RFK Racing is moving toward a full-time three-team expansion of the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, a move that will likely include top-tier sponsor Kroger as a team sponsor for all three cars and signing driver Ryan Preece, sources with knowledge of the move told The Athletic.
The team, whose ownership group includes Cup champion Brad Keselowski, is expected to make an official announcement in the coming weeks. RFK under its former name, Roush Fenway Racing, fielded as many as five full-time Cup teams before gradually reducing its current setup to two cars for drivers Keselowski and Chris Buescher. Keselowski, who joined the rebranded team as a driver owner in 2022, has publicly stated that he would like to see RFK grow — as long as the timing is right, the right employer is secured and performance increases the team. general.
“We don’t have any announcements that we’re ready to make, but hopefully we’ll have something to share with everyone here in the next month,” Keselowski told The Athletic on Wednesday during media day of the NASCAR playoffs. . “But nothing public I want to talk about.”
Now is the right time, with RFK having enough sponsorships and the team being competitive enough to justify this decision. Keselowski made the playoffs this season and won the spring race at Darlington, while Buescher won three races in 2023 and narrowly missed the 2024 playoffs.Kroger, one of the largest supermarket giants in the United States, is considered one of NASCAR’s largest sponsors after funding two full-time teams at JTG Daugherty Racing for four years.
That period included serving as title sponsor for two years with Buescher and three years with Preece, when each was for the team.Kroger and JTG parted ways after a sponsorship partnership dating back to 2010.
Impending Breakup Deal. Finally this year has made Kroger one of the most sought after sponsors, with many teams scrambling to get their support.
The fact that RFK is likely to acquire Kroger is a big win for the company.Preece joins RFK after spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing. The 33-year-old’s best finish is third in 177 Cup starts.
RFK Racing progressing toward expanding to 3 full-time NASCAR Cup teams in 2025: Sources
