Brad Keselowski narrowly missed adding another win to his record during the recent NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Night Race, held this past Saturday. After breaking a 110-race winless spell in May 2024 at Darlington Raceway, Keselowski was eager to build on that momentum at Bristol, where the intense competition kept him just short of victory.
In the final moments of the race, Keselowski ran second behind Christopher Bell and attempted a bump-and-run move in Turns 3 and 4 on the last lap. The maneuver failed to dislodge Bell, whose No. 20 Toyota accelerated forward to claim the checkered flag. Keselowski settled for second place, marking his second runner-up finish of the 2025 season. Kevin Harvick reflected on the finish, pointing out that Bell’s positioning left him vulnerable to the move Keselowski tried but ultimately could not capitalize on.
I watched him bulldoze his way through on the restart and he threw that thing down in there at the end but in the end, Christopher Bell held onto it,
Harvick said on Tuesday’s Happy Hour podcast.
… He should have never been in that position. He missed the corner in Turns 1 and 2, he missed the bottom. You want to be right at the end of that first third of that corner to where you’re still going straight so when he hits you, it just kind of launches you forward.
Keselowski’s Late-Race Strategy and Restart Decisions
Keselowski held the lead for much of the Bristol race before a caution came out on Lap 488 of 500, providing an opportunity to pit for fresh Goodyear tires. Choosing the outside lane for the final restart, Keselowski later expressed regret about that decision as it put him behind a pack of drivers including Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, who surged ahead.
Christopher Bell took advantage of the restart, quickly moving to the front and maintaining his lead despite Keselowski closing the gap. Harvick noted that with just one more lap, Keselowski might have overtaken Bell and secured the victory, underscoring how narrowly the race was decided.
Harvick Observes Improvement in Keselowski’s Season Performance
Despite the disappointment at Bristol, Kevin Harvick highlighted Keselowski’s clear progress this season. While the start of the year placed Keselowski in a difficult position, recent races have shown better competitiveness and stronger finishes.
Let’s give Brad his credit here. They are, at least, in contention to be competitive for the win,
Harvick remarked.
We’ve seen it a couple times now, so it seems like the 6 have put themselves into a little bit better position performance wise. That’s not a typical BK move throwing it in there [like that].
Implications for Keselowski and the NASCAR Season Ahead
While Brad Keselowski’s near miss at the Bristol Night Race was a testament to his renewed competitiveness, his performance signals he is a formidable presence going forward. With improvements noted by fellow drivers like Kevin Harvick and strong finishes this season, Keselowski’s potential to add more wins is intact. The race also highlighted the critical impact of strategic decisions, such as tire choice and restart positioning, which may influence how Keselowski and his team approach future races in the NASCAR Cup Series.
