Brad Keselowski Wins Release to Seek 2027 NASCAR Deals

Brad Keselowski received a verbal release from Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing on Saturday, clearing him to pursue other opportunities in NASCAR for the 2027 season. The announcement came one hour before a news conference at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Keselowski stated that the team granted him the permission to drive for any manufacturer or team in the sport's top category next year. He also confirmed he will sell his 20 percent equity stake in the organization.

Keselowski joined the team five years ago as a driver, competition executive, and part owner. He announced his departure from the Cup Series team one month ago. However, his driving contract had not expired until the end of the 2026 season. During that interim period, he was restricted from actively negotiating with other teams despite having open dialogue with potential employers.

The driver said he is ready to compete at an elite level in his next role, whether as a driver, owner, or manager. He noted that several opportunities are available for the 2027 season and beyond. Keselowski said he has received multiple outreach messages from interested parties. He declined to specify the details of those conversations but expressed eagerness to finalize a deal to participate in the upcoming season as both a manager and a driver.

Keselowski expressed a preference to remain in the Cup Series. He also indicated openness to racing full time in the Craftsman Truck Series. A championship in that series would make him the first driver to win titles in all three of NASCAR's national series. His connection to the Dodge brand is longstanding, as he won the 2012 Cup championship with the manufacturer. His late father, Bob Keselowski, also operated a Dodge affiliated truck team.

The driver has spent the last 14 seasons driving for Ford with Team Penske and RFK. He stated that he is open to driving for any manufacturer next season, including Chevrolet and Toyota. Keselowski said he has not had meaningful discussions with Dodge or Ram but remains open-minded about the possibility. He emphasized that nothing is off the table in his search for a 2027 seat.

Keselowski holds 36 Cup victories, with his most recent win occurring at Darlington Raceway in May 2024. He has recorded six top 10 finishes in 34 starts during the current season. Despite the uncertainty of his next move, he remains confident in his ability to succeed as a driver, manager, and team owner in the national series where he began his career in 2004.

He described the current situation as a period of uncertainty. Keselowski said that securing a deal for next year will require hard work. He noted that not racing would be devastating to him because racing is his life and career. He stated that he is not ready to be done competing.