The Brad Keselowski RFK Racing update sees Corey LaJoie stepping in for Keselowski at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, while also claiming a spot in the Daytona 500 as RFK Racing revives its No. 99 entry. This development follows Keselowski’s recent injury and aims to strengthen the team’s presence for superspeedway events.
LaJoie’s Unexpected Opportunity at RFK Racing
Corey LaJoie described his selection as a major turning point, feeling as though he had scored big by taking the driver’s seat for RFK Racing at two major upcoming NASCAR events. With the organization choosing to field the historic No. 99 car once again, RFK Racing intends to close the gap against industry leaders such as Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, especially on drafting tracks where deeper lineups often win out.
While the news came as a thrill for LaJoie, he revealed that his schedule was wide open for 2026 until the recent offseason. Behind the scenes, discussions had already started months prior, as RFK Racing’s leadership pondered the benefits of expanding their team for select superspeedway races in the coming year. Brad Keselowski’s view was that RFK Racing needed more cars on the track to truly compete against Chevrolet and Toyota, whose teams usually pack additional entries for crucial events.
Negotiations Accelerate Following Keselowski’s Injury
On his Stacking Pennies podcast, LaJoie detailed how the plans unfolded gradually before events took a sudden turn.
“Right about the start of the playoffs last year… we had been talking about trying to run five or six races this year. So, we had just been kicking around, not really moving the ball down the field…”
, Corey LaJoie, Driver.
It was not until just ahead of Christmas that the negotiations shifted gears.
“And Chip Bowers, new president of RFK, we were having coffee over at Perkile, maybe two-three days before Christmas, and he got the call from Brad that he just broke his femur,”
Corey LaJoie, Driver.
While LaJoie and Chip Bowers, the recently appointed RFK president, had been discussing possible race entries, the sudden injury forced an immediate decision as the team scrambled to adapt. LaJoie recounted,
“Chip said, ‘Man, we’ve got partners, and we’re trying to put together a package to go run a fourth car because we feel like you’re the guy to do it, and we need some strength and numbers.’ And he gets the call, and he didn’t tell me that Brad broke his leg. So Brad calls me. ‘Hey man, would love for you to help out here, drive the car at the Clash.’”
, Corey LaJoie, Driver.
RFK Racing Responds Swiftly to Adversity
For LaJoie, the situation was filled with uncertainty—he wondered if he might be asked to pilot the No. 6 car at Daytona should Keselowski’s recovery prevent his participation. Despite Keselowski’s determination to compete in the Daytona 500 even with a major leg injury, RFK Racing proceeded to finalize its fourth car entry. As Keselowski’s recovery progressed, RFK’s efforts paid off when they secured critical support from their in-house partner, Trimble, enabling them to offer LaJoie the highly sought-after seat.
Anticipation Builds for Daytona and Beyond
Beyond the track, LaJoie looks forward to celebrating the resurgence of the No. 99 with Carl Edwards, hinting at upcoming joint social media efforts to spotlight the occasion. According to LaJoie, Edwards shares in the excitement of seeing the classic RFK Racing number return, hopeful for renewed success as the team makes a determined push against NASCAR’s powerful lineups. With all eyes on the Daytona 500, RFK Racing’s bold moves are set to shake up the superspeedway landscape and test the strength of its combined resources.
