Brad Keselowski Selling 20% RFK Stake Triggers Major Charter Realignment for 2027

Brad Keselowski has begun the process of selling his 20% equity stake in RFK Racing, triggering a major charter and lineup realignment for the team heading into 2027.

The move ends Keselowski's four-year tenure as both driver and co-owner at the organization he joined in 2022.

Keselowski will not return to the No. 6 Ford next season, and his departure has set off a chain of changes across RFK's three-car stable.

Ryan Preece, who won his first career Cup Series race this season at Daytona in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, will move from the No. 60 to the No. 6.

Derrick Finley will remain as Preece's crew chief, RFK announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Preece will become the sixth full-time driver to pilot the No. 6 for RFK, a number with deep history tied to the team.

The No. 6 has been driven by Brad Keselowski since 2022, but that era is now over.

Part of the reason for Preece switching to the No. 6 is that it is one of RFK's chartered entries in the Cup Series, along with the No. 17 driven by Chris Buescher.

Charters guarantee spots in every Cup Series race regardless of qualifying, creating a reliable and stable stream of revenue.

Charters are estimated to be worth about $100 million each.

The No. 60 raced with a leased charter this season from Rick Ware Racing, but that charter has been sold to Legacy Motor Club for next season.

That sale leaves RFK with two chartered entries — the No. 6 and the No. 17 — and raises questions about the future of the No. 60 entry.

FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass reported RFK's choice, sparking debate over what it means for the driver and team.

"As expected, Ryan Preece will change numbers and drive the No. 6 for RFK next season," Pockrass reported on X.

"Organization obviously wanted one of its charter drivers in that car number that has a history with the organization."

Preece moves to the No. 6 after Keselowski's exit, keeping RFK's flagship number chartered.

His No. 60 team, led by crew chief Derrick Finley, moves with him.

Some fans wanted the charter on the 60 so Preece could build his own identity.

"That's a shame," wrote a fan on Pockrass' post.

"Really was hoping they would of moved the charter to the 60 and let him build a legacy with it."

There is a case for that view.

Preece finished 18th in 2025 with three top-fives and 14 top-10s.

This year, he won the Clash at Bowman Gray and his first Cup points race at Daytona, earning his first Chase appearance.

"Seems like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic," wrote another fan.

That comment reflects unease over Keselowski's departure.

He joined RFK in 2022 as driver and co-owner, shaping its direction.

The revival, including three wins in 2023, was tied to changes he introduced.

With Keselowski leaving and RFK seeking a new head of competition, fans see a key figure go.

"So stupid. I don't like it. He's done drove the 60 for 2 years. Now ur just swapping his number and identity," was the sentiment of another fan.

"Unfair to the fans who already have a lot of his 60 merchandise. Coulda easily just put the charter on the 60 instead of the 6."

Preece built a following through his New England roots and NASCAR climb.

For fans who backed him in the No. 60, the number became part of his story.

Merchandise represents loyalty; changing numbers can feel like losing that connection.

Not every reaction was critical.

"Makes sense," wrote a fan.

"The 6 means a lot at RFK, and putting a charter driver in it keeps that history alive. Preece earned it."

The No. 6 is central to RFK's identity.

Jack Roush brought it to Cup in 1988 with Mark Martin, who won 35 races through 2006.

Martin made the number synonymous with RFK.

David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Newman, and Keselowski later drove it.

Keeping it chartered preserves the history.

"Ryan deserves to have a part in the legacy of that car," wrote another.

"Dudes a h*** of a wheelman and it's good he's getting his flowers this far into his cup career."

Preece has a personal history with the number.

He drove the No. 6 for Ed Partridge in the Whelen Modified Tour, winning 14 races.

Their final victory came at Richmond in 2021, hours before Partridge died.

It links Preece to the man who shaped his career.

"Ryan has a history with the #6 so I'm fine with it," recalled one fan.

"All the merchandise will be different anyway if the team name changes."

That connection makes the move more than branding.

Preece drove the No. 6 in Modified racing and can add to a number associated with Martin and Keselowski.

His crew remains intact; this is a number change, not a team reset.

"To be trusted with the 6 means more to me than I can put into words," Preece said in a statement.

"When you think about what this number means to RFK Racing, you think about Jack Roush, Mark Martin and everything they built together. To know this team believes I'm the right person to carry that number into the future is incredibly humbling."

"I like Ryan Preece because he's a racer, plain and simple," Martin said in a statement.

"He came up the hard way, and he's had to fight for everything he's gotten. That's something I respect. When he gets in a race car, he gives you everything he's got, and he's not going to be satisfied just riding around. That number means a lot to me, and I think Ryan is a great fit to carry it forward."

"When I say the No. 6 feels like home, it's because it represents more than racing," Preece said.

"It represents the people who believed in me, the relationships I've built, and the memories that got me here. To have the opportunity to carry that number into the next chapter of my career means more than I can put into words."

The unresolved issue is the No. 60.

RFK's third charter was leased from Rick Ware Racing for the 2026 season, but that charter has now been sold to Legacy Motor Club.

That means the No. 60 entry has no guaranteed starting spot for 2027 unless RFK acquires another charter.

Charters are scarce.

Only 36 charters exist in the Cup Series, and they are not regularly available for purchase.

With charters estimated to be worth about $100 million each, acquiring one is a significant financial commitment.

Keselowski's sale of his 20% equity stake adds another layer of complexity.

Selling that stake generates cash for Keselowski but also reduces his influence over the team's future direction.

RFK Racing is now seeking a new head of competition to replace Keselowski's role in the organization.

The team has not announced who will fill that position.

The charter realignment also affects the competitive balance of the team.

Chris Buescher remains in the No. 17, which is RFK's other chartered entry.

Buescher has been a consistent performer for the team, but he now carries the weight of being RFK's highest-finishing driver in 2026.

Preece moves to the No. 6 with momentum from his Daytona win and Chase appearance.

But the team's third entry remains uncertain.

How will RFK Racing fare long-term after losing Brad Keselowski as both a driver and co-owner?

The history of the No. 6 at RFK Racing began when Roush Racing started competing in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1988.