’clock in the afternoon and I thought about it for a solid six hours until I finally like talked to other people.”

So let us say the team decides that this new driver is Cup-ready, where would he go? Joey Logano is in for the long haul and retirement isn’t on his radar yet. And Ryan Blaney is locked in, but Austin Cindric’s seat might be shaky after his father, Tim, was fired post-Indy 500 in 2025. Josh Berry’s Wood Brothers deal, tied to Penske and Ford, could also be vulnerable. The signing’s secrecy, paired with Penske’s history of bold moves, like signing Logano in 2009, has fans and insiders buzzing about who could be next to wear the Penske colors.

It is worth noting that a lot of things do depend on the lawsuit; 23XI Racing and FRM have taken NASCAR to court over charter disagreements. But, with the latest developments, it seems that both teams could be forced to field open cars, thus essentially putting their charters on the market.

Even if all six charters are not made available, NASCAR could overtake the two Stewart-Haas Racing charters. This allows the teams to make moves that, if not for Team Penske, other potential candidates like Legacy Motor Club or RFK Racing could pounce on this opportunity. This opens the door not just for the Penske-signed driver, but other candidates who are looking to graduate out of the Xfinity and Truck Series. However, poaching a talented young driver from the rival camp is indeed a big deal.

Who could be the secret Penske driver?

The rumor mill’s in overdrive, and a few Xfinity names stand out. Nick Sanchez, an underdog with Big Machine Racing, fits the bill. His Atlanta Truck Series win a few years back showed promise, but his Xfinity results have been mixed, and his team lacks a Cup pipeline. Sanchez’s fiery streak, seen in on-track spats, might raise questions about his readiness. Penske took a chance on a young, hot-headed Logano, but Sanchez’s emotional maturity could be a hurdle. Still, his hunger to reach the Cup Series makes him a candidate if Penske sees untapped potential.

Taylor Gray, a Joe Gibbs Racing rookie, has turned heads in 2025, outshining teammate William Sawalich. He was in contention at Martinsville before a late tangle with Sammy Smith. With JGR’s Cup lineup, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin, looking set, Gray might need to jump ship for a Cup shot. Penske’s resources and manufacturer ties could be the perfect landing spot for the young driver’s race-winning speed.

However, Jesse Love can also be a great choice. He might not be a seasoned driver, but he has been consistent and has two wins already on superspeedway like Daytona and Talladega. RCR has got their hands full at the moment, and even if there’s a charter on the market, they aren’t the favorite to go on aggressive expansion. Kyle Busch just signed an extension, and Austin Dillon pretty much has his place secured, so the earliest Love can find himself in an RCR car is 2027, which might be late for him.

Jimmie Johnson mentioned him on his podcast, and there’s been a rumor about LMC eyeing a move for Love back to the Toyota camp once they get their third charter. The young driver won the ARCA Series as a TRD driver, so he is indeed a good prospect. Then there is Corey Heim, but he is linked to 23XI Racing and has signed a developmental contract. Who knows, there is a buyout clause that Team Penske can trigger to get hold of him. Love and Heim are the two candidates who are Cup-ready, but do not have a clear path. What do you think?