Keselowski, RFK Racing to split after 2026 Cup season

NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 29, 2026

Keselowski split

The move will set up one of the most consequential shakeups on the team side of the garage. Keselowski will finish the season in RFK Racing’s No. 6 car, but his long-term future with the organization is ending. He said he is “nowhere near ready to be done” and intends to keep racing, which leaves the veteran driver looking ahead to his next stop while still finishing his current run with RFK. The future of the No. 6 car also remains unsettled, and Keselowski’s next team has not been decided. That makes the next stretch a transition period for both sides, with one of the sport’s most recognizable names preparing for a new chapter and RFK Racing facing key roster and structure decisions at the same time. The split gives Keselowski time to complete the season before moving on, but it also closes the door on a partnership that has included him as both a driver and team owner.

RFK Racing direction

RFK Racing said it respects Keselowski’s wish to pursue opportunities elsewhere, and the move came after a disagreement with Fenway Sports Group over the team’s direction. That puts the focus on how RFK wants to operate going forward, and the organization has already moved to address the next phase of its competition structure. RFK said it will begin searching immediately for a new head of competition, a clear sign it wants to keep the group moving without delay. The team also expects Keselowski to give up his ownership stake in RFK Racing, and RFK said it will work with him on the next steps involving that stake. That ownership piece matters because Keselowski has been more than a driver in the organization. He has also been part of the business side of the operation, and the split changes that dynamic as the team prepares for a future without him in the garage and, eventually, without him in the ownership mix. The move resets the top of the organization and puts pressure on RFK to fill leadership gaps while keeping its on-track plans intact.

RFK Racing 2027

RFK Racing still plans to be a three-car Cup organization in 2027 and will continue pursuing a third charter, which keeps the long-term structure of the team aimed at growth rather than contraction. That goal gives RFK a clear target even as Keselowski prepares to move on. The organization also plans to field Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece as its two full-time drivers in 2027, giving the team a known base of talent for the next phase. What remains unresolved is the shape of the third entry and who will occupy Keselowski’s former seat if the team reaches that point. The future of the No. 6 car has not been determined, and Keselowski’s next destination is still open. Those two unknowns keep the story fluid, but RFK’s direction is already clear. It wants to maintain a three-car footprint, keep pushing for the charter that would support that plan and build around Buescher and Preece as it moves into the next season.