Matt Johnson
One of the major dominoes that will fall in NASCAR silly season involves the third charter at RFK Racing, which Legacy Motor Club will take control of in 2027. It evidently could have a ripple effect on a contender for The Chase next season and beyond.
Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported this week that Ryan Preece’s future with RFK racing “appears mildly unclear” with the team poised to lose its third charter next season.
Related: RFK Racing President Reveals Team’s 2027 Plans
Preece, Chris Buescher and RFK co-owner Brad Keselowski are all on expiring deals this season. The team intends to run three cars full-time in 2027, but that comes at a cost.
If all three drivers return, it seems that Preece may be the one to run in an open car. He does have a strong relationship with Kroger and other endorsers, but running without a charter means he won’t be guaranteed a spot in the largest races and he’d receive a smaller share of the purse for each finish.
Related: RFK Racing Driver Has Interest from Multiple Teams
RFK does have the option of acquiring a third charter, but that is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars. That’s one of the reasons why the team is reportedly considering running Preece in an open car next year.
That uncertainty could push Preece to explore alternatives. He is faring well this season and remains in the mix to make The Chase, even after taking a 25-point penalty for an incident with Ty Gibbs. Joining a team with a chartered car would guarantee him higher earnings in races, but it may come at the cost of running in a worse car.
As of now, the expectation remains that Buescher, Keselowski and Preece will all be with RFK next season regardless of that third chartered seat. However, with several other teams considering changes for 2027, it’s possible a better opportunity comes up for Preece elsewhere.
Related: Cup Series Charter Reportedly Up for Sale
