In NASCAR, Brad Keselowski has solidified his reputation as a racer and team owner. Keselowski has been a dominant force in NASCAR since his 2004 debut. In 2022, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series winner took a risk by choosing to co-own a team. He took on the combined challenges of managing a team behind the scenes and competing on the track when he joined Roush Fenway Racing as a driver-owner. Keselowski changed the team’s name to Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK Racing) when he was in charge. In the next season, RFK Racing intends to grow to three charters after three years. Notwithstanding the recognition, Keselowski lately shared a startling reason for his ownership path.
The grim reality of a driver’s career is revealed by Brad Keselowski!
Brad Keselowski and Roush Fenway Racing partnered to create a new NASCAR team. Keselowski chose to become a team owner in order to establish a lasting relationship with NASCAR as well as to increase his influence within the organization. In an interview with Kelley Earnhardt Miller for the Business of Motorsports podcast, Keselowski acknowledged that his ownership participation was driven by an honest but “selfish” motive. As a race car driver, you are aware that your career ends somewhat abruptly. Regardless of your skill level, right? Both Harry Gant and Mark Martin lived into their fifties. The exception is that. That’s how uncommon it is.
As a team owner, I can selfishly be a The grim reality of a driver’s career is revealed by Brad Keselowski! Brad Keselowski and Roush Fenway Racing partnered to create a new NASCAR team. Keselowski chose to become a team owner in order to establish a lasting relationship with NASCAR as well as to increase his influence within the organization. In an interview with Kelley Earnhardt Miller for the Business of Motorsports podcast, Keselowski acknowledged that his ownership participation was driven by an honest but “selfish” motive. As a race car driver, you are aware that your career ends somewhat abruptly. Regardless of your skill level, right? Both Harry Gant and Mark Martin lived into their fifties. The exception is that. That’s how uncommon it is. As a team owner, I can selfishly be a part of this sport for however long I want.
Being a team owner gives me the freedom to decide what to do with this sport at the end of the day, not the sport itself, Keselowski said to Kelly. Keselowski’s remarks highlight a harsh reality that many drivers must deal with. Because newer drivers are joining the sport and pushing out more experienced drivers, NASCAR careers frequently have a short lifespan. Longevity is uncommon because of the sport’s high physical and mental demands as well as the fierce rivalry.
Ownership provides Keselowski and other drivers with a means of remaining active and connected to the racing scene. Notably, Dale Earnhardt Jr., a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, discussed the post-retirement concerns a few months ago. Earnhardt Jr. originally welcomed the transition once he stopped racing full-time in 2017, but he eventually struggled with the void left behind. “I had a weird deal where I was fricking awesome with being retired my first year. I was so glad to be out of the grind, but each year it’s gotten worse,” he shared on his Dirty Mo Media platform.
Notably, there have been setbacks to Brad Keselowski’s shift to team ownership, but there have also been some positive developments. Chris Buescher of RFK Racing triumphed at Bristol Motor Speedway in September 2022, marking his first triumph as a co-owner. But in the first two seasons, Keselowski had a hard time seeing the victory lane.
He returned with a triumph at Darlington Raceway in 2024. His three-year winless drought was also stopped by this. Both of the RFK Racing vehicles qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons, demonstrating the team’s continually improving performance. The team’s expansion to three full-time cars in 2025 marked a new milestone in Keselowski’s ownership history. RFK will be able to field Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Ford thanks to a fresh charter that was purchased from Stewart-Haas Racing.
