Something strange is happening with Brad Keselowski in 2025. The RFK Racing driver and team co-owner is stuck deep in the standings, far from where many expected him to be. After months of poor finishes and bad luck, one race might change everything—or make things worse. With RFK Racing facing its own problems and the regular season moving fast, this weekend could bring answers. But nothing is certain yet. All eyes are now on what happens next at Nashville Superspeedway.
Brad Keselowski’s 2025 Free-Fall
Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of RFK Racing, is enduring one of the most challenging seasons of his career. As of mid-2025, Keselowski finds himself languishing in 32nd place in the championship standings—a position far removed from the heights he once routinely occupied. This dramatic drop is unprecedented for a driver of Keselowski’s caliber, who has long been regarded as a perennial contender and a benchmark for consistency.
Keselowski’s 2025 campaign has been marred by a series of misfortunes and lackluster performances. Through the opening races, he has failed to secure a top-10 finish, let alone challenge for a win. His best result to date is a 15th-place finish at Circuit of the Americas, a track where he has not traditionally excelled. At other venues, such as Atlanta and Phoenix, he was collected in crashes not of his own making, compounding his early-season woes. The string of bad luck has been so persistent that Keselowski has yet to finish a race under ordinary circumstances, with almost every event featuring some form of incident or mechanical trouble.
Statistically, his 2025 season is a stark contrast to his previous years. His average starting position hovers around 25th, and his average finish is similarly uninspiring. In the era of stage racing, poor qualifying results translate to a lack of stage points, making it even harder to climb the standings. Keselowski’s current form is a far cry from the days when he was a regular at the front of the field, routinely leading laps and contending for race wins.
The RFK Factor: Leadership and Growing Pains
Brad Keselowski’s struggles cannot be viewed in isolation. As both driver and co-owner of RFK Racing, he shoulders the dual responsibility of leading a team while also performing at the highest level on the track. Since joining RFK (formerly Roush Fenway Racing) in 2022, Keselowski has been instrumental in revitalizing the organization. His leadership, combined with strategic hires and a bold expansion to three full-time cars in 2025, has positioned RFK as a team on the rise.
However, the early stages of 2025 have exposed the growing pains associated with such rapid growth. While Keselowski’s teammates—Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece—have shown flashes of speed and secured top-10 finishes, the No. 6 team has lagged behind. At Homestead, for example, Buescher finished sixth and Preece ninth, while Keselowski was a non-factor, fading to 26th. This disparity raises questions about the No. 6 team’s direction and whether Keselowski’s dual role is stretching him too thin.
RFK Racing’s recent history is one of resurgence. After a difficult first year under Keselowski’s ownership, the team rebounded in 2023 and 2024, combining for five wins and multiple top-five finishes between Keselowski and Buescher. Keselowski himself won at Darlington in 2024, proving that he and the team are capable of competing at the front. But in 2025, the momentum has stalled. The addition of a third car, while ambitious, has added complexity to the team’s operations, and Keselowski’s on-track struggles have cast a shadow over the organization’s progress.
Despite the setbacks, Keselowski remains optimistic. He has spoken about the “overhaul” of the No. 6 team and the positive changes he believes will yield results. At Kansas, he showed signs of life, running near the front before a late-race tire failure dashed his hopes. His recent fifth-place finish at Charlotte, where he led laps and challenged for the win, offers a glimmer of hope that the tide may be turning. Still, the road ahead is long, and the pressure is mounting for Keselowski to deliver.
Brad Keselowski’s Last Stand? Nashville Could Define His 2025
For Brad Keselowski, the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway may be more than just another race—it could be the turning point of his season. After a miserable start to 2025, a top-five finish at Charlotte finally gave him a glimpse of hope. But hope doesn’t pay off in points. Sitting well outside the playoff cutline, Keselowski enters Nashville knowing that another poor showing could be the final blow to any postseason dreams. While he hasn’t had strong results at this track in the past, his veteran savvy, combined with RFK Racing’s recent penalty relief, could offer the foundation for a rebound. But the clock is ticking, and Keselowski knows it.
High Stakes for RFK Racing in Music City Madness
The pressure isn’t just on Keselowski—it’s on RFK Racing as a whole. With Chris Buescher barely clinging to the final playoff spot after a penalty reduction, and Keselowski buried in the standings, the team needs a spark. Nashville’s unpredictable nature, highlighted by last year’s five-overtime thriller, could open the door for a surprise performance. The concrete surface and chaotic finishes often reward resilient teams, and RFK must be ready to pounce. A strong result could change the narrative heading into summer, not just for Keselowski’s career trajectory, but for RFK’s reputation as a contender or pretender in the modern NASCAR landscape.
News in Brief: Brad Keselowski’s 2025 Season About to Implode
Brad Keselowski’s 2025 season has fallen far below expectations, marked by poor finishes, mechanical issues, and crashes beyond his control. Once a consistent front-runner, the RFK Racing driver now finds himself 32nd in points and facing growing pressure. While teammate performances and past success offer some hope, the addition of a third car and his dual role have complicated matters. Nashville Superspeedway may define whether redemption is still possible—or if the decline continues.
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