CONCORD, NC — Around the rain-soaked NASCAR garages at Charlotte Motor Speedway ahead of the Bank of America 400, much of the focus is on the postseason Chase. The race on Sunday, Oct. 11 is the sixth of 10 races that will crown the sport’s champion.
But like the stubborn clouds hovering above the haulers, there’s another question that continues to linger, one that has nothing to do with any driver in the postseason.
What does the future hold for Brad Keselowski?
One of the most recognizable names in NASCAR, the 2012 Cup Series champion announced nearly two weeks ago that he would be leaving the team he co-owns — Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing — at the end of this season.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Oct. 10 inside the media center at Charlotte,
Keselowski remained tight-lipped regarding the details around his split from RFK.
“I don't really want to go deep into any of our stuff at RFK. I don't think it's prudent at this time. I would say that this was not something that happened overnight, for sure,” Keselowski said. “I have no comments on RFK at this time. You know, all that will work itself out and be clear over the next month or two.”
Keselowski joined RFK ahead of the 2022 season and took on a trio of roles as driver, co-owner and head of competition. There’s no arguing that Keselowski’s impact in the shop was massive. Before his arrival, RFK drivers had not won a race in four seasons. Since Keselowski came aboard RFK, they’ve won seven races in five years and this season put two drivers — Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece — into the postseason Chase.
But last weekend during a press conference at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, RFK President Chip Bowers said the team “wanted Brad to start focusing more on his role in competition” and wind down his racing career.
That’s where the two sides strongly disagreed and reached an impasse.
While the 42-year-old Keselowski has captured just one checkered flag in his five seasons piloting the No. 6 Ford for RFK — winning in 2024 at Darlington — he doesn’t see himself getting out from behind the wheel anytime soon. Keselowski said he would “love to” drive for another three-to-five years, but that’s not “mandatory” for his next contract.
“It’s where my aspirations are, for sure,” Keselowski said. “There's always things that come up that surprise you, unique deals. The book of the things that could have come together but didn't come together and (the media) never found out about is pretty thick.”
Where will Brad Keselowski drive in 2027?
On the surface, the problem for Keselowski seems to be that there aren’t many — if any — open opportunities in the top-level Cup Series in 2027. In the game of musical chairs that is NASCAR’s Silly Season, most of the seats have already been filled.
Corey Heim is coming up to 23XI Racing, Riley Herbst and Josh Berry will join Legacy Motor Club, Jesse Love will fill the seat of the No. 21 Ford at Wood Brothers, and Austin Hill will remain in the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing after replacing the late Kyle Busch midseason after Busch's sudden death in May. Austin Cindric confirmed on Saturday that he will return to Team Penske next season to continue driving the No. 2 Ford, the ride that Keselowski captured 34 of his 36 Cup Series victories in.
Some fans have speculated online about Keselowski potentially replacing Ty Dillon at Kaulig Racing — considering Kaulig’s connections with Dodge, the manufacturer of the machine Keselowski powered to a championship in 2012 — but Kaulig CEO Chris Rice threw cold water on that theory recently during an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
“No, I have not had any conversations with Brad Keselowski about driving a Dodge, even if Dodge comes back, right? Obviously, we’re super late, you’re not hearing me talk about it much, so that should tell you what’s happening,” Rice said. “We have a plan of what we’re going to do in 2027 — it’s already done.”
Should a ride in the Cup Series not come to fruition, Keselowski said last week at Las Vegas that he’s “absolutely interested” in competing in the Truck Series next year, but was hesitant to commit. Still, considering the news of Kasey Kahne returning to trucks, it would obviously be fun to see two of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers battle it out for a championship. Should that happen for Keselowski, he would be the first driver in the sport’s history to win a championship in each of NASCAR’s three national touring circuits — a triple crown of sorts.
So, where will Keselowski go? What are his plans? What are the options he’s weighing?
“This is kind of the fun,” Keselowski said of figuring out what his next move in NASCAR will be. “I've had plenty of time to see the writing on the wall that this was going to be a scenario. … I’m in a pretty good place of looking forward, not backwards.
“Change is a part of life. It's not always the best or most fun part of life. But, you know, life is a bit of a roller coaster, and when it stops, you're dead. The highs and lows keep coming, and it just means I'm not dead.”
Brad Keselowski NASCAR career
Keselowski is the third-oldest active driver in the Cup Series and is currently riding a 90-race winless streak. The Michigan native missed the Chase this season by two spots in the points standings and failed to make the playoffs in the old format last year.
Still, Keselowski remains one of the most decorated and well-known drivers in the sport. He made his NASCAR debut at the age of 20 in 2004 in the Truck Series, and by 2009 had his first win in the Cup Series, taking the checkered flag at Talladega. Keselowski won the championship in the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2010, then two years later won the Cup Series title.
Early in his career, Keselowski earned the nickname “Bad Brad” for his aggressive driving style, unwillingness to bow down to veterans and penchant for clashing with other drivers like Kyle and Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon. He went on to assemble a Hall of Fame-worthy resume.
In addition to Keselowski’s Cup Series championship, he has won three crown jewel races, taking victories at the Southern 500 and the Brickyard 400 in 2018, and the Coca-Cola 600 in 2020. His 76 combined checkered flags across the three national touring circuits ranks 12th all-time.
Still, Keselowski feels like he has more to accomplish.
For example, he hasn’t won a Daytona 500 yet and he’s just four Cup Series victories away from 40, a mark only 21 drivers have ever met.
“I know I’m capable of winning more,” Keselowski said. “I’ve only won once in the last five years, but I think about like, eight or nine second-place finishes and a lot of should’ve-would’ve-could’ves that were outside of our control. I feel like, in tier one equipment, I can win a lot more races.”
Similarities between Brad Keselowski and Mark Martin
Keselowski likens this point in his career to where Hall of Famer Mark Martin was when Martin left what was then Roush Racing at the end of 2006. Martin — who also drove the No. 6 Ford — won just two races in his final four seasons with Roush before moving to a part-time schedule with Dale Earnhardt Inc. over the next two seasons.
Then, in 2009, Martin joined what many describe as the New York Yankees of NASCAR — Hendrick Motorsports. In his first season piloting the No. 5 Chevrolet, Martin snapped a 97-race winless streak at Phoenix, then captured checkered flags at Darlington, Michigan, Chicagoland and New Hampshire. Martin was 50 years old that season and finished second in championship points to Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson.
“People were looking at (Martin's) recent success and saying he couldn't do it. He got the right opportunity. … He was super competitive and could win races,” Keselowski said. “When you're not in the right opportunity, it doesn't matter who you are as a driver. I don't think (RFK's) cars are awful, but clearly we're not tier one.”
Keselowski then referenced a quote from another Hall of Fame driver, Kevin Harvick: “You can't make a slow racecar go fast.”
As the 2026 season nears its end, fans will be watching with great interest and anticipation to see if Keselowski can find a fast racecar to pilot in 2027.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for Brad Keselowski in NASCAR? 'I can win a lot more races'
