Brad Keselowski to Leave RFK Racing After 2026 Season

Brad Keselowski will finish out the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford, then leave RFK Racing as both driver and co-owner. RFK Racing and Keselowski announced the split jointly on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, ending a run that began when Keselowski joined the organization as a co-owner in 2021. Neither side named a reason beyond Keselowski’s own desire to keep racing, and neither has said what comes next for him or for the car he’s driven since 2022.

What did RFK Racing and Brad Keselowski announce?

RFK Racing and Brad Keselowski announced on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, that Keselowski will leave both his driving seat and his co-owner role at the end of the 2026 Cup Series season. The announcement came as a joint statement from the team, ending a tenure that started when Keselowski took an ownership stake in what was then Roush Fenway Racing in 2021 and began driving the No. 6 car full-time the following year, after the organization was renamed Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing and later RFK Racing.

When does Keselowski’s time at RFK Racing actually end?

Not immediately — Keselowski is racing out the rest of the 2026 season in the No. 6 Ford Dark Horse Mustang before his departure takes effect. His final race for RFK Racing will come whenever the 2026 Cup Series season concludes in November 2026. Until then, nothing about his day-to-day role changes.

What did Keselowski say about leaving?

Keselowski framed the move as being about his own racing future, not a step toward retirement. “I’m nowhere near ready to be done as a driver. I still have a lot I want to accomplish,” he said in the joint statement. He added that he would share his next plans “when the time is right” — he did not name a destination team, and none has been confirmed, so we’re not speculating on one here.

What did RFK Racing say?

RFK Racing president Chip Bowers credited Keselowski with helping modernize the team during his tenure. In the organization’s statement, Bowers said: “Brad has been clear about his desire to continue competing for years to come, and we respect and support him in pursuing the path that best allows him to achieve those goals.”

What happens to Keselowski’s ownership stake in RFK Racing?

That is still unresolved. Keselowski took an ownership interest in the team when he joined in 2021, and both sides say they intend to “collaboratively and mutually work through the appropriate next steps” on that stake. No timeline for resolving it has been announced.

Who will drive the No. 6 car in 2027?

No replacement has been named. RFK Racing says it will announce future plans for the No. 6 car — along with a new head of competition, a role Keselowski also held — at a later date. Various names have circulated in NASCAR media speculation, but none has been confirmed by the team, so we aren’t naming any here.

Why are Keselowski and RFK Racing parting ways?

Neither party has given an on-the-record reason beyond Keselowski’s stated desire to keep racing and pursue other opportunities. One outlet reported the split stemmed from a falling-out with Fenway Sports Group over the direction of the team. That account has not been confirmed on the record by either Keselowski or RFK Racing, so it should be treated as an unconfirmed report rather than an established fact.

What does this mean for RFK Racing going into 2027?

RFK Racing says it still intends to field three full-time Cup Series cars in 2027. The team says it’s actively pursuing a third NASCAR charter and will address both the No. 6 seat and its competition-department leadership separately, on its own timeline.

Quick facts

What happens now

Keselowski’s remaining 2026 races with RFK Racing will play out as scheduled, and both his next racing home and his RFK ownership stake remain open questions the two sides say they’ll address separately. We’ll update this piece once RFK Racing names a replacement driver, Keselowski announces where he’s racing next, or the ownership stake is resolved — whichever comes first.