Ryan Preece is set to join Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) as their third full-time driver in 2025, officially confirming a move that had been anticipated for some time. He will race alongside Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, marking RFK’s return to running three full-time cars for the first time since 2016.
Preece arrives with his longtime sponsor, Kroger, a grocery chain that has supported JTG-Daugherty Racing since 2010. Kroger and its affiliated brands will sponsor all three RFK cars at various points throughout the 2025 season. Meanwhile, JTG-Daugherty Racing plans to continue competing in 2025 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as their driver under the new sponsorship arrangement.
Preece spent his last two seasons at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) after racing full-time with JTG-Daugherty from 2019 to 2021. In his 187 Cup Series starts, the 34-year-old has achieved four top-five finishes and sixteen top-tens. Two of his top-five results were during his time with SHR. He finished 23rd in the 2023 standings and 26th in 2024. With SHR shutting down after the 2024 season, Preece found himself needing a new ride. The four-car SHR team announced its closure earlier this year, as co-owner Gene Haas shifts focus to acquiring another team in 2025.
Next season, Cole Custer will drive for Haas, which is selling three charters—one to Trackhouse Racing and the other two to 23xi Racing and Front Row Motorsports. However, the status of these sales remains uncertain as both 23xi and Front Row have filed lawsuits against NASCAR regarding the new charter agreements.
While RFK has not announced any charter sales related to Preece’s car, reports suggest that his charter will likely come from Rick Ware Racing. Over the past two seasons, RFK’s performance has improved with five race wins. Chris Buescher contributed four wins but missed the 2024 playoffs before winning at Watkins Glen. Brad Keselowski won the Darlington spring race and participated in the playoffs, finishing 13th in the 2024 points standings after placing eighth the previous year. Buescher finished 17th in 2023 after a seventh-place finish in 2022.
Fan Take: This move not only boosts RFK’s competitiveness but also shakes up the driver lineup in a way that could lead to more exciting races and tighter battles on the track. NASCAR fans should be excited to see how Preece’s experience and Kroger’s sponsorship will influence the dynamics of the 2025 season, potentially elevating the sport’s overall level of competition.
