Brad Keselowski has acknowledged that 2025 has been a challenging season, marked by setbacks and misfortune, such as his disappointing 33rd place finish at Darlington due to a tire issue. Despite these hurdles, Keselowski and his crew chief Jeremy Bullins remain optimistic, maintaining that persistence and a focus on improvement will eventually lead to success. Amidst the challenges, including logistical issues with a retro paint scheme, the team is committed to overcoming obstacles and finding victories.
Key Highlights
- Keselowski acknowledges 2025 has been challenging, with struggles on the track and setbacks affecting performance.
- Despite difficulties, Keselowski remains optimistic about future improvements and the potential for a turnaround later in the season.
- Crew Chief Jeremy Bullins attributes recent issues to bad luck and emphasizes the team’s ongoing resilience and determination.
- The team faced controversy for not having a retro paint scheme due to logistical and brand alignment challenges.
- Keselowski and his team are committed to learning from their setbacks to enhance future race performances.
Brad Keselowski’s Struggles in the 2025 Season
The promise of this partnership has not translated into success on the track. Each race seems to compound his challenges, eroding confidence and testing resilience.
While Keselowski had hoped for a turnaround at Darlington, a venue where he previously achieved victory in 2024, misfortune continued to plague his efforts.
This ongoing struggle highlights the unpredictable nature of racing and the relentless pursuit of excellence needed to succeed.
A Glimpse of Hope at Darlington, but Trouble Strikes
Although Brad Keselowski entered the Goodyear 400 at Darlington with optimism, the race quickly turned from hopeful to challenging. Starting in 20th place, Keselowski carried the strain of being the defending winner, having led 37 laps in the previous year’s race. His team’s efforts were promising in Stage 1, with Keselowski finishing 6th and his teammate, Chris Buescher, in 4th, signaling a strong performance.
However, adversity struck when Keselowski faced a right-rear tire issue during a pit stop, causing him to spin. This incident led to a caution flag on lap 137 due to debris. The situation worsened as a wheel nut came off, relegating Keselowski to 36th place, four laps behind.
Despite having a solid car, these setbacks resulted in a 33rd-place finish. This outcome was another blow in a season marked by challenges, highlighting the unpredictability of racing fortunes.
Jeremy Bullins Remains Optimistic Despite Setbacks
Despite the setbacks at Darlington, Jeremy Bullins, the crew chief for Brad Keselowski, chose to focus on the positives following the race.
Bullins openly acknowledged the challenges faced but highlighted the team’s strong performance, stating, “We had a great car today. Probably had one of the better cars in the long run.” His optimism stemmed from a belief that bad luck heavily influenced their recent struggles rather than a lack of skill or preparation.
“Yeah, we had a great car today. Probably had one of the better cars in the long run. Just that unfortunate pit stop knocking the right rear tight, the wheel came off – cost us a couple of laps. Got one of them back, just could never get in the race situation to get us back.” – Jeremy Bullins
Caught up with Jeremy Bullins, the crew chief for Brad @Keselowski and the No. 6 @RFKracing team. They had great speed, but a detached wheel derailed their day. Bullins says after the start they’ve had to 2025, they have to either laugh or cry, he’s choosing to laugh for now. pic.twitter.com/d5Vy5mCwct
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) April 6, 2025
Bullins encouraged the team to maintain their resolve, emphasizing tenacity with, “keep our heads up, keep working, and keep digging.”
“At some point, you either [gotta] laugh or cry about it. We’re going to laugh, keep our heads up, keep working, and keep digging. We know we’re a better team, we’ll be finishing these races, and we’ll be fine.” – Jeremy Bullins
This sentiment was echoed by Keselowski, who suggested that experiencing bad luck early in the season could potentially clear the way for improved outcomes later.
“I kind of have this feeling that we’re getting a lot of the bad luck out of the way very early in the season. That’s kind of the overwhelming sentiment and that if we stay the course, it will come back to us.” – Brad Keselowski
Both Bullins and Keselowski believe that perseverance and sustained effort will eventually lead to a change in fortune, reflecting a shared conviction that the best is yet to come.
“You know, I’ve been through stuff like this in the past. I just try not to question why or what, just keep digging and keep bringing cars to the track – sooner or later it’s all going to click.” – Jeremy Bullins
The Retro Paint Scheme Controversy and Team Owner’s Explanation
While many drivers displayed vintage designs during Darlington’s Throwback Weekend, Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford remained in its usual Castrol colors, sparking some controversy among fans and spectators.
The choice to forgo a retro paint scheme was not without explanation. Team owner Brad Keselowski clarified the decision, citing logistical challenges in coordinating a quality throwback design. He explained that aligning global brand initiatives with throwback traditions posed difficulties, as these brands often have their own priorities that might not align with the weekend’s themes.
Keselowski acknowledged the team’s pride in past throwback efforts, demonstrating a history of engaging successfully with the event. However, this year’s lack of a retro scheme, whether by chance or design, coincided with an unfortunate performance during the race.
“It’s hard to get all the different people to line up to pull it off. For my car this weekend, we have Castrol on it. We did throwbacks the last few times here. It’s kind of like we ran out of a little bit of energy to pull off one that was good enough to make a mark, so to speak. The other thing is…we have global brands on our cars, and they have global initiatives and things that are going on, and they want to make sure they hit those. With limited windows to do that, it doesn’t always work out. I think from a body of work on the throwback stuff we’ve done a lot and I’m really proud of what we’ve done.” – Brad Keselowski
Despite this, Keselowski remained optimistic, suggesting that while this year posed challenges, future endeavors promise better alignment and execution of the revered throwback tradition.
News in Brief: Brad Keselowski NASCAR Struggles 2025
Brad Keselowski’s 2025 season has been marked by considerable challenges, including setbacks at Darlington and the controversy surrounding the retro paint scheme. Despite these hurdles, his crew chief, Jeremy Bullins, maintains a positive outlook, believing in the team’s potential for future success.
Brad Keselowski acknowledges the difficulties but remains steadfast in his belief that better days are ahead. The team is committed to learning from their experiences, focusing on improvement, and aiming for a stronger performance in upcoming seasons.
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