As the NASCAR season advances beyond the All-Star weekend, drivers like Brad Keselowski face increasing pressure in the NASCAR playoffs due to an expanded schedule that now incorporates more road course and street races. Kevin Harvick recently cautioned Keselowski and RFK Racing about the growing challenges, highlighting that the upcoming 14 races will be pivotal for many competitors striving to secure playoff positions.
Increased Road Course Races Heighten Playoff Competition
With the introduction of the Next Gen car and a race calendar featuring five to six road course events, the playoff landscape in NASCAR has transformed significantly. Previously, a driver could handle a single road course without much consequence, but now these races can critically influence playoff eligibility. The next stretch includes four critical races that blend road course and street racing, making it a difficult period for drivers who have yet to clinch a playoff berth.
Harvick pointed out that several specialists in road racing, such as AJ Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen (often referred to as SVG), and Tyler Reddick, are poised to shake up the playoff picture. These drivers, deemed “road course ringers,” could secure wins that knock out current points leaders, including Ross Chastain and Ryan Preece, by capturing wild card playoff spots.
Will Ryan Preece Withstand the Pressure on Road Courses?
Ryan Preece currently occupies the 15th position in points, just above the playoff cutline, but his spot is far from secure. Kevin Harvick explained on the Happy Hour Podcast the potential disruption road course winners can cause for those near the playoff bubble.
“Road Course season is going to be interesting for Allmendinger, SVG, some of these guys that you don’t think should be in the playoffs that could easily put them in the playoffs, and that’s when it starts to get interesting. Having guys get into the playoff picture with a win that aren’t even close on the points battle, then it starts to get interesting because you’re knocking guys out,”
said Harvick.
Both Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger have proven dangerous on road courses before. In 2023, SVG’s victory at the Chicago Street Course propelled him into the spotlight, while Allmendinger’s win at the Charlotte Roval kept his playoff hopes alive. These wins underline a trend that threatens drivers like Preece, who has only managed a single top-10 finish on road courses during the current Gen 7 era.
Allmendinger’s recent misfortune with an engine failure at Kansas dropped him dramatically from 15th to 25th in points, illustrating how volatile the standings can be. Harvick also warned that if road course specialists claim victories, this could push Preece and others further away from playoff contention.
“Then the Allemendinger’s are out, the Preece’s and the guys who are right there around the bubble, all of a sudden are way further behind,”
he added.
The threat extends beyond RFK Racing. Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain, despite currently holding safer positions, are not immune to being bumped out. Harvick highlighted the precarious situation for Chastain, who sits 11th with a 56-point cushion but could still find himself endangered by multiple road course winners.
“I feel like that could bump up into that Chastain area even though it seems like he has a good points cushion right now I think you gotta take two or three of those spots out of the mix because of the guys that are gonna win,”
Harvick remarked.
This wave of road course races could allow someone like SVG, who excels on these tracks, to displace drivers who perform better on ovals, despite not accumulating as many points overall through the season.
Brad Keselowski’s Struggles and Playoff Outlook
Brad Keselowski, co-owner and driver within RFK Racing alongside Ryan Preece, is currently grappling with a slump in performance. The #6 team has endured a challenging season, and Keselowski’s best chance to reach the playoffs may hinge on a wildcard superspeedway race, an event type that favors his driving style.
Despite this, Keselowski does not appear optimistic about securing a playoff spot with a road course victory, reinforcing the notion that his primary hopes lie elsewhere on the schedule.
Keselowski Critiques Charlotte Roval and Suggests Changes to NASCAR’s Schedule
Keenly aware of how the current playoff structure emphasizes road course races like the Charlotte Roval, Keselowski has openly voiced his dissatisfaction with that particular venue. The Charlotte Roval is a hybrid of an oval and infield road course that serves as the Round of 12 elimination race in the playoffs. Keselowski, favoring traditional short oval tracks, criticized the Roval’s place on the current schedule, proposing instead that North Wilkesboro—a historic track that last hosted a points race in 1996—could return and replace the Roval.
After earning pole position and winning his heat race at the recent All-Star event, Keselowski shared his vision for the schedule:
“I think this needs to be a points racetrack. I think the Charlotte racetrack, particularly since it only has one race on the oval, I think that’s a miss for our sport. It’s a great racetrack and puts on some of the best racing, so it would make sense to me if we were to revert back to that and make this a season race, and probably get rid of a race like the Roval or something like that.”
When reminded of the Roval’s role as the elimination venue in the playoffs, Keselowski was skeptical, responding, “Has it really?” He pointed to greater fan attendance and television ratings at the oval races compared to the Roval events as part of his argument. Ultimately, Keselowski emphasized,
“I thought that’s what we judge the sport by. I’m very strong about the Roval has got to go.”
This perspective amplifies ongoing discussions within NASCAR about balancing tradition with modern race formats, especially as drivers and fans voice their preferences.
Playoff Implications Amid a Shifting NASCAR Landscape
The increase in road course and street races in the NASCAR schedule signals a shift toward a more diverse and unpredictable playoff season. Drivers who excel on traditional ovals may find their momentum disrupted by specialists thriving on these newer race formats. For RFK Racing, this means Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski face an uphill battle securing playoff spots under mounting pressure.
Harvick’s warnings reflect an intense competitive environment where wildcard victories could recalibrate the standings and unseat established points leaders like Chastain. Meanwhile, Keselowski’s critique of the Charlotte Roval challenges NASCAR to reconsider its playoff venues, potentially restoring historic short tracks like North Wilkesboro to maintain fan engagement and preserve racing heritage.
Fans, teams, and drivers alike will be watching closely as the next 14 races unfold, determining who can adapt to these evolving conditions and who may fall short as the postseason approaches.
