RFK Racing’s 2027 Crisis Explained
What’s Happening? As the 2026 season rolls on, several things are changing in the NASCAR garage, one of which is RFK…
With the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season finally underway, talks of drivers’ moves are starting to make the rounds, with one surprise name reportedly gaining interest from two teams in the garage area.
The news that Josh Berry will not return to Wood Brothers Racing in 2027 is the first true mystery of NASCAR silly season. Unlike fellow free agent Riley Herbst, there are real questions surrounding where Berry will go, and who could replace him.
Still, this answer could take some time, as there are still plenty of story lines left to sort out in the 2027 NASCAR Silly Season.
For example, there are further questions in the Ford camp: Team Penske driver Austin Cindric is on a contract year, while RFK Racing is facing the final year of its drivers’ contracts and the loss of its third charter for 2027.
Even then, the problems for RFK could go beyond just losing out on a charter, as Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic recently mentioned in a YouTube video that more than one team is interested in courting the team’s top driver, Chris Buescher.
“I know for a fact that there’s two organizations that are interested in Chris [Buescher], signing him to a long-term contract.” — Jordan Bianchi
While Bianchi did note that for Buescher, “returning to RFK is certainly on the table,” this would be a major blow to a team that has, arguably, been the best all-around of the three Ford teams in 2026.
What’s Happening? As the 2026 season rolls on, several things are changing in the NASCAR garage, one of which is RFK…
While losing out on a charter is a problem, the team has a plan in place should they not find one to lease or buy for 2027.
Still, the loss of Buescher, whom the team has developed since its days as just Roush-Fenway Racing, would be a major blow to their status.
For one, while he is in the midst of a lengthy losing streak, Buescher has undoubtedly been the team’s best driver this decade. This includes the team’s best average finish and more wins than any RFK Racing driver since joining the Cup Series team in 2020.
So, given RFK’s slow rise back to prominence, it’s easy to see why Buescher is a name that would intimidate other teams in the garage area.
In Thursday’s video, Bianchi did seem to think that Buescher was not headed to WBR in 2027, taking him off the metaphorical “board” of drivers for the team during his discussion of the Texas native.
There are, however, a few more clues about which team this could be, dating back to a live taping of Dirty Mo Media’s Door, Bumper, Clear podcast at Jr. Motorsports Fan Day on May 21.
During this episode, Bianchi claimed, again, that two teams were interested in Buescher, with co-host and Cup Series spotter Freddie Kraft adding that “One’s a Ford. . . and then one’s a Toyota.” Kraft even went as far as to add that “It’s not my team, I don’t think,” a reference to 23XI Racing, which most suspect has its roster of Bubba Wallace, Corey Heim, and Tyler Reddick set for 2027.
For his part, Bianchi agreed with Kraft, adding these two notions to the conversation.
What’s Happening? NASCAR drivers, much like any athletes, have a period of free agency and multi-million dollar contracts. Based on information…
If it is a team from Toyota that is not 23XI, then it would have to either be Joe Gibbs Racing or Legacy Motor Club, though, how these teams would get Buescher is up in the air, as rumors have suggested that their 2026 lineups (with the addition of LMC’s new third full-time car) are set to return for 2027.
That third car, the No. 84, is currently rumored to be taken over by Riley Herbst, who is leaving 23XI Racing after two seasons in the No. 35.
What’s Happening? Riley Herbst is out at 23XI Racing for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, so what team will the…
While talks about Toyota come to a dead end, the mystery Ford team is far more interesting.
RFK is one of four full-time Ford teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. While they might not be facing an off-season reshuffling, their Ford brethren, Penske, WBR, and Front Row Motorsports, are all either confirmed or rumored to be facing changes.
Bianchi seemingly tossed the idea of Buescher joining WBR aside, leaving FRM and Penske as the two that could turn their eyes to.
Penske, of course, has a known potential opening, with Austin Cindric in the final year of his contract. Cindric is a winner and a consistent driver who is currently flirting with a Chase berth this season.
Still, Penske has looked like a one-trick pony this year, with only Ryan Blaney standing out amongst the Chevrolets and Toyotas. Buescher would be a decent replacement for Cindric, that is, if the team actually were to move on from him.
On FRM’s side of the court, the three-car team has no confirmed openings; rather, there are only rumors, most of which surround their No. 4 team, currently driven by Noah Gragson.
The problem with FRM is that, since its expansion to three cars in 2025, the team has failed to match any of its Ford teammates, making the idea of Buescher moving away from RFK to what is, as of now, a lesser-performing Ford team questionable.
As of press time, no team, beyond WBR, has confirmed an opening for 2027. Furthermore, Buescher has not announced any plans to leave RFK.
But, as the gears start to turn on the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season, that could change in due time.
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