Brad Keselowski picked RFK Racing over 23XI for owner-driver role
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 8, 2026
Keselowski and 23XI
Denny Hamlin reached out to Brad Keselowski about driving for 23XI Racing, but the move never came together. Hamlin said Keselowski wanted a large financial package and an ownership stake to sign with the team, and he said 23XI was not prepared to make that kind of offer. Keselowski wanted more than a seat. The 23XI proposal did not move forward, and Keselowski looked elsewhere for a package that fit both his racing and ownership goals.
RFK Racing deal
Keselowski found that fit at RFK Racing. He said Roush Fenway Racing already had a contract ready for him to sign, and he gave 23XI a chance to match the other offer. RFK became the landing spot, and Keselowski joined the organization as a driver and minority owner. He also took the No. 6 Ford for the 2022 Cup Series season. Hamlin said RFK could give Keselowski the ownership role he wanted, and he described him as an owner-driver there. The deal combined his driving role with an ownership position inside the same organization. That made RFK the better answer after the 23XI talks stalled.
RFK growth and future
Hamlin said RFK became much more competitive during Keselowski’s tenure, and he credited Keselowski with helping the organization win seven races since his arrival. That production gave weight to the decision to bring him in as both a driver and part-owner. Hamlin also said RFK could not agree to Keselowski’s request to keep racing for several more years, which leaves his next move tied to the next stage of his career. Keselowski is moving toward free agency for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, so the long-term question is back in play. The situation brings his career full circle in a way. He once pursued an arrangement that would have paired racing with ownership at 23XI, then took a similar path with RFK when that first option fell apart. Hamlin compared the choice to his own decision to start 23XI Racing because he wanted enough influence as an owner-driver. That comparison frames the story cleanly. Keselowski wanted a role with authority, not just a contract. He found it at RFK, and the results since then have backed up the decision.
