RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski and everyone at the team will be relieved having retained their star driver after rumors floated across the NASCAR garage that he could be moving to a different team in 2027. 

Multiple rumours were floated on Chris Buescher’s Cup future, with reporter Jordan Bianchi having said that at least two teams were interested in the No. 17 RFK driver. Buescher was in a contract year, hence the links with teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske.

But Keselowski and Co. have managed to keep their star, who is currently the team’s leading point-getter. RFK Racing confirmed Buescher’s long-term commitment to the team via a video posted on their social media handles.

RFK co-owner Jack Roush expressed his joy after Buescher’s NASCAR contract was extended for “several years,” saying:

“Chris has been part of this organization for most of his professional career, and there is a tremendous amount of pride in seeing what he has become. He is an exceptional driver, but just as importantly, he is the kind of person who makes our organization stronger.”

Chris Buescher has been associated with Jack Roush since 2011. He signed with then-Roush Fenway Racing to partially drive in the Xfinity series as a 16-year-old.

Buescher’s RFK teammate and owner, Brad Keselowski, said, “Chris is everything you want in a race car driver and teammate. His talent behind the wheel speaks for itself, but what really separates him is his professionalism, preparation, and commitment to making everyone around him better.”

While the RFK bosses expressed their elation, for Buescher, the contract was a more sentimental one as he revealed on X.

Chris Buescher Gets Emotional Following Contract Extension

Having signed with Roush in 2011, Chris Buescher remained with the team through his time in the lower NASCAR series till 2015, when he not only became the Xfinity Series champion but also made his Cup debut for Front Row Motorsports. 

Buescher had his first full season and first win with Front Row in 2016 before moving to JTG Daugherty Racing in 2017. In 2020, he returned to RFK Racing, having formed an emotional bond with the team. 

Buescher expressed his sentiments looking back at his first introduction to the team and wrote in an X post:

“When I was 16, I got the opportunity of a lifetime to sign with one of the best teams in all of racing. I was fresh out of Legends cars with just six late model races under my belt. I spent weekdays in the shop, weekends running ARCA, just dreaming of getting to Cup.”

The 33-year-old added a note on the support he’s received from RFK and Jack Roush, adding:

“The road wasn’t easy, but the investment and support from everyone at @rfkracing has helped get me where I am today. Jack has always been committed to making me an all-around better driver, from the work we did in the shop to all he’s taught me at the track.”

Buescher got his first win for RFK at Bristol in 2022, his seventh year in Cup. He had the best season of his career in 2023 with three wins at Richmond, Nashville, and Michigan. 

His last win came in 2024 at Watkins Glen, but Buescher has been incredibly consistent. RFK’s No. 17 is currently their only driver in the Chase positions in 2026.

Buescher is 7th with 461 points, and also the second-highest-ranked Ford driver behind Ryan Blaney in third.

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Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Yash Kotak