Brad Keselowski’s NASCAR team all set to land major retail giant as sponsor in 2025

Kroger Co., an industry leader in the American retail business, is expected to join hands with Brad Keselowski's Cup Series team next year. The company has been a longtime partner of JTG Daugherty Racing's one-car Cup Series team, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The news, although not official, is being deemed true following the rumor of an ownership shakeup at JTG Daugherty Racing. Tad Geschickter, who is a majority stakeowner at JTG Daugherty, could part ways with the Chevy team. Therefore, the Cincinnati-based company has been speaking with other NASCAR teams about a potential landing spot.

Renowned journalist Adam Stern reported the news on X (formerly Twitter), saying,

"@RFKRacing is being tipped as the likely landing spot for @Kroger’s NASCAR sponsorship next year, per people familiar, a pickup that would represent a major commercial boost for the team co-owned by Fenway Sports Group."

Team owner Brad Keselowski is yet to make a statement regarding the potential switch.

Kroger Co. sponsored RFK Racing's Chris Buescher when he used to drive for JTG Daugherty Racing from 2017-2019. However, the No. 17 driver has several bigshot sponsors like Fifth Third Bank and Fastenal, already lined up for 2025. Will they fund Brad Keselowski this time? Only time will tell.

Could Brad Keselowski expand RFK Racing to a three-chartered team?

RFK Racing currently fields two chartered entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, the #17 car driven by Chris Buescher and the #6 car driven by Brad Keselowski himself. However, according to the Sports Business Journal, Keselowski could consider an expansion.

With that said, Brad Keselowski is looking forward to leasing a charter rather than purchasing it. This will be possible only if NASCAR's new charter agreement keeps the option for leasing charters open for the teams.

In an earlier interview with veteran FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass, Keselowski said (via On3),

"If I go back in time 20 years ago, the dynamic was, as far as funding a team, 90 percent sponsorship-based, 10 percent outside revenues, which might be race purse or outside revenues. And if you take a snapshot of where we are today, maybe it’s closer to 75 sponsorship, and 25 percent purse or outside revenue so to speak."

"It appears the new charter agreement is going to get that somewhere closer to 65-35, which is a shift that can’t be understated," he added.

RFK Racing, originally known as Roush Racing, was founded in 1988 by Jack Roush. The team was renamed Roush Fenway Racing in 2007 when American businessman John W. Henry and the Fenway Sports Group became co-owners, alongside Jack Roush. In 2022, Brad Keselowski purchased an ownership stake in the team and it was renamed Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing or RFK Racing.