RFK Racing is facing another significant change as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season winds down.
Fifth Third Bank, one of the organization’s longest-running sponsors, is reportedly preparing to end its partnership with RFK Racing after the season, according to a Friday, Oct. 16, report from Sports Business Journal.
The development comes amid a string of noteworthy headlines surrounding the organization, including the news that Brad Keselowski is expected to depart after the 2026 season.
While the timing is notable, the two developments are reportedly unrelated.
RFK Racing Reportedly Losing Longtime NASCAR Sponsor
Fifth Third Bank has been associated with RFK Racing since 2012, when the organization was still known as Roush Fenway Racing.
Over the past 14 years, the Cincinnati-based bank has maintained a prominent presence on the team’s No. 17 Ford, sponsoring drivers including Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chris Buescher.
That makes its reported departure particularly significant. Fifth Third isn’t a recent addition to RFK’s sponsorship lineup. It has remained with the organization through multiple driver changes, ownership developments and the transition to its current identity.
According to Sports Business Journal, sources familiar with the situation indicated that Fifth Third is not expected to return as an RFK Racing sponsor in 2027.
Neither the bank nor the racing organization confirmed the reported departure when contacted by the publication. The financial terms of their existing agreement also remain unclear.
Another Major Change Looms for RFK Racing in 2027
The sponsorship news arrives at an already eventful time for RFK Racing.
Keselowski’s reported departure after the 2026 season has raised questions about the organization’s future, and the potential loss of a longtime financial partner adds another development to watch.
However, Sports Business Journal specifically reported that Fifth Third’s expected exit is unrelated to Keselowski’s situation.
The bank has also undergone changes of its own. Its acquisition of Comerica brought additional sports marketing commitments into its portfolio, including relationships involving the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions.
Whether those expanded obligations influenced Fifth Third’s reported NASCAR decision has not been established.
For RFK Racing, the immediate question is what comes next for a sponsorship relationship that has lasted more than a decade.
No replacement sponsor has been announced in connection with the report, and Fifth Third’s departure has not been formally confirmed.
Still, with the 2027 season approaching, RFK Racing could be preparing for a considerably different look both on and off the track.