Brad Keselowski frees himself to chase 2027 NASCAR ride
The Rochester Hills native received a verbal release to drive for any team next season and plans to divest his 20% ownership in Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
By Samuel Peterson ·
Brad Keselowski has the green light to hunt for a new NASCAR seat for the 2027 season. The Rochester Hills native received a verbal release from Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing on Saturday, one hour before a press conference at Martinsville Speedway. This move clears the path for him to drive for any team or manufacturer in the sport next year.
The driver announced his departure from the Cup Series team five years ago. He had joined RFK as a driver, competition executive, and part-owner. Despite his driving contract expiring after the 2026 season, he was previously restricted from exploring other options. He will now sell his 20% equity stake in the organization.
Keselowski stated he is prepared to compete at the highest level in any capacity. He said he is ready to be elite for the next opportunity, whether that is as a driver, owner, or manager. He noted there are a number of opportunities in front of him for 2027 and beyond. He confirmed he has had several outreaches but refused to provide details at this time. He described his previous status as taking phone calls without the ability to act on them.
The driver aims to stay in the Cup Series but remains open to a full-time schedule in the Craftsman Truck Series. A truck series title would make him the first champion in NASCAR's top three national series. He has long ties to the Dodge brand, which reentered the truck series this season. He won the 2012 Cup championship with Dodge. His late father, Bob, also operated a Dodge-affiliated truck team.
Keselowski drove for Ford with Team Penske and RFK for the past 14 seasons. He said he would consider driving for any manufacturer next year. He noted he has not had a meaningful discussion with Dodge or Ram yet. He remains open-minded to the possibility while not giving up on relationships with Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota.
His record includes 36 Cup victories. His most recent win came at Darlington Raceway in May 2024. He has six top-10 finishes in 34 starts this season. He expressed confidence in continuing a national series career that began in 2004. He acknowledged a level of uncertainty, stating that nothing comes easy in the sport and that he must grind hard to secure a deal.
Keselowski said that not racing would be devastating to him. He called the sport his life and career. He stated he is not ready to be done.
Source: The Macomb Daily
