Ryan Preece's career trajectory takes an exciting turn as he gears up to head to Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This move marks a significant chapter in the world of NASCAR. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Unlock the Potential of NASCAR's 2025 Lineup with Ryan Preece

Ryan Preece's Journey to RFK

One of NASCAR's most anticipated announcements has finally become official. Ryan Preece, a seasoned driver with a wealth of experience, will be driving a third car for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing in 2025. This expansion by RFK back to three full-time cars after a hiatus since 2016 is a major development. Preece's arrival at RFK is accompanied by a long-time NASCAR sponsor, Kroger. The grocery chain, which has been a sponsor of JTG-Daugherty Racing since 2010, will now serve as a sponsor of all three of RFK's cars at various points during the 2025 season. This partnership brings a new level of excitement and visibility to the team.JTG-Daugherty, meanwhile, is set to compete in 2025 with longtime driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and a sponsorship yet to be announced. Preece's previous stints at Stewart-Haas Racing and JTG-Daugherty have given him valuable experience. Over 187 career Cup Series starts, the 34-year-old has achieved four top-five finishes and 16 top-10s. Two of those top fives came during his tenure at SHR. In 2023, he finished 23rd in the standings, and in 2024, he was 26th. Entering the 2025 season, he was in need of a ride as SHR shut down at the end of 2024.

RFK's Performance Over the Past Two Seasons

RFK's performance has shown significant improvement over the past two seasons. The team has scored five wins, with Chris Buescher claiming four of them. Despite missing the playoffs in 2024, Buescher managed to win at Watkins Glen this fall. Brad Keselowski, on the other hand, qualified for the playoffs with a win in the spring race at Darlington. In 2024, Keselowski finished 13th in the points standings after being eighth a season ago. Buescher was 17th, the highest-finishing non-playoff driver, after being seventh in 2023.

The Charter Situation

Cole Custer is set to drive for Haas next season as the team sells three of its charters. One of those charters has been purchased by Trackhouse Racing, and the other two are earmarked for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. However, the status of these sales remains unclear as both 23XI and Front Row have filed a lawsuit against NASCAR over the new charter agreement. While no charter sale has been announced for RFK's new car, the Athletic reported that the charter for Preece's car is likely to come from Rick Ware Racing. This adds an element of uncertainty to the team's future, but also presents an opportunity for growth and development.Overall, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is shaping up to be an exciting one with the addition of Ryan Preece to Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. The team's performance and the charter situation will continue to be closely watched as the season approaches.