RFK, Keselowski deliver unexpected silly season news and now we sort it all out

It took until the final days of September, but Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing delivered another major piece of silly-season news on Tuesday.

Until the two sides announced they would part ways at season’s end, driver movement had been somewhat calm. That was the opposite of what was expected coming into the year, given how many contracts were up and the belief that more than one team would be looking to make moves. But it has ended up being a lot of driver extensions and organizations staying the course.

Alex Bowman deciding to retire after the 2027 season, which opened the door for Hendrick Motorsports to get Connor Zilisch, was arguably the biggest development. Well, until now. Because here comes Keselowski, who is not only a driver but also owns a stake in RFK Racing.

It seemed logical that Keselowski would stay behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford Mustang, and while it was always out there that he was in a contract year, it never became a major headline or question. But then came a question earlier this month about whether the team would make changes next year, and when it was announced after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway that crew chief Jeremy Bullins was leaving effective immediately, it hardly raised an eyebrow.

But in hindsight, maybe that question about change was not about team personnel at all. And then a deal with Keselowski was never announced.

So, with six races left on the calendar, there are now more questions than answers and decisions to be made. It starts with RFK Racing having two branches to sort out.

First, what becomes of the No. 6 car in 2027, with Keselowski no longer driving? There is always a driver with a helmet out there and ready for their chance, and others with a helmet and a check to go with it. In its announcement, RFK Racing noted that it “remains committed” to being a three-car team next year.

One of those cars, however, won't have a charter. At least for now, as RFK Racing continues to hunt for one. Does this open the door to making the No. 6 car the Open entry, with a charter for Ryan Preece? And with that, does it remain a full-time entry or get moved back to part-time? And even though the organization said that, as of September 29, it is committed to three teams, does that change and revert to two?

RFK says it'll still run three cars despite Keselowski's impending exit. Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Then comes the second part, a bigger part of the business regarding Keselowski’s ownership stake. Keselowski is not the majority or controlling owner, but a separation is never easy. Whatever happens there will be between the two sides and will not affect race fans or be visible otherwise, with Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group continuing to operate the organization.

Keselowski, meanwhile, is left standing in the cold and wondering what comes next for his career. At 42, the 2012 Cup Series champion is not ready to stop racing, as he made clear in his statement, and the future is yet to be announced.

It is not hard to look at the current Cup Series roster and see that there are not many, if any, seats available. And certainly not good ones. With how things shook out this season (going back to driver extensions already decided), the 2027 season appears set, and it wouldn’t be until 2028 that some more seats open.

Team Penske has not announced how long Austin Cindric is staying with the team. Trackhouse Racing has contracts coming up for both Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain. Those are just a few out there to keep an eye on. But again, that is a year away.

Of course, having someone of Keselowski’s caliber, who, although not at the peak of his career, is still a champion and solid veteran, could lead to an owner making a choice of Keselowski over who they have. Even if that means dealing with contracts and other details that need to be broken or sorted out. Never say never in this sport.

But it’s hard to see right now where he might land and how quickly things will move.

It’s also worth addressing the elephant in the room: Dodge. Keselowski had a history with the manufacturer, and they are working toward a return to Cup Series racing, with some believing it could happen as soon as 2027. There has been no solid news on that front, as Kaulig Racing has only acknowledged the hurdles of building an engine program, while there have been no leaks about car design, testing, or meeting NASCAR submission timelines. Of course, they could keep all of that close to the vest.

A reunion between Keselowski and Dodge shouldn't be ruled out, if only to, once again, never say never in this sport, but it is hard to see it happening in the immediate future.

It is a fascinating and somewhat shocking development for RFK Racing and Keselowski that landed on Tuesday. And it’ll only get more fascinating to see how it works out.