Here is a big move on the horizon: Will Rodgers is finally getting the full-time shot he has been working toward, as Motorsport.com reports. He will step into the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet to compete full-time in the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. That places him in the seat currently occupied by Patrick Staropoli, who took over the car from Nick Sanchez for 2026.
It is a massive step for a driver who has never before raced a full schedule at any of the national levels of NASCAR. Rodgers, 32, brings a resume built on 14 starts in the NASCAR O'Reilly Series dating back to 2019, alongside six NASCAR Truck appearances starting from 2021. He also boasts wins in the ARCA West and East divisions, showing a particularly sharp edge on road courses.
His character and work ethic align perfectly with us. We have tremendous confidence in his future and believe he is the right driver to lead this team into its next chapter.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Big Machine Racing full-time in 2027,” says Rodgers. “It’s been a long time coming and a tremendous amount of work to develop the opportunity to run a full season in the O’Reilly Series, and I can’t thank Scott Borchetta and Patrick Donahue enough for trusting me to represent the #48 car.”
Team leadership clearly believes the machine is in good hands. Team owner Scott Borchetta noted that the incoming driver brings undeniable speed, talent, focus, and experience, matching the work ethic of the garage.
“Will brings experience, talent, speed, and focus that are undeniable to Big Machine Racing,” said team owner Scott Borchetta. “His character and work ethic align perfectly with us. We have tremendous confidence in his future and believe he is the right driver to lead this team into its next chapter.”
The timing makes complete sense when you look at the garage's trajectory. Big Machine Racing has tasted victory before, winning a NASCAR O'Reilly race at Atlanta last year and taking a win with Tyler Reddick at Texas back in 2022. But the recent stretch has been tough; after three consecutive seasons placing 10th-11th in the driver standings, Staropoli slumped to 23rd in the championship without a single top ten finish. Now, the team resets for 2027 with a fresh face behind the wheel.
