Brad Keselowski to leave RFK Racing’s No. 6 Ford after 2026
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 17, 2026
Keselowski departure
Brad Keselowski will leave RFK Racing’s No. 6 Ford after the 2026 season, closing a key chapter in his run with the organization and setting up a major change for both sides. RFK Racing announced the move and said it wants Keselowski to keep driving for one to three more years before he steps into a competition-director role. The team is also unwinding his ownership stake, and it says there are no non-compete restrictions that would block him from racing elsewhere.
Keselowski joined RFK Racing in 2022 and brought more than speed to the team. He pushed a no hoodies rule after he arrived, along with upgraded facilities and a stronger core-values message. His push for change gave the organization a different edge, even if RFK’s ownership structure limited how far he could take that influence. The departure marks the end of a stretch that began with high expectations and a clear attempt to reshape the culture around the team.
RFK still intends to field three full-time cars in 2027, so the team plans to keep its overall footprint intact even as one of its most visible drivers prepares to move on. The announcement also gives the organization time to manage the transition and decide how Keselowski fits into its long-term structure.
RFK Racing’s plan
RFK Racing’s plan points to a staged handoff rather than a clean break. The team wants Keselowski in the seat for a little longer, then in a leadership role that would keep his experience inside the organization. That approach gives RFK a veteran driver for the near term and a potential competition director down the line. It also shows the team sees value in his racing knowledge beyond what he provides behind the wheel.
The ownership unwind adds another layer to the move. By separating his stake from his driving future, RFK has given Keselowski room to explore what comes next without a contractual roadblock. The team’s message is clear, it wants to keep him involved if the relationship can continue in a different form, but it is also preparing for a future in which he is no longer driving one of its cars.
Fifth Third Bank is expected to end its sponsorship of RFK Racing after the 2026 season, but the planned departure is unrelated to that decision. That keeps the focus on Keselowski’s role rather than the sponsor change. RFK’s broader goal remains the same, preserve continuity while it adjusts the structure around one of the team’s most important names.
Keselowski’s next move
Keselowski has not announced his plans for 2027, but he says he is nowhere near ready to stop driving. He is exploring options and has already mentioned a possible full-time Craftsman Truck Series ride. He also hopes to decide his immediate future within two months, which gives the next stretch of the schedule added weight as he weighs his options.
On X, Keselowski reacted with sarcasm to the news, saying, “Didn’t know so many people loved hoodies.” The comment fit the blunt tone he has carried during his time at RFK and tied back to one of the more visible changes he pushed inside the team. The hoodie rule became part of his identity there, just as much as his calls for better facilities and a more defined team culture.
The larger story now shifts to where Keselowski will race next and how RFK will adjust without him in the No. 6 Ford. The team wants to keep him around in a new role, and he wants to keep driving. That leaves both sides with a future still to be settled, even as the next phase is starting to take shape.
