It’s not the start Brad Keselowski had hoped for. Five races are already over in the 2025 Cup Series campaign, and the RFK Racing co-owner/driver is yet to finish inside the top 10. The veteran racer has been through it all in his illustrious career so far, but the ongoing season has presented itself as a formidable challenge, one that he looks to overcome by rallying his troops in unison.
Just like any real leader, Keselowski is rising to the occasion when the going gets tough. Knowing that working together would be key to pulling RFK Racing out of the rut, the veteran racer went on to give a heartfelt speech to his staff, inspiring them to give it their all.
Brad Keselowski touches on the importance of values
Motorsports is often misconstrued as a one-man sport. After all, on the surface level, the result seems to be dependent on the racer being the first one to cross the finish line. While drivers play a key role in any team, winning championships and making history on the racetrack is nothing less than a joint effort. From the pit stall staff to the crew chief and everyone in between, every member of the team plays an important role in the team achieving its objectives. That’s exactly what Brad Keselowski is trying to highlight to raise the morale of his RFK Racing team.
In a recent speech given to the backroom staff, Brad Keselowski candidly said, “When I grew up in racing, I think I pretty much did every job except for the gas man and jackman which is pretty self-explanatory… Obviously, I drove the race car, crew chief, race engineer, and mechanic one time… I wasn’t very good at any of those things, to be honest, compared to you guys. Everybody is way better at those things than I ever was. But I knew still what it took. The most important thing to me outside of being talented to doing it was having a set of values and behaviors that drove me to do it at the highest level possible.”
Innovative. Profesionalism. Relentless. Teamwork. These were the four words on the monitor as Keselowski inspired his troops. This is what he is looking for from his RFK Racing crew. The 41-year-old veteran racer has completed 15 full seasons at NASCAR’s highest level and knows what it takes to secure results. While there are no guarantees in the sporting world, especially NASCAR, where the finest of margins can make all the difference, the 2012 Cup Series champion doesn’t want his team to leave any stone unturned in their pursuit of excellence. It’s a fair ask from the Michigan native, who is currently languishing 30th in the drivers standings with just 73 points after five races, as RFK Racing has gotten off to a poor start so far.
At @rfkracing all we want to do is win.
Our people carry us forward with common values and elite behaviors. I’m so proud to get to lead a part of this organization. pic.twitter.com/O99FSSxFK5
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) March 20, 2025
However, there have been encouraging signs as well. Driving the No. 60 Ford, Ryan Preece finished third at the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The seasoned racer made his debut for Brad Keselowski’s team earlier this year and seems to share a great camaraderie with his crew chief Derrick Finley as well as his pit staff and the hands-on approach seems to be paying dividends on the racetrack.
However, despite Brad Keselowski’s inspirational speech, it seems that not all is well in the RFK Racing camp.
RFK Racing crew member suspended for substance abuse
Recently, NASCAR suspended Josiah Wright, a rear tire changer of the No. 6 (Brad Keselowski) crew for substance abuse, which will force him to miss this weekend for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After finishing 11th in Las Vegas, the team owner was hoping to finally turn his season around at the 1.5-mile oval, but that prospect has become even more difficult based on recent events.
The news was confirmed by FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, who wrote on X, “NASCAR confirms the two-race suspensions for the Briscoe and Busch teams — tire changer and jackman suspended for wheel coming off. Also, Keselowski had his rear changer Jo Wright suspended for substance abuse policy violation. Coleman Dollarhide replaced him starting last week.” Only time will reveal how the change might impact Keselowski’s prospects in the upcoming race.
At the age of 41, it’s fair to say that Brad Keselowski is in the twilight of his career. However, the Michigan native will want to win another Bill France Cup before hanging his boots, especially with the team he co-owns. However, Kevin Harvick finds that prospect increasingly unlikely, going on to say, “I don’t think we ever see another championship out of Keselowski.”
With many more opportunities remaining to secure a playoff spot, the racer will want to prove his doubters wrong. Ultimately, results on the racetrack will depend on the preparations behind the scenes as well. What do you think? Can RFK Racing turn their season around in 2025? Let us know in the comments!
The post “I Wasn’t Very Good”- Winless Brad Keselowski Uplifts RFK Racing’s Hidden Faction With Heartfelt Message appeared first on EssentiallySports.