Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing and a prominent NASCAR Cup Series driver, expressed his strong disapproval of the increasing number of road courses in NASCAR. He insists that NASCAR’s foundation is rooted in oval racing and believes the sport should retain that focus rather than shifting toward more road course events.
The 41-year-old driver has an impressive record, with 36 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, including victories in prestigious events like the Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400, and Southern 500. His firsthand experience and success give weight to his perspective on the sport’s direction and race formats.
Keselowski voices concerns amid growing NASCAR road course presence
Keselowski’s comments followed a discussion sparked by motorsports reporter Pete Pistone, who shared social media reactions pointing to fans’ recent enthusiasm for adding more road courses to the NASCAR schedule. Pistone highlighted some irony in today’s criticism by reminding readers that fans had previously requested more road course races, stating:
“The criticism from some today about “too many” road courses is ironic to me because fans literally strongly asked for more just a handful of years ago – so many callers to the channel and as this story reminds on other platforms.”
—Pete Pistone, Motorsports Reporter
Responding to this, Keselowski made it clear that while the sport adapted to fans’ wishes, it has perhaps gone too far:
“We went from 2 to 6 Road course races, Possibly 7 next year. NASCAR was successfully built as a primarily oval racing series. IMSA was built as the primary road course series in North America. IMSA will always do road racing better than NASCAR and that’s ok. Yes, TOO Many Road courses in NASCAR.”
—Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Co-owner and Driver
His remarks underscore a broader debate about NASCAR’s identity and the balance between honoring its oval racing heritage and embracing new formats valued by the fanbase. Keselowski points out that IMSA remains the premier road racing series in North America, implying that NASCAR’s strength and tradition lie elsewhere.
Keselowski’s race at Chicago Street Course ends in early wreck
Keselowski’s frustrations with NASCAR’s road courses were further heightened by his early exit at the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race held on the Chicago Street Course. The event unfolded chaotically when a multi-car collision occurred around lap four, initiated by Carson Hocevar crashing into the wall after turn 10 and spinning out.
As Keselowski attempted to slow down and avoid Hocevar’s stalled car, Daniel Suarez collided with him from behind, triggering a significant pileup that also involved drivers Austin Dillon, Todd Gilliland, AJ Allmendinger, Will Brown, and Riley Herbst. The impact damaged Keselowski’s #6 Ford Mustang severely, breaking its left front suspension and forcing him to retire early—marking his sixth Did Not Finish (DNF) of the season.
Reflecting on the incident, Keselowski told insider Bob Pockrass:
“Wrong spot, wrong time. The #77 (Carson Hocevar) wrecked and blocked the track. I was going to get stopped to not hit him, or if I was going to, it was going to be light, then like three cars came from behind and blasted us.”
—Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Co-owner and Driver
“It broke the left front suspension off the car. It’s a shame we never got a chance to show what we had. I thought we were pretty good, but that’s just how it goes,”
—Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Co-owner and Driver
The crash illustrated the inherent difficulties of racing on narrow street circuits, where limited space and visibility increase the likelihood of multi-car accidents, often ending races prematurely for drivers caught in wrecks.
Implications for NASCAR’s future and race formats
Keselowski’s critique about the prevalence of road courses highlights ongoing tensions within NASCAR as it tries to evolve while respecting its roots. His viewpoint carries significant influence given his status as a championship-winning driver and team co-owner. By advocating for fewer road course events and a focus on oval racing, Keselowski is calling for a reevaluation of how NASCAR balances tradition with change.
As NASCAR continues to refine its schedule, the conversation sparked by Keselowski and others may shape the future direction of the sport, influencing how fans, drivers, and organizers view the appropriate mix of race types. The debate also points to the unique positions of NASCAR and IMSA within North American motorsports, with each specializing in different racing styles that cater to distinct audiences and skills.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Brad Keselowski Polish?
A. Good luck to Brad Keselowski, a NASCAR veteran with Polish roots, racing in the NASCAR Chicago events this weekend. Brad drives the No. 6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
