Brad Keselowski may have done the impossible during the off-season. It wasn’t getting the third charter or hiring Ryan Preece. It was pulling Kroger right from underneath Joe Gibbs Racing’s nose. RFK Racing made its boldest move, yet RFK Racing secured a multi-year sponsorship deal with Kroger, a $43 billion retail giant.

However, as the 2025 season approaches, the team’s co-owner Brad Keselowski dropped a stern warning to rival teams. He revealed key changes in team operations that will make RFK the team to watch out for.

Brad Keselowski Beams In Confidence

For years, the Big 3, i.e. Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), Hendrick Motorsports, and Team Penske have dominated every aspect of the sport. These teams consistently attract top-tier sponsors, drivers, and resources, making it difficult for smaller organizations to break through. But in one major offseason move, Keselowski and RFK Racing shook up the power balance. They successfully bought Kroger, a retail giant as their primary sponsor. Recently, speaking to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, Keselowski highlighted the impact of Kroger’s partnership and the offseason changes at RFK.

“We’ve had an amazing offseason, you know, with adding a third team. Really exciting with Ryan Preece. Kroger’s partnership brought a lot of people in with new ideas, fresh ideas that we’ve been able to see some pretty immediate gains out of, at least with what we can tell from nothing on the track. I feel like we’re doing all the things we need to break out of being kind of this challenger contender to being a real threat to go deeper into the playoffs and win multiple races with all of our cars,” Keselowski told Pockrass.

Notably, Kroger’s sponsorship is a game-changer for RFK Racing. This sponsorship deal provides RFK with financial stability and additional resources to compete with NASCAR’s elite teams. Kroger’s backing ensures that RFK’s three cars will have strong funding, allowing the team to invest in technology, personnel, and race-day performance. With Keselowski and Buescher already showing competitive speed in 2024, this move positions RFK Racing as a legitimate title contender.

Apart from their growth, RFK Racing has also jumped into the scenes of technical partnerships. The team secured a deal with the newly formed Haas Factory Team (HFT). With Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down operations, Gene Haas decided to launch a fresh venture, and he turned to Keselowski for guidance. The RFK-Haas partnership brings together two strong organizations, ensuring that both teams benefit from shared data, strategies, and technical resources.

While HFT will operate separately, the technical partnership effectively gives RFK a “pseudo-fourth car,” allowing them to exchange valuable race insights and setups. As RFK Racing prepares for the 2025 season, Keselowski’s focus remains on success. But before the real battles begin, he recently found himself in an on-track controversy with Bubba Wallace.

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Bubba Wallace Addresses Clash with Keselowski

The 2025 NASCAR season started with fireworks at the Busch Light Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. The short-track exhibition lived up to its ‘Madhouse’ nickname. The race delivered its usual drama, and Brad Keselowski was right in the middle of it. During the event, Keselowski was running inside the top 10 when he tangled with Bubba Wallace. The crash sent the RFK Racing owner into a spin past the halfway mark.

Wallace, driving the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, later addressed the incident. “I hate that I got into the #6. I didn’t want to get a top-five finish that way. He was doing everything he could to get down, and I got greedy and wanted to fill the hole. I really didn’t think I hit him that hard, but obviously, I did, so apologize for that,” Wallace said after the race.

Notably, the crash ruined Brad Keselowski’s day as he dropped to 21st and lost his chance to compete for the $2 million prize. However, Wallace managed to secure a top-five finish but admitted that his car lacked the speed needed to contend for the win. He also pointed out the challenges of racing on Bowman Gray’s unique track surface. “This tire was also from Martinsville in the fall. I didn’t like the car then. I don’t like the car now, but you have to fight for it,” Wallace explained.

Despite the contact, Wallace and Keselowski kept things professional, with Wallace taking responsibility for the incident. However, Keselowski will likely remember this moment when the two cross paths on the track again. With the Daytona 500 up next, both drivers will shift their focus to NASCAR’s biggest race, where tempers and rivalries often carry over.