Brad Keselowski's key sponsor undergoes $6 billion ownership shakeup, what it means for RFK Racing

Brad Keselowski’s RFK Racing will keep one of its most important partners through a major corporate shakeup. Castrol is turning into a joint venture after British Petroleum (BP) sold $6 billion worth of its shares to Stonepeak, but the brand is expected to stay with RFK for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK Racing) currently fields three entries at the Cup level. The No. 6 is driven by Keselowski, while Chris Buescher pilots the No. 17 and Ryan Preece drives the No. 60. All three programs run with Castrol support, a relationship that began in 2019 and has become one of the team’s most reliable pillars.

NASCAR insider Adam Stern summarized the situation this week:

“@BP_plc sold a 65% majority stake of @Castrol this month to an investment firm to reduce its debt, but Castrol is still expected to remain a sponsor of @RFKracing in 2026, per the team.”

BP has agreed to transfer 65 percent of Castrol’s global business to Stonepeak while keeping a 35 percent minority share. The move will form a new joint venture, with the deal expected to take roughly a year to fully close. BP’s goal is to bring down long-term debt while maintaining a strategic role in the lubricants space. The sale values Castrol at $10.1 billion.

For RFK Racing, this means continuity. Under the Castrol banner, the team has posted six Cup wins. Keselowski delivered the first Castrol-liveried victory at Darlington in 2024, winning with the throwback TOM’s scheme. Since then, the partnership has supported Playoff appearances, development projects, and brand integrations across Ford’s broader motorsports footprint. They also signed an extension earlier in 2025.

This past season, Brad Keselowski ran Castrol colors three times, Buescher twice, and Preece seven times. The backing joins a list of critical supporters that includes BuildSubmarines.com, Fastenal, Solomon Plumbing, Kroger, Esperion, Nexlizet, and Consumer Cellular, each helping stabilize the organization’s future.

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Brad Keselowski works through recovery ahead of the 2026 season

Brad Keselowski (6) during the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Source: Imagn

Losing Castrol ahead of the 2026 season would have compounded an already difficult winter for the team’s co-owner and lead driver. Earlier this month, Brad Keselowski fractured his leg in a skiing accident during a family trip. He underwent surgery and is now back at home, focused solely on rehabilitation.

He recently posted an update on social media, his son Maize at his side, and wrote:

“When you’re down but not out. PB&J time with Maize while serving broken leg bedtime sentence.”

The Clash at Bowman Gray is scheduled for February 1 with the Daytona 500, two weeks later. RFK and Ford have potential stand-ins if Keselowski fails to recover, but he plans to be back once cleared.

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Edited by Mitali