Bob Pockrass
FOX NASCAR Insider
RFK Racing will add Ryan Preece to its full-time driver roster because it expands to a few automobiles in 2025.
Kroger will sponsor races for all three of the RFK drivers — Preece, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski — throughout the season. Each Preece and Buescher drove beforehand for JTG Daugherty Racing, which has had the Kroger deal in Cup for 15 years.
RFK Racing is anticipated to lease a constitution from Rick Ware Racing for 2025, in line with these conversant in the deal, for the No. 60 automotive for Preece.
Preece, the 2013 NASCAR Modified Collection champion, has two wins in Xfinity and two in vehicles however nonetheless seeks a Cup victory. He has competed full-time in Cup in 5 of the final six years with 4 top-5s in 187 begins and a better of twenty third within the factors.
“Ryan Preece is who we recognized from Day 1 when discussing this third entry, and his younger expertise from the grassroots degree all the best way as much as the Cup Collection is one thing that excites us shifting ahead,” RFK President Steve Newmark mentioned in a information launch.
Kroger, which works with distributors to fund the sponsorship in alternate for branding on the automotive in addition to retailer placement and shows, moved to a corporation that may present a number of drivers — which not solely improves the chances of successful but in addition offers them extra flexibility relating to driver appearances for firms.
“Having three drivers as members of the Kroger Racing Household will probably be an additional benefit for all our model sponsors concerned in this system,” mentioned Erin Sanchez, Kroger vice chairman for grocery. “The chance to make the most of a number of drivers of their advertising and marketing methods each in our shops and inside their merchandising initiatives is one thing we’re all wanting ahead to with the beginning of the 2025 season.”
Tad and Jodi Geschickter, who’ve operated JTG Daugherty Racing however now not are listed as firm officers within the firm’s state filings, will proceed to supervise the Kroger advertising and marketing program.
JTG Daugherty Racing is anticipated to proceed underneath a rebrand and proprietor Gordon Smith, a long-time investor within the staff who had assumed operational management of the group this season. It signed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to a contract extension earlier this 12 months.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Get extra from NASCAR Cup Collection Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra