Here is a massive shift for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series grid: Ryan Preece is moving into the legendary No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing. The team made the announcement on a Wednesday morning, confirming a major reshuffle that will see Preece take over the seat currently occupied by Brad Keselowski, who will part ways with the organization at the end of the 2026 season.
Since joining the team in 2025, Preece has been piloting the No. 60 car, a stint highlighted by his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory back in August at Daytona International Speedway. Now, the entire No. 60 crew—including crew chief Derrick Finley—will pack up and transition directly to the No. 6 alongside him. That makes Preece just the sixth full-time driver to handle this specific, storied number for legendary team co-owner Jack Roush.
It represents the people who believed in me, the relationships I’ve built and the memories that got me here.
The historical weight of the machine is not lost on anyone, least of all the driver himself. “To be trusted with the 6 means more to me than I can put into words,” Preece said in the press release, pointing directly to the legacy built by Roush and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who famously drove the No. 6 from 1988 through 2006. Martin gave his stamp of approval to the choice: “I like Ryan Preece because he’s a racer, plain and simple,” he stated. “He came up the hard way, and he’s had to fight for everything he’s gotten.”
For Preece, climbing into the No. 6 carries a deep personal significance that goes way beyond corporate sponsorship or team strategy. The 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion famously ran the exact same digit under the banner of team owner and close friend Ed Partridge, who passed away in September 2021 just after celebrating their final victory together at Richmond. “So when I say the No. 6 feels like home, it’s because it represents more than racing,” Preece explained. “It represents the people who believed in me, the relationships I’ve built and the memories that got me here.”
RFK Racing president Chip Bowers echoed that gritty reputation, noting that Preece is fully prepared to shoulder the massive expectations attached to the chassis. Behind the scenes, the operation is adjusting its footprint as well. The No. 6 Ford will keep its chartered entry status for the new year, even as RFK prepares to transition one of its three 2026 charters over to Legacy Motor Club for 2027. Meanwhile, the exact future plans for the vacant No. 60 entry remain under wraps, with further announcements promised down the line.
