Brad Keselowski focused on adding third Cup Series team to RFK Racing, with eyes on IMSA expansion
Expansion seems to be on Brad Keselowski’s mind, but don’t expect a move into the Craftsman Truck Series or Xfinity Series. NASCAR fans wanting to see Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing in the lower series, don’t hold your breath.
When it comes to expanding RFK the two areas Keselowski would like to focus on are a third Cup Series team full-time and possibly an IMSA team. The driver-owner has big plans in the short and long term, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
RFK Racing is joining the trend of adding a third part-time entry. Project 91 at Trackhouse, the 67 car at 23XI, the 33 car of RCR and their partnership with Erebus Motorsport – even Kaulig and Stewart-Haas have dabbled to an extent. Jenson Button’s NASCAR effort with Rick Ware Racing was supported in part by SHR.
For RFK, it is the Stage 60 car. It will debut at the Daytona 500 with David Ragan getting behind the wheel once more. That car could be the third full-time team one day soon.
However, Brad Keselowski recently told AutoWeek he also has his eyes set on IMSA. Sports car racing.
“As NASCAR continues to get heavier and heavier into road course racing, I think that pedigree (IMSA) offers a lot of advantages to the ecosystem of a successful Cup team,” said Keselowski. “I don’t see us on a path to an Xfinity or Truck team in the near future.”
After the Le Mans hype with the Garage 56 car, why shouldn’t NASCAR and IMSA work more hand in hand? And Brad Keselowski has a great point about road racing. There is no shortage of fans that would love to see Jack Roush back in IMSA, too.
Brad Keselowski sees value in IMSA
Since NASCAR owns IMSA, there is no need for the two to compete with one another. At least, that’s how Keselowski sees it. And he’s not wrong. Endurance racing is a whole other beast even with the long races the Cup Series competes in.
The difference between the two series is great enough that both can thrive. One way to help make it thrive is to do a little cross-promotion. Imagine if we had more NASCAR drivers competing in IMSA races on a regular basis and vice versa.
“There’s no reason for NASCAR to compete with its own product of IMSA,” Keselowski said. “You look at their (IMSA) car counts at some of these races and their interest, it’s through the roof. I think it’s good to have those as two separate products and ecosystems.”
Let’s say Brad Keselowski signs a young, promising driver. No Xfinity or Truck team for them to develop in, so, put them in an IMSA car and throw them in the fires of road course racing. The focus and endurance it takes to get through an 8, 12, 24-hour race is remarkable and valuable on ovals and roads.
It is also one of the reasons why drivers like Jordan Taylor can jump in a Cup car and almost win a pole award at COTA. Road course racing is why Shane van Gisbergen is in America after winning in his debut.
Brad Keselowski might be onto something.