As the 2025 Brickyard 400 approaches this Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski expressed a desire to revive his intense NASCAR rivalry with Kyle Busch, a clash once marked by fierce competition and heated moments. However, Keselowski noted that their rivalry has diminished recently due to their current struggles to consistently compete for wins in the sport’s playoff race.
Once a headline-grabbing feud, the Keselowski-Busch rivalry has cooled in recent years as both drivers have faced challenges maintaining front-running form. Their rivalry was briefly reignited during a recent NASCAR promotional spot for the Homestead championship race, which led Keselowski to comment candidly on their current standing in the sport.
“I think we’re both in a position where it’s hard to have a rivalry — and I’ve said this throughout my career — when you’re not competing for wins. And right now, neither of us are have been consistently in a spot where we’re competing for wins. And so, any type of rivalry is really just a distraction.” —Brad Keselowski
Neither Keselowski nor Busch is in the running for the NASCAR playoffs at this stage of the season. With only five races remaining in the regular season, Kyle Busch trails the cutline by 39 points, while Keselowski sits 27th in the standings having earned 360 points, leaving him 140 points below the playoff threshold. The battle remains open with four playoff spots available among twelve different race winners already this year.
Keselowski’s last victory came in May 2024 at Darlington, which was his only win in the previous 154 races. Despite flashes of strong performance, he has lacked the consistency to challenge regularly for victories. Busch’s winless streak extends even further; the two-time champion has not won since June 2023 and failed to qualify for the playoffs last year.
“I’d love to rekindle that rivalry because in my eyes what that would mean is that we’re competing each other for wins. I always tell our people like, you have disagreements throughout the year — you don’t get in a fight over 15th place finishes… But, when you’re running up front, those are the good rivalries. I don’t think the two of us have seen each other much up front.” —Brad Keselowski
This reflects more than personal sentiment; it highlights the reality both drivers face. Combined, they have led only 163 laps so far this season. Their challenge now is to reestablish competitive form as they prepare for Sunday’s race with hopes of shifting momentum in their favor.
Tracing the History of Keselowski and Busch’s NASCAR Rivalry
The rivalry between Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch stands as one of NASCAR’s most memorable and fiery confrontations, spanning over a decade filled with on-track collisions, confrontations, and pointed remarks. It began with Keselowski’s blunt insult toward Busch during driver introductions in Bristol 2010, setting the stage for numerous clashes to come.
Significant incidents followed, including a dramatic final-lap collision at Watkins Glen in 2012 that intensified tensions. In 2013, Busch spun Keselowski in an Xfinity Series race at Kansas, prompting Keselowski to brand Busch as a “dirty racer.” The antagonism escalated in 2016 at Bristol, solidifying their feud with aggressive racing. Even off-track, sharp exchanges continued, such as Keselowski’s remarks in 2017 accusing Toyota teams of “sandbagging,” leading to further online disputes. Throughout their rivalry, both drivers’ competitive spirits and confrontations have been highly publicized and eagerly followed by fans.
Keselowski and Busch Focus on Playoff Contention Amid Rivalry’s Shadow
As the regular season nears its conclusion, both drivers face the immediate challenge of securing playoff spots. Sunday’s 160-lap Brickyard 400 represents a significant opportunity to gain valuable points at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For Keselowski and Busch, the race holds personal significance based on their past performances.
Keselowski claimed victory at the Brickyard 400 in 2018 and took the Xfinity race there in 2012, showcasing his comfort on the iconic oval. In 12 Cup starts at Indianapolis, he has recorded six top-10 finishes. Busch, however, has historically seen greater success at this venue with two Cup victories and five top-five finishes. Though he has not dominated recently, Busch’s team, Richard Childress Racing, has shown resilience with six top-15 finishes in the last nine races. Keselowski has kept pace, earning five top-10s in his last nine races with an average finish near 15th.
Both drivers hope that finding the competitive speed they once had will bring their long-running rivalry back into the spotlight, fueling not only personal motivation but also fan excitement. The possibility of Keselowski and Busch battling up front again could reignite the tensions and drama that made their encounters so compelling.
The Importance of a Renewed Rivalry to NASCAR’s Playoff Drama
While the Keselowski-Busch rivalry may seem secondary to their current struggles, rekindling this feud could add an intense layer to the 2025 NASCAR playoff chase. Their competitiveness represents more than personal pride; it signals their return to championship contention. A rivalry thrives where victories and stakes are high, and both drivers acknowledge that until they are consistently running at the front, the feud remains a distant memory.
The Brickyard 400 may provide the platform either driver needs to turn around their season’s fortunes, advance toward the playoffs, and reignite the fierce competition that NASCAR fans have long followed. As the playoff race tightens week by week, the stakes grow higher for Keselowski and Busch to reclaim their places among the sport’s elite and revive one of its most captivating rivalries.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Kyle Busch go in 2026?
A. Kyle Busch announced on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway that he will keep driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing until the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series ends.
Q. Why did Kyle Busch restart 4th?
A. He didn’t hit Ross Chastain or Kyle Larson and only lightly touched the wall. This means he wasn’t really part of that incident. That’s why he could restart at the same position he was originally in.
