RFK RACING
WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Date: September 13th, 2026
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway – Madison, IL
Format: 300 miles / 240 laps with three stages. Stage 1: Ends at lap 45, Stage 2: Ends at lap 140, Stage 3: Ends at Lap 240
RFK RACING RACE SUMMARY: RFK Racing showed up ready for battle with all three teams, giving their absolute all from the drop of the green flag to the final lap. Brad Keselowski led 55 laps and stayed in the hunt for the win, backed by strong pit stops and a fast No. 6 Ford Mustang. Ryan Preece and the No. 60 team fought handling issues, making steady adjustments to improve the balance and salvage a top 20 finish. Chris Buescher and the No. 17 team battled tight handling but used adjustments and strategy to gain track position before a blown brake rotor with 18 laps to go ended their day. RFK Racing showed the heart of a team that never backs down. Through every challenge, all three teams kept pushing, making adjustments, and battling for every position. The results may not tell the whole story, but the performance proved RFK Racing has the speed to run with the best—and this team is only getting stronger.
DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS
Brad Keselowski – No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 12th
Start: 23rd
Laps Led: 55
Stage Results: Stage 1: 10th; Stage 2: 3rd
Headline takeaway: Leading 55 laps and spending much of the race in contention for the win, Brad Keselowski had a fast car from the drop of the green flag and the No. 6 team backed it up with consistently strong pit stops that kept the veteran driver up front. A series of late-race cautions ultimately disrupted the team’s strategy and likely cost them a finish more representative of the speed they showcased. Even so, the No. 6 team fought with grit all afternoon and didn’t let up until the checkered flag waved.
Keselowski Quote: “We had a lot of bright spots today. Our pit crew was strong, it was one of our better cars of the year. The crashes hurt our strategy but all in all a really great day for the No. 6 Castrol team.”
Ryan Preece – No. 60 Kroger/International Delight Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 17th
Start: 21st
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: Stage 1: 31st; Stage 2: 7th
Headline takeaway: Ryan Preece battled an extremely tight race car for much of the day, reporting that the lack of front grip made it difficult to trust the car and at times impossible to drive. The team made several significant wedge adjustments throughout the race, gradually improving the balance and allowing Preece to gain spots in the field. Despite a frustrating start, the team continued to make gains and ultimately salvaged a top 20 finish.
Preece Quote: “I felt all over the place there at the start, but I knew this 60 team was going to work hard on this No. 60 Kroger/International Delight Ford Mustang for me to get it where I needed, we had some good runs today and overall, not bad for where I thought we’d be but obviously with the chase we want to be our best from start to finish, I have a fire lit under me so I am ready for what’s next at Bristol.”
Chris Buescher – No. 17 Bodyguard Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 27th
Start: 14th
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: Stage 1: 33rd; Stage 2: 29th
Headline takeaway: The No. 17 team fought a lack of front turn for much of the race, making multiple pit stop adjustments to improve rotation and overall balance. The handling showed moments of improvement at times, but Chris continued to battle through tight conditions and corner-entry tire chatter. Strategy calls helped the team gain track position and remain in the mix despite the persisting handling challenges. Unfortunately, a blown brake rotor with 18 laps to go ended the day before the team could see the checkered flag.
Buescher Quote: “That was just a tough one overall, not a lot of green flag runs and the tire chatter I had just never seemed to go away, just hoping to get the bad luck out now and head to the rest of these races better – Bristol and Kansas are ones I feel particularly strong at, I don’t think we have a bad track coming up so just need to stay motivated and we’ll be there when it counts.”
Point Standings:
Buescher: 13th
Preece: 14th
Keselowski: 18th
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is Saturday, September 29th at Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, TN). The race begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with live coverage provided by USA Sports and Motor Racing Network (MRN).
