Brad Keselowski, who plays a dual role as both a driver and a co-owner of RFK Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, recently expressed strong concerns regarding the increasing number of road course races scheduled per season. Speaking after the Circuit of the Americas race, which took place last Sunday and where he finished 20th, Keselowski outlined why he believes NASCAR should reconsider the prominence of road course events in its calendar.
Driver and Owner Criticizes Growth in Road Course Races
With four road course races already planned for the 2026 season, Keselowski questioned the logic behind expanding this type of race.
“I just put on my business owner hat and I don’t understand why the sport wants to run so many road course races. As a business owner, they are the hardest races to sell sponsors for. It has the lowest attendance. That doesn’t make sense to me. We should be going to places where the sponsors wanna be. Where the fans wanna be,”
he said. His remarks highlight the difficulties in marketing these events, which struggle to draw the same sponsor interest and crowds as oval races do.
Road Course Events Struggle to Draw Fans and Sponsors
The challenge extends beyond attendance; television ratings for road course races have also lagged compared to those of oval track events. Keselowski’s views reflect a broader concern that road courses currently lack the same appeal among NASCAR’s traditional fan base. He explained that the sport’s core audience tends to associate NASCAR primarily with oval racing, describing how familiarity influences their preferences.
“I think a lot of fans identify NASCAR with ovals. They understand the concept of what we are doing on ovals and enjoy it more than they do on road courses. That’s my perspective of what I see. I can’t speak for every fan,”
Keselowski stated.
NASCAR’s Efforts to Address Road Course Issues
Despite these challenges, NASCAR remains committed to including road and street courses in its schedule to provide variety and appeal to younger audiences. To address driver concerns, the organization increased horsepower limits for road course races from 670 to 750 this year, although this change has yet to produce notable differences on race outcomes. This adjustment signals NASCAR’s willingness to experiment with ways to improve the competition and overall excitement during these events.
The Future Role of Road Courses in NASCAR
Even with ongoing debates about their popularity and financial viability, the prospect of removing road and street courses from the Cup Series remains unlikely. The inclusion of such tracks reflects NASCAR’s strategy to diversify its racing formats and tap into broader audience segments. Keselowski’s critique underscores a tension between maintaining traditional fan loyalty and expanding the sport’s reach, a dynamic that NASCAR will need to navigate carefully in the coming years.
Do you agree with @keselowski on the amount of road courses on the #NASCAR schedule? pic.twitter.com/6o8NA7Hybk
— SpeedFreaks (@SpeedFreaks) March 2, 2026
