Brad Keselowski suffered a broken right femur during a skiing accident in mid-December, raising concerns about his readiness for the 2026 NASCAR season. The 42-year-old driver from Rochester Hills, Michigan, recovered sufficiently to compete in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, although he missed the preseason Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Keselowski began the season with two superspeedway races at Daytona and EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta Motor Speedway), performing well enough to sit ninth in the point standings after finishing fifth and 17th. However, the upcoming race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), a technical 17-turn, 2.4-mile road course in Austin, Texas, is expected to challenge him further given the demanding nature of road course driving and his ongoing recovery.
Joey Hand Ready to Substitute for Keselowski
Ford factory sports car driver Joey Hand is on standby to replace Keselowski in the No. 6 Ford if the latter is unable to compete in the DuraMAX Grand Prix at COTA. Hand has experience in NASCAR’s national series, with nine starts—all on road or street courses—including eight in the Cup Series since 2021. Most recently, Hand finished fourth driving for RFK Racing on the Chicago street circuit in 2024. His latest NASCAR national series appearance was at Portland International Raceway with RSS Racing in 2025.
If Keselowski cannot race, NASCAR would grant him a playoff waiver, ensuring that he remains eligible for the championship playoffs as long as he finishes the regular season within the top 16 in points. This precaution provides some relief to both the driver and team following Keselowski’s previous health scare, which fortunately did not require David Ragan to step in at Daytona or Atlanta.
Broadcast Details and Season Outlook
The DuraMAX Grand Prix from COTA is scheduled for Sunday, March 1, with live coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Fox. Fans can access the race through a free trial of FuboTV, capturing the excitement of the season’s first road course event.
Given Keselowski’s ongoing recovery and the demanding nature of the Texas road course, the weekend holds significant uncertainty. Should Keselowski race, his performance may indicate his recovery progress and capacity to compete on such challenging tracks. If Hand drives, it will test RFK Racing’s depth and adaptability in high-stakes situations.
