That 2024 Darlington win was massive—Brad Keselowski’s 36th career victory, his second at the “Lady in Black,” and RFK Racing’s first of the season. If you recall, Keselowski out-dueled Ty Gibbs by 1.214 seconds in a chaotic finish where Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick crashed out fighting for the lead. Keselowski called it a “slam dunk” kind of day, a retro classic that Darlington’s known for. Now, at 41, he sits in a precarious spot as the Cup Series heads to Darlington once again.
NASCAR fans, let’s get real about Brad Keselowski. The 2012 Cup Series champion is in a rut in 2025, and it’s been a tough watch. Seven races deep, he’s got no top-10s and no laps led. It’s a far cry from the glory days, and with RFK Racing teammates Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece shining early, the pressure’s on. But as the Cup Series heads to Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400 this Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FS1), there’s a glimmer of hope. Darlington’s been his track to beat in the Next Gen era, and Keselowski revealed his thoughts entering the Goodyear 400 this week in a conversation with Eric Estepp.
Brad Keselowski recalled his special day at Darlington
The numbers don’t lie, and they’re grim. Keselowski’s 30th in the standings after seven races, a spot he’s not used to. Meanwhile, Buescher’s been racking up top-10s, and Preece, the new guy, is turning heads with a P3 at Las Vegas and a P9 at Homestead. Keselowski’s best finish is an 11th at Vegas, and he rolled into Homestead only to limp out in 26th. It’s a frustrating contrast. He’s the co-owner watching his employees outpace him. But Darlington is where he broke a 110-race winless streak last year, and that memory’s fueling his fight.
Eric Estepp got the scoop straight from Keselowski, asking about the team’s vibe after a rocky start and the crew chief swap. Here’s what he said: “Darlington [is] probably my best track in the Next Gen era so the last three seasons. Obviously, winning there last year was great. It’s a big win for me and for our team and, I’ll say, for Castrol. I had that 125-year scheme on it last year, and you know, just thinking back through all that, it was one of the best days of my life, so it’s really special, and I’d like to relive that again this year.”
The Darlington victory was one to savor for Keselowski. After an emotionally charged race, Keselowski reflected on RFK’s vision as a team after his triumph, saying, “I see just a group that keeps getting stronger. It’s tough because I feel like there’s been a lot of two steps forward, one step back, and you keep doing those… Win races honest and be competitive, and the two steps forward are just now being realized. It never comes as quick as you want it to. It’s a tedious, painful process that takes a deep grind at all levels.” This ‘two steps forward and a step back’ mentality has been reflected in their performances this season too.
Keselowski continued to Estepp, “We had a significant amount of turnover. We haven’t put all the pieces together as it stands today, but that we’ve shown flashes of being able to do that that are very encouraging to me. They haven’t translated to results, and I’m keenly aware of that. I think our potential is pretty high, but we have to go out there and we have to go realize that. We have to go execute off of it. We haven’t done that so far, but I’m optimistic that with time and effort, we can do that very soon.”
These fashes of brilliance are runs like Keselowski qualifying ninth at Atlanta, only to finish 39th after an accident on track. Ryan Preece’s stellar run from 33rd to 11th in a matter of laps at Phoenix showed that with the right strategy, RFK has the speed, and it’s time that they turn these top-5 and top-10 finishes into trips to victory lane.
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 07: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 King’s Hawaiian/Despicable Me 4 Ford, looks on in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 07, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
This season’s been brutal for Keselowski. Some might even dub him 2025’s “unluckiest driver,” with bad luck and missed opportunities piling up. One wonders if he’s got one more vintage run in him, like Denny Hamlin’s Martinsville masterpiece at 44. Keselowski’s not blind to the struggle, he knows the results aren’t there. But he’s got Bristol and Talladega after Darlington, tracks where he’s won nine times combined. So if Darlington doesn’t spark the turnaround, those could. Hamlin did that at Martinsville, and Darlington might be Keselowski’s calling.
That fire in him to win? It’s still roaring. “I have a hunger and desire I don’t think is much different than when I was getting started,” he told USA Today in January. At 41, after 15 years in the Cup Series, most would coast. Not Keselowski. He’s chasing that rookie energy, that itch to win, even as 2025 kicks him around with no top-10s in seven races.
Off the track, Keselowski’s heart is as big as his desire to win, pouring his time into more than just racing. This week, he stopped by a Pee Dee hospital in South Carolina, spending time with kids ahead of the Goodyear 400. It’s not just a photo op—it’s who he is, a guy who gets that life’s bigger than the finish line. Then there’s his work with RFK Racing’s advanced manufacturing push. He’s driving a new facility in Concord, NC, set to create 50 jobs by year’s end. He’s not just building cars; he’s building a legacy, blending his racer’s grit with a businessman’s vision.
Darlington’s his next shot to prove the clock doesn’t own him. It’s where he snapped a 110-race drought last year. Sunday’s Goodyear 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1) could be his moment. Can he outrun Father Time and silence the doubters? We’ll find out together. But for now, he will revel in his biggest bet at RFK.
Keselowski’s bet on Ryan Preece is paying off big
Brad Keselowski took a big swing this year, expanding his team to three cars and putting Preece in the No. 60 Ford. And guess what? It’s working. Preece is tearing it up in 2025, and Keselowski’s not shocked one bit. Seven races in, and Preece has a third, a ninth, and a seventh-place finish, as many top-5 finishes as the entirety of 2024 and just two fewer top-10s! That’s a guy who’s found his groove. Meanwhile, Keselowski’s been stuck in the back, fighting bad luck and a slow start. It’s gotta sting watching your own driver outshine you, but he’s proud.
Keselowski told CBS Sports, “Right now what I like about Ryan is he’s taking what we have and he’s executing at a level that’s probably as good or better than the equipment he’s got. … I like his work ethic, the moves he makes, how he takes smart risks – All of those to me are critical to being successful at this level. I think I saw those things and felt like if he was surrounded by the right pieces, whether that be people or equipment, that he could certainly capitalize.”
Preece’s past at Stewart-Haas Racing was rough—two years, barely cracking the top 20. Keselowski saw something others didn’t. Much of the team’s early performance is a testament to RFK’s choice of driver in Preece. He’s not just racing; he’s proving a point.
This gamble wasn’t random; it was calculated. Keselowski raced against Preece, saw his grit, and bet on it. Now, with teammate Chris Buescher holding strong, too, RFK’s looking fierce. Preece is the spark, and Keselowski’s the guy who lit the match. And now Keselowski would also hope to stoke the flames too, and a win at Darlington would certainly revive his season. Do you think Brad Keselowski can take Throwback Weekend by storm? Let us know in the comments!
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