Preece switching to RFK’s No. 6 for 2027

Ryan Preece will race under the No. 6 for RFK Racing beginning next season, the team announced Wednesday.

Preece will take over the number after Brad Keselowski departs the team. Keselowski has driven the car since 2022, when he partnered with Jack Roush as a driver and co-owner. But his tenure with the organization ends after this weekend.

As for Preece, he has been driving the organization’s No. 60 Ford Mustang for the last two seasons. However, the move keeps Roush’s connection and use of the No. 6 in play for the Cup Series, which he had fielded since 1988.

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

Preece will be the sixth full-time driver to use the No. 6 for RFK Racing. And the number is not unfamiliar, as Preece used the No. 6 for much of his Modified career.

“I drove that number for Ed Partridge, who was more than just a car owner to me. He was one of my best friends and someone who believed in me and helped fund me an opportunity that changed my life,” Preece said. “We didn’t know it at the time, but we won our final Whelen Modified Tour race together at Richmond in 2021. So, when I say the number 6 feels like home, it’s because it represents more than racing.

“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.”

Mark Martin is most famous for driving the No. 6 for Roush. Martin drove the No. 6 from 1988 to 2006 and won 35 races with the car number.

“I like Ryan Preece because he's a racer, plain and simple,” said Martin. “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.”

The team around Preece will remain the same, led by crew chief Derrick Finley. It is only a car number change. RFK had previously confirmed that Preece would be in a charter car next season. Chris Buescher will remain the other chartered entry for RFK Racing.

“Ryan Preece is a true racer, making him the perfect fit for the number 6," said Chip Bowers, president of RFK Racing. "The 6 car is symbolic in our organization and has contributed to some incredible memories in the Cup Series. Ryan is not just enthusiastic about the opportunity, but more importantly he’s embracing the expectations that come with taking the wheel of an iconic car. More great history is sure to be made with Ryan at the helm.”

The future of the No. 60 entry will be announced later.