Few numbers in NASCAR inspire as much awe across generations of fans as the No. 6. Today, it belongs to RFK Racing, but its legacy stretches back to the days of Roush Racing icon Mark Martin, who took it to victory lane 35 times. Through decades of change, the number has been entrusted to only a select few. For a few more days, it will belong to Brad Keselowski, the man who brought the iconic car back to relevance. Then, it passes to someone whose claim to the No. 6 has already left the NASCAR community divided.

Ryan Preece has certainly done enough to prove he’s valuable to the organization. He’s spent two seasons giving his No. 60 an identity, delivering iconic moments such as his Daytona win earlier this fall. But the No. 6 is something entirely different. Veteran journalist Bob Pockrass reported the team’s choice to hand Preece that number, sparking debate over what it means for the driver and the team.

This isn’t news that comes out of the blue. Chris Buescher already had a charter and didn’t need to switch over from his No. 17. Preece’s No. 60, however, was leased from Rick Ware Racing and has now been sold to Legacy Motor Club for the upcoming season. There’s also a deeply sentimental connection Preece has with the No. 6.

Long before making it to the Cup Series, Preece frequently piloted the No. 6 during his successful NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career for his late friend and car owner, Ed Partridge. Preece has explicitly noted that the number “feels like home” to him. Now, he can pilot it in the Cup Series, with his entire team, led by crew chief Derrick Finley, moving with him. Some fans, however, believe Preece should have kept the No. 60 charter to build his own identity.

“That’s a shame,” wrote a fan on Pockrass’ post. “Really was hoping they would have moved the charter to the 60 and let him build a legacy with it.”

There is a case for that view. Preece finished 18th in 2025 with three top-fives and 14 top-10s. This year, he won the Clash at Bowman Gray and his first Cup points race at Daytona, earning his first postseason appearance. “Seems like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” wrote another fan.

That comment reflects the unease surrounding Keselowski’s departure. He joined RFK in 2022 as both a driver and co-owner, taking charge of its competition department and helping shape the organization’s direction. The team’s revival, which included three wins in 2023, was closely tied to the changes he introduced. Before Keselowski’s Darlington win in 2024, the No. 6 had not visited Victory Lane in 13 years, with David Ragan being the last driver to win in the car.

Now, with Keselowski leaving and RFK searching for a new head of competition, the organization is losing a key figure whose impact will be anything but easy to replace.

Fans were calling for Preece to keep the No. 60 rather than take over the No. 6. But in NASCAR, charters aren’t mobile tokens that teams can freely assign to any car number. They’re tied to specific ownership contracts. The No. 60 charter Legacy Motor Club acquired from Rick Ware Racing in 2025, when it expanded to a three-car operation, was never truly theirs to begin with. And while the team’s decision to drop the number from chartered status was purely a business and legal reality, there’s deep attachment to the No. 6 that Roush will likely never part with.

Jack Roush started his Cup Series operation in 1988 with just one car, the No. 6. Mark Martin drove it for the next 19 years, turning it into the team’s flagship. After the legend left in 2006, only a handful of drivers, including David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Newman, and Keselowski, got behind the wheel. Now, it’s Preece’s turn to carry that legacy forward.

Preece built a loyal following through his New England roots and his climb through NASCAR. For fans who supported him in the No. 60, the number became part of his identity. Merchandise isn’t just merchandise. It’s a way for fans to show their loyalty, and a change in numbers can feel like losing a piece of that connection. But not everyone was against the move.

“Makes sense. The 6 means a lot at RFK, and putting a charter driver in it keeps that history alive. Preece earned it.”

“Ryan deserves to have a part in the legacy of that car,” wrote another. “Dudes a h*** of a wheelman and it’s good he’s getting his flowers this far into his cup career.”

Preece has history with the No. 6 from his Modified racing days, and now he gets to add his own chapter to a number associated with legends like Martin and Keselowski. His crew is staying with him, too, so this is a number change, not a team reset.

The bigger question is what happens to the No. 60. RFK’s third charter, which it leased from Rick Ware Racing, is heading to Legacy Motor Club for 2027. That leaves RFK with two permanent charters, the No. 6 and Chris Buescher’s No. 17, while the team looks for a way to bring a third car back to the grid.

RFK president Chip Bowers says the team plans to run three cars next season, even without another charter. But an open entry doesn’t guarantee a spot on the starting grid. The No. 60’s future remains up in the air. A limited schedule is possible, though nothing has been confirmed.

Preece has his seat, and the No. 6 has its next driver. But the No. 60, the car that carried him to his first Cup win, is still waiting for its next chapter.