Brad Keselowski won’t be returning as a driver for RFK Racing, the team he actually co-owns right now. This Tuesday, RFK Racing officially announced they’re parting ways with Keselowski after this season, a decision that followed some serious contract talks with the board hitting a brick wall. This guy, the 2012 Cup champion, first joined the team back in 2022 when he became a co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing.
The Ownership Twist And Keselowski’s Fierce Ambition
So here’s the kicker: Keselowski might not even co-own the team in the future. RFK said they’re gonna try and buy out his equity interest, with Roush Industries and Fenway Sports Group the R and the F in RFK, taking over. But Keselowski? He’s not just gonna fade away. He dropped a statement saying, “I’m nowhere near ready to be done as a driver. I still have a lot I want to accomplish in the sport, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.” You gotta respect that fire! He doesn’t have a controlling interest in the team, but it sounds like he still wants a piece of the action somewhere.
Why The Split Happened And What It Means For RFK
RFK President Chip Bowers spilled the beans a bit more this past Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. According to Bowers, Keselowski’s strong desire to keep driving long term is what caused the breakdown. RFK apparently wanted Keselowski to transition more into a competition role over the next two to three years. “It was clear that we wanted Brad to start focusing more on his role in competition,” Bowers said in a news conference. “I think he wants to continue to drive much longer than that, and that’s fine. We applaud that.” It was fine, but it still blew up the contract negotiations for his five-year driving deal. Funny how that works, right? Keselowski himself wouldn’t comment on the reasons for the split, but he admitted he’d had a “pretty good idea that this was in the works for the last few months.” He also let slip that he’s felt a few moments of anger as the reality set in, but he’s “in a good spot now” and humbled by the fan support. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’ve only managed one victory in five seasons with a team, especially that Darlington win.
What about RFK going forward? Bowers is adamant that the team will still run a third car full time, and Keselowski’s exit won’t mess with their sponsorships. They’ll only have two charters next year, so one car will operate as an open car. Ryan Preece, who was set for that open car, is now confirmed to be in the chartered car.
So, where does Brad Keselowski go from here? He’s not ruling anything out for 2027, even giving a “no comment” on a possible return to RFK, which, come on, that’s almost a comment! He’s getting offers, and he’s planning to make a decision in the next couple of months. Plus, he thinks it’s “doubtful” his days as a team owner are totally over. This isn’t just a driver change, it’s a co-owner getting bought out, and that’s a whole different level of drama. The clock’s ticking for Keselowski to find his next move, and we’re all watching to see where this champ lands.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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