That said, let's look at the reality of the situation: as Motorsport.com reports, Brad Keselowski genuinely does not know what he will be doing in 2027. The former NASCAR Cup Series champion, boasting 36 career wins and over 600 starts at the highest level of the sport, is leaving RFK Racing. His departure from the outfit where he serves as a co-owner stems directly from differences with the rest of the ownership group.
Following the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the veteran took to social media to share some raw, end-of-year reflections. He described the 2026 season as a "huge rollercoaster of high and lows to process." The year began with him recovering from a broken leg and walking with a cane, yet he still nearly captured a win at the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, the campaign ultimately saw him go winless, making him the only RFK driver to miss the Chase.
What’s next for me: I’m not sure yet, lots of soul searching and listening to do, but you can be sure I’ll have something to share with you in the next 60 days,
Amidst the athletic struggles, he also took a moment to remember Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch, two NASCAR legends who died tragically within the last year. Turning to the machines themselves, he praised the increase in horsepower for the Next Gen car, noting that short tracks were "much improved 2025 vs 2026."
Then he dove deeper into the brutal realities of the paddock, observing that the "top teams are still with the big 3 organizations of Hendrick, Gibbs and Penske. Don’t expect this to change without significant rules changes to even out their car’s speed advantage." On the business side, minimum operating costs are exceptionally high, which has proven very difficult for tier 3 teams to manage, forcing compromises like limited weekends and testing. Inflation, technology, and powertrain rules are all major challenges to solve.
Following the settlement from the 23XI/FRM vs. NASCAR antitrust lawsuit, team values have skyrocketed, with most predicting the next charter sale to reach $100 million. Speaking on the industry impact, Keselowski noted that investors have switched from valuing teams off assets to valuing teams off revenue multiplied, which may create a mass influx of investment at the tier 2 team level.
He also discussed a season plagued by injuries and suspensions, offered congratulations to Kyle Larson on his third championship, and addressed his own wide-open horizon. "What’s next for me: I’m not sure yet, lots of soul searching and listening to do, but you can be sure I’ll have something to share with you in the next 60 days," he stated.
