RFK Racing is just one of the many race teams pursuing another full-time entry amidst uncertain situations surrounding the ongoing charter standoff between NASCAR and the Race Team Alliance (RTA). Co-owner Brad Keselowski has given many answers to the media, ranging from hopeful to determined, to sometimes even straight-up unsure, as he navigates discussions about his team’s fortunes after the expiry of the current charter deal later this year.

As negotiations remain on hold due to various other issues, an important factor–the rising price of charters–has emerged as a major hurdle for teams looking for a guaranteed starting spot. Keselowski has emphasized this obstacle as speculations overflow for what appears to be the biggest issue NASCAR is facing currently.

Rising prices throw a wrench in Brad Keselowski’s expansion plans

From demands of a bigger piece of the new 7.7-billion-dollar broadcast deal by teams to calls for permanent charters, the 2025 season faces many issues with the conclusion of the current charter agreement. On the other hand, RTA’s “Team Negotiations Committee” (TNC) has been pushing hard for changes to ensure both financial and decision-making parity for teams waiting in limbo over updates from the sanctioning body about a new agreement.

However, some members of the RTA such as RFK and 23XI Racing have been in discussions for more than just the four “pillars” currently in demand by the teams looking to gain a surer foothold in a rapidly evolving NASCAR landscape. In conversations with the media before his Kansas advance, RFK’s #6 driver and co-owner outlined an intricate problem when asked if a third full-time charter is something the Ford Performance team is “actively pursuing.”

“Yes and no,” answered Keselowski via Frontstretch. He elaborated, “I mean if you’re looking for the right opportunity… It’s difficult because you know um there’s different people that maybe are in the market, or maybe aren’t in the market. And you don’t really know. It’s not a very transparent process, right?“

Adding onto the financial difficulties in place over the rising charter prices, the 2012 champion, now one of the senior veterans of the Cup Series stated, “But you know it’s hard for anybody to fork out the, you know, 10-20-30 million whatever, you believe on any given day. And for us, I think it’s just as hard so I don’t really have any news here “

However, Brad Keselowski still remained optimistic about a third full-time charter for RFK while answering a separate question: “It’ll get done. Why not? Be a fun process. But it’ll get done.”

Will NASCAR address the demands?

Trending

Rick Hendrick & Co.’s Partnership with Tarnished Sponsor Triggers Bitter Outburst- “F*CK Liberty”

May 17, 2024 04:29 PM EDT

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Stepmother Follows Through on the Grudge, With His Legacy Also Hanging in the Balance

May 16, 2024 04:49 AM EDT

‘P*ssed Off’ Noah Gragson Calls Out NASCAR’s All-Star Race’s Only Aspect That Leaves Entire Teams Out to Dry

May 17, 2024 12:54 PM EDT

Dale Earnhardt Jr & Fans Left Demanding Concrete Assurances After NASCAR’s Verdict on North Wilkesboro’s Future

May 17, 2024 07:40 PM EDT

5’8” Noah Gragson Shuts Down Carson Hocevar’s “Short” All-Star Gibe in 3-Words

May 17, 2024 10:13 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

With collective dissatisfaction growing amidst the paddock following each grievance left unanswered, major names have come forward to speak about the tumultuous charter situations. Most team owners believe a permanent charter will help teams invest in their development better, instead of having to dish out millions of dollars every 7 years following the introduction of this widely debated starting spot system.

NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell has some contrasting views to the current narrative in a recent panel at the CAA World Congress of Sports in L.A. “Ultimately when our owners look at where the sports potential is in terms of all the new media partners, the balance that we do have with linear and now being able to go with the Amazons, [TNT Sports], all the opportunities we have with content, I think they get it,” said O’Donnell.

Regardless, team owners have four primary demands — full-time charters, guaranteed starting positions, a say in the decision-making processes, and a share of the newer business opportunities in an equitable manner. Although the world’s premier sanctioning body for stock car racing has promised to address one of those demands with the broadcast deal, helping increase revenue- we are yet to see how much they will actually dish out. And well, the remaining three demands have been consigned to oblivion it seems.

As the season moves to Kansas this Sunday, it will be interesting to see how NASCAR maneuvers through all the recent backlash surrounding the all-important charter situation.