Brad Keselowski has confirmed he will not be appearing at the rescheduled 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, even after the event’s postponement to February 4 due to heavy snowfall. The RFK Racing driver is focused on recovering from a serious leg injury and is prioritizing his return to the Daytona 500 over any unexpected participation in the Clash.
Keselowski, the driver and co-owner of RFK Racing, remains sidelined following a broken right femur sustained during a skiing accident on December 18. Without a valid NASCAR competition license, he cannot compete in any race before completing and passing mandatory tests, which he plans to undertake later this week. This means he is unable to replace Corey LaJoie behind the wheel of the #6 RFK Racing car for the rescheduled exhibition.
When a fan on X inquired whether Keselowski might drive in the Clash after the extra preparation time from the delay, he responded clearly:
“Short answer- NO Long answer- I don’t currently have a valid NASCAR driver’s license. Scheduled to take the different tests end of the week. Must pass to drive the car at DAYTONA or anywhere else. Big week ahead” – Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver and RFK Racing co-owner
NASCAR mandates that drivers possess an active license to participate in any event, and Keselowski must clear specific evaluations before he can return to competition. His medical clearance test is scheduled for February 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will determine if he is fit to race again.
Details on Keselowski’s Leg Injury and Recovery Process
Keselowski’s injury—a fractured right femur—has forced him out of the Clash and led to Corey LaJoie stepping in as his replacement for the event. The injury is severe, involving the largest bone in the body, which has caused considerable pain and has impacted his racing schedule.
In an interview with Bob Pockrass, Keselowski described the severity of the injury and his outlook on recovery:
“It’s a really painful thing to break. It’s the biggest bone in your body, which is kind of the bad part about it. The good thing is it’s also one of the fastest healing parts of your body, so I’m just really dealing with the pain and trying to recover as fast as I can.” – Brad Keselowski
Despite the setback, Keselowski is determined to make a successful return to the track. After a difficult 2025 season where he finished winless and missed the playoffs, the 41-year-old driver and his #6 RFK Ford team are planning to regroup and aim for improved performance this year.
His upcoming medical evaluation at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be crucial in determining when he can safely return to NASCAR competition, with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15 as his primary goal.
Fans awaiting updates on Keselowski’s status and other NASCAR news will find this period critical as the driver balances recovery and preparations for a potential comeback in what promises to be an intense upcoming season.
