Brad Keselowski arrived at Kansas Speedway with determination and speed, starting from the back of the pack due to unapproved adjustments but swiftly moving forward. By the end of Stage 1, he had climbed to 14th place, and in Stage 2, Keselowski surged to sixth, earning valuable stage points. For a driver still chasing his first top-10 finish of 2025, this run indicated progress and hinted at greater potential. His No. 6 Ford Mustang showed promise, looking capable of contending for a win.
However, heartbreak struck once again. On Lap 195, while running in second place, Keselowski’s car experienced a sudden loss of rear tire pressure, forcing him to coast to the apron and retire to the garage with a disappointing 37th-place finish. This marked his third consecutive DNF and his fifth of the season. Despite the setback, Keselowski remained optimistic, stating,
As Keselowski struggles to overcome bad luck and mechanical failures, RFK Racing faces an even larger crisis. Days after Kansas, NASCAR imposed a severe penalty on the team’s most consistent driver this season, Chris Buescher. The sanction, arriving just before the high-profile All-Star Race weekend, has forced the team into damage control mode.
Buescher had entered Kansas as RFK Racing’s standout performer, consistently earning points and maintaining a steady position in the top 16 despite tough competition. His eighth-place finish at Kansas was his sixth top-10 of the season, reinforcing his role as a dependable contender. However, post-race inspections at NASCAR’s R&D Center revealed a significant infraction. Officials identified a violation involving the car’s front bumper cover, specifically a breach of Section 14.5.4.G of NASCAR’s rulebook, which permits non-metallic reinforcement only within certain boundaries. According to NASCAR, RFK Racing extended beyond the allowed area, crossing a clear regulatory line.
The resulting L1 penalty inflicted a steep price: a $75,000 fine, a deduction of 60 driver and owner points, five playoff points stripped away, and a two-race suspension for crew chief Scott Graves. These consequences left immediate, heavy impacts on both Buescher and the team.
The penalty sent Buescher plummeting from 12th to 24th in the driver standings, erasing his previously comfortable cushion and placing him below the critical playoff cutoff line. Simultaneously, the No. 17 car fell in the owner points rankings, also dropping to 24th place. This points loss compounds the struggles already faced by Keselowski, who remains over 100 points shy of a playoff berth, and Ryan Preece, who holds the final playoff spot by only a slim 14-point margin. With Kyle Busch lurking just seven points behind Preece, RFK Racing’s playoff outlook has suddenly become precarious.
Prior to the penalty, Buescher represented one of RFK Racing’s moderate successes, boasting six top-10 finishes in 12 races, only one DNF, and an average finish of 15.5. In light of the penalty, however, he now faces a difficult fight to remain in playoff contention, further complicated by the absence of his crew chief for the upcoming All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600. With 14 races remaining in the regular season, the opportunity to recover exists but is limited, especially considering that if two drivers outside the current top 16 win races, Buescher could fall more than 50 points behind the cutoff.
The penalty has ignited debate among fans and analysts, with some questioning whether NASCAR’s disciplinary actions are fair or whether RFK Racing is being disproportionately targeted. Keselowski, who co-owns RFK Racing and is familiar with the ins and outs of NASCAR’s penalty system, has himself advocated for stronger punishments in the past.
Keselowski said in 2023. The irony of his own team now being under such scrutiny is unmistakable, increasing the pressure for a swift and focused response.
Despite the setbacks, Keselowski remains confident in his team’s direction. He urges focus and resilience, emphasizing that the penalty is behind them and that the upcoming races will be decisive.
Keselowski reflected after Kansas. His words reflect a blend of urgency and belief, as the No. 6 car has shown promising speed even if the results have yet to manifest fully.
Thus far, Keselowski has struggled to translate potential into points. Through 12 races, he has yet to break into the top-10 and sits more than 100 points outside the playoff bubble, underscoring the intense challenge ahead.
he said, signaling his focus on the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend classic as a pivotal moment.
RFK Racing is pulling out all the stops in preparation. The team’s annual Fan Day on May 23 promises major announcements, autograph sessions, and behind-the-scenes tours at their Concord, North Carolina, headquarters, underscoring their commitment to building momentum both on and off the track. Yet, the true test lies in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600—a grueling 600-mile race that could reshape the team’s season and rekindle hopes for a breakthrough performance.
Keselowski is already qualified for the All-Star Race, but the real contest takes place in Charlotte during the Coca-Cola 600. A strong showing in that race will offer more than just points; it could infuse the entire RFK Racing organization with renewed energy and confidence. For Keselowski, the stakes are high. A victory would mean redemption, fan approval, and a vital boost to RFK’s playoff ambitions.
As the pressure mounts, the road ahead for Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing is clear: maintain focus, push the limits, and seize the opportunities that remain in the season. NASCAR’s penalty and points deduction present a heavy challenge, but the resilience and determination of Keselowski and his team suggest the fight is far from over. The Coca-Cola 600 is no longer simply a race; it is a lifeline—a moment to prove their mettle and rewrite the narrative before the playoff curtain falls.
