Brad Keselowski had a standout weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway. After earning the pole for the NASCAR All-Star Race on Friday and dominating his heat race on Saturday, the 2012 Cup Series champion set himself up as a favorite to chase down Sunday night’s $1 million grand prize. But while Keselowski is focused on winning, he’s also thinking about something bigger—reshaping the NASCAR schedule.
In a candid media session on Saturday, Keselowski didn’t hold back when asked about the future of North Wilkesboro and the All-Star Race. The veteran driver made it clear: he wants North Wilkesboro to become a full-time points-paying track again, and he believes it’s time to move the All-Star Race somewhere else.
All-Star Return to Charlotte? Brad Keselowski Thinks So
If North Wilkesboro is going to become a regular-season venue, that leaves NASCAR with the question of where to take its annual All-Star event. Keselowski already has a favorite in mind: Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I think this needs to be a points racetrack,” Keselowski said. “If this was a season race and you had 30-some cars on the track, the racing here would be extraordinary.”
“I’d like to see the All-Star Race most likely return to Charlotte,” he said. “That’s my personal opinion. The Charlotte racetrack, particularly since it only has one race on the oval, I think that’s a miss for our sport.”
Charlotte hosted the All-Star Race from 1987 to 2019 and is also home to the Coca-Cola 600, one of the sport’s crown jewels. But these days, Charlotte’s playoff date takes place on the Roval—a hybrid layout using both the oval and infield road course.
Keselowski doesn’t mince words when it comes to the Roval.
“I’m very strong about the Roval has got to go.”
“I look at the stands and there are more fans that come to the oval race and better ratings, too, than come to the Roval races. I thought that’s what we judge the sport by.” – Keselowski
He acknowledged the Roval has had “some moments,” as one reporter mentioned, but quickly dismissed that idea.
“Has it really?”
“It’s a great racetrack and puts on some of the best racing [on the oval], so it would make sense to me if we were to revert back to that and make [North Wilkesboro] a season race.” – Keselowski
Keselowski even floated the idea of hosting the All-Star Race at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds, showing he’s open to other classic venues, but remains firm in his desire to phase out the Roval.
North Wilkesboro’s Aging Surface Is a Strength
While some might question if North Wilkesboro is ready to return to full-time status, Keselowski believes the track’s aging surface is exactly what makes it special.
“I do like how the track’s aging,” he noted. “It’s gotten to be solid two lanes wide that should play out really nicely.”
The Cup Series hasn’t raced for points at North Wilkesboro since 1996, though the track was part of NASCAR’s original 1949 schedule. Keselowski sees no reason why history can’t repeat itself—just with modern stars.
Still, Keselowski acknowledged that for now, the All-Star format limits what fans can really see from the racing product.
“That’s not what it is right now. So, we kind of have to play the cards that we have.” – Keselowski
RFK’s Kansas Penalty Looms Over the Weekend
Beyond his All-Star success and schedule opinions, Keselowski is also managing off-track issues. His RFK Racing team is still weighing whether to appeal the severe penalty handed down to Chris Buescher’s No. 17 team after the Kansas race.
Buescher’s car was taken to the R&D Center after Kansas, and NASCAR found a violation involving the front bumper cover. The penalty was significant: $75,000 fine, 60 driver and owner points lost, five playoff points taken away, and a suspension for crew chief Scott Graves.
“We’re going to exhaust that time period and evaluate everything by then. I haven’t gotten all of it dialed in yet to fully understand.” – Keselowski
The points hit dropped Buescher outside the playoff cut line and allowed teammate Ryan Preece to re-enter the top 16. Preece had earlier dropped out following a disqualification at Talladega for a spoiler issue.
Despite the setback, Keselowski remains confident in Buescher’s ability to bounce back.
“They have a lot of great races in front of them. Chris is a phenomenal road course racer, a great racer in general.” – Keselowski
That could be critical, as three road courses and a street course—Mexico City, Sonoma, and Chicago—are coming up in the next two months. Buescher, who has won on road courses in the past, isn’t panicking.
“I think it’s been a must-win from Daytona. I think we always had that mindset here, so really, it’s not going to change that.” – Buescher
Football Talent Dominates Pit Crew Challenge
While drivers stole the spotlight on the track, the Pit Crew Challenge at North Wilkesboro gave fans another reason to cheer. Michael McDowell’s crew came out on top in the event, and every member had something in common—they were all former college football players.
The winning squad completed a flawless four-tire stop in just 12.587 seconds, edging out Daniel Suarez’s team by a razor-thin margin.
Rear tire changer Ty Boeck – UT-Chattanooga
Front tire changer Max Marsh – Kansas State
Tire carrier Luke Bussel – Virginia Tech
Jackman Dax Hollifield – Virginia Tech
Fueler Brandon Chapman – Wake Forest
Other fast stops came from Noah Gragson (12.669 seconds), Chase Briscoe (12.695), and Christopher Bell (12.709).
News in Brief: Brad Keselowski Makes Bold Case for North Wilkesboro
Whether it’s his performance on the track or his strong opinions off it, Brad Keselowski is making headlines this weekend. He’s not only chasing a million-dollar payday—he’s pushing for major changes in the NASCAR schedule.
From advocating for North Wilkesboro to host a regular Cup race, to calling for the end of the Roval, to leading RFK Racing through a turbulent penalty appeal, Keselowski is fully engaged on all fronts. As the sport evolves, voices like his could help shape its future—one bold quote at a time.
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