Joe Gibbs Racing Confirms Taylor Gray in Car No. 54 for the 2027 O'Reilly Series Season

Taylor Gray will continue driving the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GR Supra number 54 in the 2027 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. The agreement maintains the bond between Gray and crew chief Jason Ratcliff, with whom he has scored his two victories in the category. Gray, who currently sits 12th in the overall standings with three races remaining to close out the regular season, described Ratcliff as a mentor who has helped him both on and off the track. "I feel like we've developed a very strong relationship that goes beyond racing," said Gray, who in 2026 has accumulated a win at Kansas, three top‑fives and eight top‑tens.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

With 539 points, Gray holds 12th place, the final playoff‑qualifying position, with only a one‑point lead over Brent Crews. Rajah Caruth is close behind with 522, and William Sawalich, his teammate, has 518. The margin is minimal, and Gray arrives at the final three races of the regular season under pressure to defend a position he already secured in 2025, when he finished seventh in the overall standings in his first full‑time season. His win at Kansas in May remains his only victory of the year, and since then he has only added two top‑fives.

Joe Gibbs Racing maintains four full‑time cars in the category with Sawalich in the Toyota 18, Crews in the 19, Brandon Jones in the 20, and Gray in the 54. The number 19 car started the season with Gio Ruggiero as the driver at Daytona and Atlanta before Crews reached the minimum age to compete full‑time, and it has also featured Cup Series drivers such as Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe in select events. Of the four full‑time drivers, Gray has the highest average finishing position and is the only one who has not yet secured his spot in the final phase. Ratcliff, with 59 wins in the series and eight different drivers led over his career, is the main guarantee to turn things around in a season finale that will determine whether Gray makes the Chase or misses out for a second consecutive year.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Heather Gibbs, co‑owner of the team, said that Gray's work ethic is what she values most and that she hopes the end of 2026 will serve as a foundation for next year. Gray will have to resolve the inconsistency that has accompanied him throughout the season to turn continuity into a solid argument.