Brad Keselowski free to race elsewhere in 2027 after RFK Racing agreement
Brad Keselowski is free to look for a new NASCAR team for 2027 after reaching an agreement with RFK Racing on Saturday, 31 October. He confirmed the deal at Martinsville Speedway and can now talk to other teams about driving, managing or owning a team next season.
Keselowski, 42, has not yet signed a deal for 2027, and he said a return to driving is not guaranteed. “There are a number of opportunities in front of me in the Cup Series for 2027 and beyond,” he said. “I’m certainly not ready to retire or walk away in any means from this sport.” Staying in the Cup Series is his priority, he said, but he is open to the Truck Series.
Under the agreement, Keselowski will begin selling his 20% ownership stake in RFK Racing and will stay on only as a passive investor, with no role on its board or in its competition department. He also said he had offered to buy the team outright, but the offer was turned down, and he cannot take any of RFK’s sponsors with him.
He joined the team before the 2022 season as a driver and part-owner, when it was renamed RFK Racing. In September, the team announced he would leave the No. 6 Ford at the end of the 2026 season, when his five-year driving contract ends. The 2012 champion has 36 career Cup wins but none since May 2024 at Darlington, and he has two races left with the team this season.
Why it matters
Keselowski is one of the biggest names without a confirmed seat for 2027, and his release comes late in the year, with most teams already set. His freedom to talk to any team or manufacturer opens up the driver market before the season ends. Selling his stake also ends a five-year experiment in which a top driver was also a team owner.
What happens next
Keselowski said he has had talks with several Cup Series teams but must work hard to get a deal done for next year. He also said there is a strong chance, though no certainty, that his old team, Brad Keselowski Racing, could return in the Truck Series. He will finish the 2026 season with RFK Racing first.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
