Brad Keselowski and Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing have reached a mutual agreement that will enable the former to compete with a different organization and manufacturer for the 2027 NASCAR season.
The news of the agreement was made by RFK Racing on Saturday, October 31, and an hour prior to Keselowski addressing the media at Martinsville Speedway at 11 a.m. ET on his whereabouts for next season. Keselowski chose the Martinsville weekend for his announcement instead of next weekend’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, citing it was, “out of the respect on what [the event] means for the [NASCAR] industry and the sport.”
As part of the mutual agreement, Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion from Rochester Hills, Michigan, will be a passive owner of RFK Racing and have his role in governing, overseeing RFK Racing’s competition and participating within the RFK board terminated. While addressing the media on Saturday, Keselowski announced that he will begin selling his 20% ownership stake in RFK Racing and not be taking any partners/sponsors from RFK Racing with him.
“When I joined RFK Racing, which would have been about five years ago now, I joined with the idea that it would be my forever home, that it would be where I would finish my career, transcend into management and ownership for the rest of my professional career in life,” Keselowski said during his news conference at Martinsville. “That was really where my heart was and it didn’t play out the way that we hoped that it would work out, but there were a lot of good things that did happen. I would say, objectively, I was able to be a part of taking this team up a level in kind of every measurable way. I’m proud of the people I got to work with and that we did that together with. No matter where this goes from here, that doesn’t change.”
The news of Keselowski’s departure from RFK Racing was first made on September 29, when it was announced that Keselowski will not be returning to drive RFK’s No. 6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry for the 2027 Cup Series season. Negotiations of Keselowski’s contract along with the driver’s vision of ownership with the organization commenced 11 months ago, which ultimately resulted with both parties not reaching an agreement.
“I wanted to keep driving and to continue my role in the competition group for many years to come,” Keselowski said. “There was more that I want to achieve and there is still more that I want to achieve behind the wheel. Unfortunately, what became very clear in the negotiation is my partners saw that differently and we were not able to come to an agreement. I will say that the interaction I had with my partners wasn’t adversarial. We just had a difference of opinion on how we best view the future of the company and the path forward for the team and for myself.”
At the conclusion of the 2026 Cup Series season, Keselowski will cap off a five-year partnership with RFK Racing that will accumulate to 180 starts during the span. Thus far, the Michigan native achieved a single victory with the organization, which occurred at Darlington Raceway in May 2024. He has also made the Chase twice (2023-24) and has notched a pole at Texas Motor Speedway in September 2022 along with 25 top-five results and 55 top-10 results through 178-scheduled starts. Keselowski, who is currently ranked in 19th place in the 2026 driver’s standings, has this weekend’s Cup event at Martinsville Speedway and next weekend’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to contend for victories and depart RFK Racing on a high note.
Currently, Keselowski’s whereabouts for the 2027 season remains to be determined, though he is open to compete for any organization and has opportunities granted for him to pursue now that he has received permission from RFK Racing to do so without any restrictions. In doing so, Keselowski, who remains committed to compete in the Cup division as his main priority, seeks to pursue the media/marketing partners to support his future endeavors.
“There are a number of opportunities in front of me in the Cup Series for 2027 and beyond,” Keselowski said. “There’s no doubt about that. I’ve had a number of outreaches. I’m not going to get into the details of what those are at this team, but I’m eager and willing to execute one of them and to be a part of the 2027 season as a manager in NASCAR and the driver. I truly believe I have what it takes to do that at the highest level with winning races and contending for championships, both as a driver and team leader. I’m certainly not ready to retire or walk away at any means from this sport.”
With his future plans in the works, Brad Keselowski’s 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season resumes on Sunday, November 1, at Martinsville for the Xfinity 500. The event’s broadcast time is slated to commence at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
