Brad Keselowski aims for Michigan victory with family this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, seeking to honor a legacy that began with his late father Bob Keselowski’s victory at the same track. The Keselowski brothers, both Rochester Hills natives, return with renewed determination as Brad prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series race, hoping to recreate a poignant family moment from 33 years ago.
Family ties drive determination at Michigan
With memories from Michigan International Speedway deeply embedded in the Keselowski family history, Brian Keselowski, Brad’s brother and spotter, expressed his anticipation for the race by sharing a family victory lane photograph from 1992. That year, their father, Bob Keselowski, celebrated a win at the ARCA race, creating a milestone in the family’s racing journey.
“33 years ago we were here taking victory lane pictures. Can’t even begin to explain how it would be to do it again. Especially getting to be a part of it spotting for Brad. Absolutely can’t wait to get it started here in a few minutes for practice.” —Brian Keselowski, Spotter
Brian, himself a former driver and crew chief, has previously stepped in to spot for Brad, including occasions such as Charlotte earlier this season while TJ Majors was unavailable due to medical reasons. This unique dynamic adds to the emotional weight the brothers feel as they approach another attempt to claim victory at the familiar track.
Brad Keselowski faces fresh challenges in the 2024 season
This weekend, Brad Keselowski lines up 27th in the Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing No. 6 Ford for the 200-lap event, set to start at 2 pm ET and streamed on Amazon Prime. Currently standing 32nd in the Cup Series points, Keselowski has only managed a single top-five finish this season at the Coca-Cola 600. Despite these hurdles, he remains focused, with his RFK teammates—Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Ford and Chris Buescher in the No. 17—holding 16th and 14th positions, respectively.
Keepsakes and hunger for victory fuel Keselowski
The draw of family and local support is a motivating factor for Brad Keselowski as he prepares for the home race. Appearing in a May interview with FOX, he reflected on the personal significance of racing at this venue amidst familiar faces and shared his heightened desire to win at Michigan International Speedway.
“I got a lot family still there and I get to see them and to race in front of them, just a tremendous privilege and you wanna win more because of that, right?” —Brad Keselowski, Driver and RFK Racing Co-owner
As co-owner of RFK Racing, Keselowski emphasized that capturing a win now has added meaning, not only as a driver but also representing the Roush and Keselowski families alongside Jack Rousch at the track. His determination is amplified by previous close calls at Michigan, including two strong runs over the last two years.
“It would mean a lot to me before, but now that I own part of the team with RFK, with Jack Rousch and to have him and his family at the racetrack, it would mean even more. We’ve been really close, we had two great runs last two years, top-fives, and second place finishes, pole and win stages, and leading the most laps, just haven’t broken thought that win and I feel like we’ve done everything, I’m super hungry to bring it home,” he said. —Brad Keselowski, Driver and RFK Racing Co-owner
Last year at Michigan, Brad Keselowski finished fifth, just ahead of his teammate Chris Buescher, who concluded the race in sixth and went on to win the FireKeepers Casino 400. With Buescher starting in fifth this week, the RFK Racing team is optimistic about repeating their success at this track.
Legacy and hope fuel Michigan aspirations
The Keselowski family’s return to Michigan International Speedway symbolizes both a personal and professional milestone. For Brad, the opportunity to fulfill a decades-old family ambition, especially as an owner and competitor, comes with deep emotion. As the team readies for the green flag, hopes are quietly high for a triumphant homecoming—one that would resonate through both family history and RFK Racing’s ongoing NASCAR journey.
