Chris Buescher was wanted by multiple NASCAR teams, Brad Keselowski reveals

× Chris Buescher was one of the most sought-after names in the NASCAR driver market before committing his future to RFK Racing, team co-owner Brad Keselowski confirmed. The multi-year extension keeps Buescher in the No. 17 Ford, ending speculation about a potential move elsewhere in the garage.

Ad The deal continues a long-standing relationship between Buescher and RFK Racing, which dates back to his early development days in 2012 under Jack Roush. Over the last few seasons, he has become the team’s most consistent performer, highlighted by his four wins and steady playoff contention. Speaking in a pre-race press conference, Keselowski made it clear why retaining Buescher became a priority, given the level of competition for his signature (6:00 onwards): Ad Trending “Chris, right now, is obviously a cornerstone of our company.

He’s delivered results. He put us in a position to win and compete that I’m really proud. He’s doing all the work he needs to do to be successful.

He’s taken his lumps, paid a lot of dues, and we just want to give him the best car we can so he can win races. There was a lot of competition for Chris from a lot of teams across the garage area. It was not a layup for us to re-sign him, but we feel fortunate that he believed in our commitment was strong enough to want to stay with us.”

Ad Ad That interest was not surprising given Chris Buescher’s current form. He sits seventh in the 2026 Cup standings with 461 points, including a runner-up finish at Talladega and multiple top-five runs. In comparison, Brad Keselowski is 17th with 351 points, while Ryan Preece is 19th with 322.

Buescher echoed that confidence in the official announcement, earlier this week: “RFK Racing has been home for most of my racing career, and that’s something I don’t take for granted. I’ve grown up with this organization, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the last several years... I’m grateful to Mr.

Jack (Roush), Brad, Fenway Sports Group and everyone at RFK Racing for their belief in me.” Ad The extension locks Chris Buescher into the No. 17 as RFK continues building toward a three-car future.

Brad Keselowski is expected to remain in the No. 6, while Preece’s No. 60 program could turn into an open entry if a third charter is not secured, team president Chip Bowers indicated.

Brad Keselowski reflects on NASCAR’s San Diego military showcase Brad Keselowski - NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250. Source: Getty The San Diego weekend marks a first for the Cup Series, with racing taking place at Naval Base Coronado as part of the U.S.

Navy’s 250th anniversary celebrations. It is a setting unlike anything NASCAR has attempted before, blending motorsport with an active military environment. Ad For Brad Keselowski, the event carries added meaning.

His long-standing connection with the military includes work through the Checkered Flag Foundation and partnerships tied to BuildSubmarines.com, which supports naval manufacturing. His cousin also served in the military and has shaped his perspective on the weekend.

“This year, our partnership isn’t directly with the Navy, but indirectly with BuildSubmarines, which is a huge initiative for the Navy to build the submarines they need to keep up with the fighting force required for tomorrow’s Navy,” said Brad Keselowski (1:09 onwards). Ad He spoke of his visit to USS Greeneville and added: “The weekend itself is just so unique. It means a lot to our military.

What I see in this weekend is a chance to race and do what we love to do, but also to celebrate our country and the military by being integrated with them in ways we’ve never, at least in my time in the sport, done before.”RFK Racing’s opening practice session reflected the challenge of a brand-new circuit. Brad Keselowski logged 11 laps and placed 35th, Buescher ran 14 laps to go 26th, and Preece ended 17th after 15 laps, with Shane van Gisbergen setting the early benchmark on longer runs.

× Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Get the latest NASCAR All-Star race news, Xfinity Series updates, breaking news, rumors, and today’s top stories with the latest news on NASCAR. Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Anurup Chakraborty Chris Buescher was one of the most sought-after names in the NASCAR driver market before committing his future to RFK Racing, team co-owner Brad Keselowski confirmed.

The multi-year extension keeps Buescher in the No. 17 Ford, ending speculation about a potential move elsewhere in the garage. Ad The deal continues a long-standing relationship between Buescher and RFK Racing, which dates back to his early development days in 2012 under Jack Roush.

Over the last few seasons, he has become the team’s most consistent performer, highlighted by his four wins and steady playoff contention. Speaking in a pre-race press conference, Keselowski made it clear why retaining Buescher became a priority, given the level of competition for his signature (6:00 onwards): Ad Trending “Chri