Fans will keep a close eye on Brad Keselowski in the upcoming race at Talladega Superspeedway. He boasts an average finish of 15.0 across 32 starts there, which includes six wins, 12 top-five finishes, and 16 top-10s. However, despite such impressive credentials, predicting outcomes at Talladega remains a gamble. Keselowski recently opened up about this unpredictability and what it means for him as a driver.
This year, Keselowski qualified P22 for the race, mirroring his starting position from last season. In that race, he managed to claw his way up to finish Stage 1 in P8, only to slip back to P23 by the end of Stage 2. He rallied once again, crossing the finish line in P2. In the fall race at Talladega, he started P13 and once again came home second. Such results, much like the race itself, tend to swing wildly, making it difficult to establish a clear narrative.
Addressing the nature of superspeedway racing during a recent media session, Keselowski was asked whether he still believed he could execute the breathtaking moves necessary to win at Talladega. The RFK Racing co-owner responded, “Yes and no. This car is more reliant on getting a physical push, where we went through an era where the cars were not quite as reliant on that.”
He elaborated, stating, “This car has shown time over time… that really it’s about the front two lanes and how they are able to get off of Turn Four and the physical contact between the cars. And how that all plays out is really dictated by the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-place cars, so I feel a little less in control.” This statement highlights a shifting dynamic in racing strategies, indicating how changes in vehicle design have influenced driver interactions on the track.
Keselowski pointed out that, although last year the #6 team narrowly missed victory in both Talladega races, he felt they were in a position to win coming out of Turn Four in both events. However, the critical pushes he needed never materialized. He noted that he positioned himself well for a win, but the support from other drivers just wasn’t there.
Feeling nostalgic, he added that the dynamic today feels different compared to five or six years ago when cars pushed each other more through air bubbles rather than through direct physical contact. The game has indeed changed, and Brad Keselowski believes it will continue to evolve with future adjustments in racing technology.
When asked to share his thoughts on drivers’ mindsets before approaching tracks like Talladega, where they might run a near-flawless race yet still be caught in a wreck at the end, Keselowski admitted, “You have to, one, get over yourself and not allow your own ego to put you in a place where you get your feelings hurt.” This sense of realism is crucial for success in a sport where unpredictability reigns supreme.
Keselowski shared his simple mindset regarding plate racing: he accepts that wrecks are often inevitable. Statistically, this rings true. However, his goal remains steadfast—ensuring that whenever he avoids wrecks, he positions himself to fight for the win.
The 41-year-old Michigan-born driver reflected on which days hurt him the most. He explained that it’s not the days where he crashes out that sting the most, but rather the days where he remains clean yet finishes outside the top 10. To Brad Keselowski, those represent the true losses—surviving the chaos but coming home empty-handed. In his view, the key is to capitalize on the races where wrecks are avoided and turn them into top-10 finishes.
