Brad Keselowski will leave the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford at the conclusion of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, RFK Racing announced Tuesday morning.
Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion, has driven the team‘s flagship entry as a driver and co-owner since the beginning of the 2022 season.
Keselowski has won 36 times at NASCAR‘s top level, ranking 25th on the Cup Series‘ all-time list just ahead of three fellow champions: Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who sit tied for 26th with 34 victories.
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“We are big fans of Brad as a person, driver, and colleague. The impact Brad has made on our organization has been felt by everyone associated with RFK Racing; he‘s undoubtedly been a terrific representative of our collective efforts both on and off the track,” RFK Racing president Chip Bowers said in a team release. “He was not simply driving the No. 6 car but investing himself in the future of the team and helping us think differently about what RFK Racing could become. We have tremendous respect for Brad as a champion, competitor, and leader, and we are grateful for the energy and commitment he has brought to RFK. 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. With several races still ahead, we look forward to competing together through the remainder of the season.”
A native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, the 42-year-old racer has one win since joining RFK Racing, claiming victory in the Goodyear 400 in May 2024 at Darlington Raceway. Through nearly five full seasons with RFK, Keselowski has collected 25 top fives and 55 top 10s in 174 starts. His most fruitful year with the organization arguably came in 2023, a winless year that produced 16 top 10s and an average finish of 14.5, his personal best in the No. 6 Ford while earning an eighth-place result in the final championship standings, also setting his high mark at RFK.
Keselowski did not immediately signal what is next and whether that includes any plans to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series, but the team indicated in a press release that the organization “supports his desire to explore his career opportunities elsewhere.” RFK also indicated that it intended to “collaboratively and mutually work through the appropriate next steps” with Keselowski’s ownership stake in the organization, adding that it has launched a search for a new head of competition, replacing Keselowski.
Keselowski has started every points-paying Cup race dating back to November 2009, a streak spanning 610 consecutive starts through the Sept. 27 race at Kansas Speedway. However, Keselowski missed the 2026 season-opening exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium after suffering a broken femur while vacationing during the NASCAR offseason in December 2025.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished at RFK over the past five years and grateful for the people I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside, including at Roush Enterprises and Fenway Sports Group,” Keselowski said in a statement shared on his social media accounts Tuesday. “So many great people have poured a tremendous amount into the competitive and technical transformation of this team, and I’ll always value the relationships we’ve built, everything we’ve experienced together, and what I learned as a co-owner and as the head of competition.
“I’m nowhere near ready to be done as a driver. I still have a lot I want to accomplish in this sport, and I’m looking forward to what comes next. I’m thankful for everyone who has been part of this journey and for the fans who continue to support me. I look forward to sharing future plans when the time is right.”
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In a press release, the team states: “RFK remains committed to competing as a three-car NASCAR Cup Series organization in 2027 and will continue its active pursuit of a third charter. The team will announce future plans for the No. 6 team at the appropriate time.”
In addition to his Cup Series success, Keselowski is also a 39-time winner in the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and ranks fourth all-time behind only Kyle Busch (102), Mark Martin (49) and Kevin Harvick (47). Keselowski also won the 2010 O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in a six-win campaign, besting longtime rivals Carl Edwards and Busch for the title.
The product of a racing family with deep roots in stock cars and motorcycles, Keselowski spent most of his career at Team Penske driving its iconic No. 2 car to 34 of his 36 victories, including the 2012 championship that marked Penske‘s first in NASCAR‘s top division.
Keselowski also owned and operated Brad Keselowski Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, fielding the team‘s first full-time entry in 2011 with driver Parker Kligerman. Among the drivers who got their starts with BKR are 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney, 2022 Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric, two-time Southern 500 winner Chase Briscoe and 2026 Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick.