RFK Racing moving to a three-car team is perhaps the worst-kept secret of this silly season. However, this move by Brad Keselowski and Co. has led to some big changes at the JTG Daugherty Racing team. Co-owners Tad Geschickter and his wife Jodi were rumored to be moving away from the team by the end of this year.

Initially, Joe Gibbs Racing was linked to the two co-owners who were bringing Kroger along with them. The idea was to fill in the hole that was created after Martin Truex Jr.’s departure along with Bass Pro Shops. But, despite MTJ’s departure, they stuck by JGR, and thus this move wasn’t able to materialize.

However, RFK Racing, keen to expand, made the most of this opportunity and onboarded them to the team. Ryan Preece was announced as the new driver for their #60 car, and they leased a charter from Rick Ware Racing. But Kroger’s departure, along with Tad and Jodi, has brought out a big change at JTG Daugherty Racing. And if we are to go by the latest developments, the new co-owners have already started the rebranding process.

JTG Daugherty Racing has a new logo with the new leadership group

Along with Tad and Jodi, former NBA star Brad Daugherty used to own the JTG Racing team. However, with this new split, the two co-owners are no longer listed as company officials in the company’s state filing. They will now oversee the marketing operation of Kroger with their new partners at the RFK Racing team.

That’s not it; JTG Daugherty Racing seems to have rebranded its name to Hyak Motorsports. Bob Pockrass from FOX Sports shared an update regarding this change via X. “Rebrand for JTG team as it appears will be named Hyak Motorsports with owner Gordon Smith having assumed operational control from Tad and Jodi Geschickter this year. Hyak Maritime is the name of Smith’s maritime company in Washington.”

Hyak Maritime is a maritime company that constructs and charters vessels to operating companies. This company is owned by Smith, who has now assumed operational control of JTG Racing after serving as an investor for a time. There is a possibility that more partners or investors can fund the racing for the newly rebranded team. Parting ways with Kroger certainly leaves the team in a tough spot without an anchor partner to fund their race team.

The team is going to race full-time in 2025, as they’ve already handed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. an extension. And if we are to go by the latest developments, it looks like the team is prepared to go the long distance with the change of guard. On the other hand, Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing are embarking on an ambitious project with their new partner, Kroger.

RFK Racing strikes a sweet deal with Kroger and Rick Ware Racing

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Despite the mega $7.7 billion dollar TV deal, the teams are going to rely on sponsors to bear the cost of racing. But unlike the good old NASCAR days, it is hard to get hold of sponsors that can fund the race teams. If anything, teams have to compete with each other to get the partners on board, as some of the big sponsors are now leaving the sport.

Hooters pulled the plug on their partnership with Hendrick Motorsports. Denny Hamlin’s long-time sponsors FedEx have done the same, and NASCAR lost one of its premier partners, GEICO. So this goes on to show how tough it is for the race teams to do their business and attract potential investors. But Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing have made quite a deal despite the testing times.

“We’re very excited to be teaming up with RFK Racing and know having three drivers as members of the Kroger Racing Family will be an added benefit for all our brand sponsors involved in the program,” said Erin Sanchez, vice president of grocery for Kroger. Apart from Build Submarines, Fastenal, and Castrol, now Kroger will be featured on all three race cars in 2025.

Another master stroke Keselowski and Co. pulled off was to lease a charter rather than purchase one. It is important to note that the current value of charters is up in the air with NASCAR embroiled in a lawsuit with 23XI Racing and FRM. So, the smartest way to expand was through partnership, and that is exactly what RFK Racing achieved by leasing the RWR charter.

So props to RFK Racing for pulling off a strategic partnership deal and also expanding to a three-car line-up for the 2025 season.