RFK Racing is being tipped as the likely landing spot for The Kroger Co.’s NASCAR sponsorship next year, according to industry executives close to the matter, a pickup that would represent a major commercial boost for the team co-owned by Fenway Sports Group.
In recent months, Cincinnati-based Kroger has been talking to teams in NASCAR about a move next year as part of an expected ownership shakeup at JTG Daugherty Racing, the one-car team that it has been with for over a decade. JTG’s longtime majority owner, Tad Geschickter, is said to be part of the shakeup that could involve him parting ways with the team after this season.
Geschickter has ties with Joe Gibbs Racing, which led many earlier this year to think he and Kroger were heading to JGR after this year. However, while SBJ was unable to establish whether a deal had been signed or verbally agreed to with Kroger and RFK, five industry sources familiar with the matter said they expect RFK to win Kroger’s NASCAR business.
FK has two NASCAR charters, with Buescher driving the No. 17 Ford and team co-owner Brad Keselowski driving the No. 6 Ford. By landing a sponsorship as sizable as Kroger’s, some industry execs have wondered whether the team could expand to three cars. The team could work out a lease agreement to get a third charter for next year as long as a new charter agreement continues to include the leasing option.
