There was a time when RFK Racing (formerly Roush Fenway Racing) was a dominant force in NASCAR. In the early 2000s, they racked up back-to-back championships with Matt Kenseth (2003) and Kurt Busch (2004). They won Xfinity championships in the 2000s and 2010s with drivers like Carl Edwards (2007) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2011 and 2012). But as the years passed, the dominance faded.
Once a championship-contending organization, RFK struggled to keep up in the Next Gen era. Enter Brad Keselowski—the 2012 Cup champion who wasn’t content with just driving. He took a bold step in 2022, buying into the team with the hopes of restoring its former glory. Now, three years in, things are far from what he envisioned. And Brad has himself to blame for it.
Brad Keselowski’s struggles cast a shadow over RFK Racing
Brad Keselowski’s 2025 season has been nothing short of disappointing. After six races, he sits a shocking 30th in the standings with just 84 points. He has yet to lead a single lap or even crack the top 10. For a former Cup Series champion, this kind of performance is unexpected and concerning. If history is any indication, struggling this early in the season can spell disaster for playoff hopes.
As a co-owner and driver at RFK Racing, Keselowski carries the responsibility of leading the team. However, his poor results might be sending the wrong message to his teammates. Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece have been outperforming him, ranking ninth and 16th, respectively. While RFK has shown promise with its other entries, Keselowski’s struggles create a stark contrast. When the team owner isn’t delivering results, it can impact morale and confidence across the garage.
NASCAR analyst Eric Estepp didn’t hold back, saying, “I am panicking a little if I’m Brad Keselowski. The standard is different when you’re a former Cup Series Champion… What’s going on with the 6?” Right now, Keselowski isn’t just falling short—he’s nowhere near competitive. Estepp emphasized the alarming statistics: “He’s 30th in points… Zero laps led, zero top-10 finishes.” Numbers don’t lie, and these numbers suggest a driver in crisis.
One potential factor in his struggles is the adjustment to his new crew chief, Jeremy Bullins. The duo previously found success together at Team Penske, winning four races in 2020. However, Estepp noted that “that was a different car generation, a completely different team.” The Next-Gen era has changed the game, and it appears that the chemistry they once had hasn’t translated as expected. “Maybe the fit wasn’t as natural as many of us believed this off-season,” Estepp added. However, Estepp did note that if there was any silver lining, it would be coming up next week!
Apr 29, 2023; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski walks on pit road during practice and qualifying for the Wurth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Estepp said, “If there’s any glimmer of hope for Brad Keselowski… We’re headed to Martinsville this weekend. Same tire combo and similar type of track as the Bowman Gray Clash. Brad Keselowski ran top-5, top-10 much of that night.” Martinsville Speedway presents an opportunity to shift momentum. Keselowski has excelled at Martinsville in the past, most notably in 2019 when he dominated by leading 446 of 500 laps en route to victory. As Estepp pointed out, Keselowski finished 21st at Bowman Gray after he got spun with 75 laps to go, which ruined his car and his pace, which was looking quite impressive.
Keselowski himself reflected on his performance at Bowman Gray, saying, “We showed a lot of potential early on, but we got spun there with 75 to go and really never had a chance to recover. We were solid. Just a fifth-to-10th-place car the whole day. We tried to get a little bit more, but overall, a good debut outing for a team that’s had a lot of changes.” Evidently, the #6 team has shown that they can compete, but not a single points-paying race has reflected that so far.
Let’s take a step back for a second. Brad Keselowski is 41 years old now, and a decline was expected from him at some point. However, there is another driver that Estepp is equally, if not more, worried about, and he’s just in his 20s!
Ty Gibbs is unable to shrug off a terrible ending to 2024
Brad Keselowski isn’t the only driver struggling in 2025. Ty Gibbs, once seen as NASCAR’s next big star, is also facing a worrying downturn. Currently sitting 34th in points, the 22-year-old has yet to secure a single top-10 finish this season. NASCAR analyst Eric Estepp summed it up bluntly: “34th in points, zero top 10s, not even a single stage point.” Gibbs notably ended last season with five consecutive finishes of 30th or worse, and so far in 2025, he has just one top-20 finish in six races. Appalling, to say the least.
“His average finish this year is 25.7,” Estepp noted. Over the last three races, Gibbs’ average running positions were “21st, 29th, 23rd.” As he nears his 100th Cup Series start, doubts are creeping in. “He’s never looked further from his first win than he looks right now,” Estepp added. Part of Gibbs’ struggles could be physical.
A few weeks ago, he flipped in his High Limit Sprint Car debut at Las Vegas, an incident that may have affected his confidence. On the other hand, the mental pressure of not winning a race might have been accumulating over time, as he does have significant pressure being the grandson of Joe Gibbs, the owner of his team. Estepp wondered aloud, “Is it mental? Is it physical?” Recovering from crashes and continuous setbacks is tough for any driver, and Gibbs’ recent form suggests he might not be at 100% just yet.
Another factor at play is his rookie crew chief, Tyler Allen. After Chris Gabehart, Denny Hamlin’s former crew chief, got promoted to the role of competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, he was replaced by Ty Gibbs’ 2024 crew chief, Chris Gayle. This led to Gibbs being thrust into an environment he did not expect to be in. Allen showed promise in the Xfinity Series, collecting eight wins for Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 Xfinity team. However, adjusting to the Cup Series is no small task. “He has a rookie Crew Chief in Tyler Allen. I doubt that’s helping,” Estepp remarked. The chemistry between a driver and crew chief is crucial, and Gibbs’ team is still searching for the right formula.
With so many factors working against him, the big question remains: Can Gibbs and his team turn things around before it’s too late, or is he destined for another season of growing pains like Brad Keselowski? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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