RFK Racing is having a successful start to the 2026 NASCAR season, but faces challenges as all three drivers may be free agents with only two charters available for 2027. The team currently leases a third charter, which will not be available next season.
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RFK Racing is enjoying a strong start to the 2026 NASCAR season with Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher all in the top 13 in points. Unfortunately, one of them might have to race unchartered in 2027.
The Athletic‘s Jordan Bianchi reported this week that RFK Racing is facing an offseason where all three of its drivers become free agents and the team only has two charters for next season.
RFK has been leasing a third charter from Rick Ware Racing, but that will no longer be available for 2027. Unfortunately for the team, there also aren’t any charters likely to become available.
There was some speculation that Hyak Motorsports could sell a charter, but it just signed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to a multi-year contract extension. Meanwhile, Legacy Motor Club is already adding a third charter for next season and none of Kaulig, Wood Brothers Racing or Front Row Motorsports is making a charter available.
Keselowski, a co-owner of RFK, intends to remain a full-time driver for the next several seasons and seems unlikely to give up his chartered status. As for Buescher, his excellent on-track results and history with RFK make a new contract and receiving the second chartered spot likely.
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The good news for Ryan Preece, as noted by Bianchi, is that he does still have backing from sponsor Kroger. The supermarket chain reportedly has interest in remaining partnered with RFK, but having an unchartered third car could have some impact on negotiations.
Running unchartered would mean that Preece needs to qualify for every race. That won’t be a problem for a majority of the season, with fewer than 40 cars entering races. However, it could be a bit more of an issue for some of the biggest races of the season when there are 40-plus entrants.
RFK Racing may have an unchartered driver in 2027 because they currently lease a third charter that will not be available next season, and all three of their drivers will be free agents.
RFK Racing has two charters for the 2027 season but is leasing a third charter from Rick Ware Racing, which will not be available next year.
Currently, there are no charters likely to become available for RFK Racing, as other teams are either extending contracts or adding charters.
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A more costly impact would affect the entirety of the No. 60 team. Racing unchartered means receiving a lower payout for results in each race, with multiple NASCAR executives telling Bianchi it would mean the No. 60 team losing out on $5-plus million in earnings next season.
Unfortunately for Preece and his team, that might also be the most cost-effective option for RFK Racing given the exorbitant cost ($80-plus million) of acquiring a charter.
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