“Just a lot of things that are not coming together, and that’s how the sport goes,” said Brad Keselowski after his tragic Kansas run ended. His 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a rollercoaster on a one-way descent. The 2012 champion, renowned for his determination and leadership at RFK Racing, has been overwhelmed by a barrage of mishaps that have left supporters, critics, and even his competitors stunned. Crashes, mechanical breakdowns, and just plain bad luck have marked his year with the Kansas race summing up the agony of a season awry.
For a driver of Keselowski’s caliber, this string of misfortune feels almost surreal. The crash at Kansas resulted in another DNF, a recurring theme for Keselowski. Beyond bad luck, RFK’s aggressive setups—possibly low tire pressures or risky suspension tweaks—might have contributed, as the team chased speed to stay competitive. With the RFK racer-owner’s multiple DNFs and a points standings position far below his usual standard, the Kansas run was a desperate attempt for a breakthrough, until it all fell through.
Doug Rice and Alexis Erickson were rooting for Brad Keselowski
Kansas Speedway, known for its high speeds and tire-wearing surface, offered a glimmer of hope. No.6 driver showed “vintage form” early in the race, navigating the 1.5-mile oval with precision. His Ford was on rails, passing for position and holding second position in stage 3. Fans, having witnessed him muddle along the entire season, started to believe. The moment was a moment of respite in a year marked by disaster. Keselowski was gaining speed and lap time quicker than anyone at that moment. It was looking like Kansas was his day of redemption.
Then, in a split second, it was all over. The heart-wrenching moment: #6 RFK driver crashed into the wall with a flat tire, and shattered dreams. The broadcast captured the collective gasp. On the PRN Live show, pundits Doug Rice and Alexis Erickson sum up the agony. Rice recalled, “There was one point in this race where hopes were high for Brad Keselowski, who has had a miserable year. And as soon as we say, look at him go, he’s second, he’s gaining on the leaders, then all that disappears.”
Erickson summed it up, “He’s had such a terrible year to see him running in second. You’re like, oh great, Brad Keselowski’s finally having a good day. And then smack, he’s in the wall.” The Kansas wreck wasn’t just a race-ender; it was a microcosm of Keselowski’s season. However, they further dove into the root cause of this flat tire, and maybe it was the need for speed that ended his race.
Many speculated it to be low tire pressures that led to Keselowski’s downfall, a common strategy to boost speed, which likely caused the failure. Tire issues plagued several teams that weekend in practice and during the race, but for the #6 driver, the timing was brutal. “I don’t really know. I’m not an engineer. I wasn’t able to diagnose what happened,” Erickson added. “And that could also be the reason why they had that speed because they were kind of teetering on, you know, what was appropriate for the tire air pressures. But still, when you think about Brad and you think about him as a veteran and what he’s gone through this year, it was a bit of a blow.” The RFK owner’s story is more than a tally of wrecks or DNFs. While his speed has been missing before Kansas, he has not had luck on his side for most of the year.
Brad Keselowski’s Crash: Racing Luck or Tire Pressure?#BradKeselowski #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/0U1EKDHAR3
— PRN (@PRNlive) May 12, 2025
At the race in Texas last week, Keselowski was running well again but got caught up in an incident, which put him out of contention yet again. The incident, emblematic of RFK Racing’s woes, prompted NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. to offer a tongue-in-cheek solution after the Texas race on the Dale Jr. Download: “Are you gonna get a holy man in there? You need to bring somebody in there with the stones and the salt and all that… change the energy. Y’all need to have an exorcist.” Earnhardt Jr.’s quip highlighted the baffling misfortune plaguing #6 Ford, whose teammate Chris Buescher also struggled, mired in a slump that left RFK far from its preseason promise. The team’s mix of near-misses, pit errors, and wrecks has turned 2025 into a nightmare.
But this builds up a story about a veteran driver facing a season that tests his limits. Kansas was a cruel twist, a moment of hope snatched away. Yet, RFK driver’s focus remains forward. Fans, pundits, and even his peers are rooting for him, not just because of his talent, but because of his heart. If anyone can rise from this nightmare season, it’s Brad Keselowski. The road is rough, but he’s still driving.
All’s not lost for Brad Keselowski
The #6 team was electric at the AdventHealth 400, proving they’re a force to be reckoned with in 2025. Keselowski, despite a tough season with no top-10s in twelve races, came out swinging. Starting way back after a practice tweak, he powered through the pack, battling Kyle Larson for the lead. That’s the kind of speed that turns heads! Teammate Chris Buescher was just as fierce, shaking off a loose wheel to charge to an awesome sixth-place finish—RFK’s third top-10 this year.
Both RFK cars were rockets, running top-five at times and racking up valuable stage points. Even when a late tire blowout sidelined Keselowski to 37th, his positivity shone through. “We put ourselves in position like that, you win races,” he said, grinning through the setback. He’s pumped about the team’s progress: “This is a pretty significant overhaul of the #6 team from where we were last year. There are some pieces that are starting to click… Today was a step forward, even though the finishing order’s not gonna show it.” That’s an owner who sees the big picture—RFK’s on the rise, and Kansas proved it.
The team is carrying extra motivation after the loss of beloved member Daniel Allor II, channeling their grief into grit. No. 6’s already laser-focused on the Coca-Cola 600, one of NASCAR’s biggest stages. “Bring cars and speed like this to the Coke 600 and let’s go win it,” he declared, buzzing with confidence. The All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro is next, a chance to fine-tune, but Charlotte is where RFK’s ready to dominate, and Keselowski has won there in the past as well.
With Buescher’s consistency, Keselowski’s hunger, and Preece’s consistency, RFK could be building something special if they get it right. The NASCAR world’s buzzing about their potential, and for good reason—this team’s got the heart and speed to chase victories. Do you think Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing can turn their season around in 2025? Let us know in the comments!
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