Brad Keselowski questions NASCAR pit road speeding penalty after being hit with a controversial call during a hard-fought top-10 finish at Michigan International Speedway on June 7, intensifying friction between RFK Racing and NASCAR officials. The incident has prompted Keselowski, a former Cup champion and current RFK Racing co-owner, to publicly scrutinize NASCAR’s officiating as his team battles through a tough 2025 season.
Keselowski and RFK Racing Endure a Season of Scrutiny
The 2025 NASCAR season has tested every aspect of Brad Keselowski’s resilience, as both a driver in the No. 6 Ford and co-owner at RFK Racing. With no top-10s and three DNFs recorded before Michigan, Keselowski’s squad saw signs of hope at Kansas Speedway‘s AdventHealth 400 on May 11, when teammate Chris Buescher secured an eighth-place finish. The result offered a much-needed boost to the team‘s playoff chase and momentum for an organization juggling both on-track and managerial pressures.
However, that momentum was quickly undercut following a random post–race inspection at NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. Officials found Buescher’s No. 17 Ford with a front bumper cover reinforced beyond the two-inch limit, spurring a severe L1 penalty. The sanction included a $75,000 fine, 60-point standings deductions for driver and owner, removal of five playoff points, and a two-race suspension for crew chief Scott Graves. The impact was immediate—Buescher tumbled from 12th to 24th in the standings, leaving RFK’s playoff ambitions in jeopardy.
Unwilling to relent, Keselowski led RFK’s appeal, maintaining the technical infraction provided no competitive advantage. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel, featuring Tom DeLoach, Cary Tharrington, and Kevin Whitaker, ultimately reduced the points penalty to 30. This partial reprieve elevated Buescher back to 19th, narrowing the gap to the playoff bubble, but did little to quell the unease within the organization.
Pit Road Penalty Sparks Open Friction at Michigan
The conflict between RFK Racing and NASCAR officials came to a head during the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Keselowski, determined to reverse his season’s fortunes, started a challenging 27th and methodically climbed through the field. Early pit strategy saw him crack the top 21 by the end of Stage 1, but a subsequent trip to pit road for fuel shuffled him back. The real blow landed in Stage 2, when NASCAR penalized Keselowski for speeding on pit road—a decision he instantly disputed.
Taking to social media after the race, Keselowski aired his grievances:
Still not sure how we got speeding penalty from Sunday. Our incar telemetry shows 59.4mph where NASCAR’s system showed 60.9mph.
—Brad Keselowski, Driver and Team Co-Owner
The discrepancy—NASCAR’s system showed him exceeding the 55-mph pit road limit by 5.9 mph, while his team’s telemetry registered a conservative 59.4 mph—turned a remarkable charge from deep in the field into a bittersweet finish. Although Keselowski still battled back for tenth place behind teammate Ryan Preece and just ahead of Erik Jones, the penalty transformed what might have been a top-three result into yet another chapter of frustration for the RFK camp.
Keselowski further expressed disappointment in post–race remarks:
We had a really good car. I felt like we had a top-two or top-three car and just didn’t get to see it through. I’m really disappointed. We kind of crushed ourselves on the pit road with the speeding penalty. Every time we pitted, we would lose a lot of spots. I’m not really sure on the speeding penalty. I felt I was way slow.
—Brad Keselowski, Driver and Team Co-Owner
The controversial penalty echoed throughout the garage, especially as Keselowski’s data, when compared with NASCAR’s timing system, showed a notable gap. This sense of confusion and letdown underscored the broader struggles of a season where luck has rarely favored the iconic Ford team.
Other Drivers Draw Same Ire Toward NASCAR’s Calls
Questions over NASCAR’s fairness emerged openly online, fueling speculation about whether RFK Racing, or Ford teams in general, were being singled out at tracks where they have historically excelled. Michigan International Speedway, often dubbed a stronghold for Ford teams, was once again the backdrop for such discussions, especially after Front Row Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland chimed in to support Keselowski’s frustrations.
I got one right infront of you at the same time, by a lot… didn’t even think I was close.
—Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Driver
Gilliland’s post on social media added weight to Keselowski’s assertion that the penalties were unexpected, and perhaps unwarranted, reflecting a broader uncertainty about how NASCAR monitors pit road speeds. Both RFK and Front Row Motorsports have faced challenges this season, but these public protests have rekindled debates over officiating transparency and device calibration at the highest levels of stock car racing.
Despite the setback, the RFK Racing stable found a rare shot of optimism at Michigan. Chris Buescher turned in a second-place finish, with all RFK entries hitting the top ten—a result that stands out in a season where Keselowski has struggled, with five DNFs and slumping to 32nd in points.
Looking Ahead: Preparing for Altitude and Unknowns in Mexico City
Amid simmering tensions, Keselowski’s attention now pivots to NASCAR’s inaugural international points race at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on June 15. The unique 2.429-mile circuit, with a blend of ovals and road course sections, coupled with high-altitude conditions, poses a daunting test for every team. Engine cooling and performance could prove decisive, and Keselowski remains cautious yet determined in his approach to the event.
You know the high altitude is a big factor. Effectively, as you get higher altitude, the cars run hotter, don’t cool as well, and NASCAR very wisely opened up some options. We need to get on track to validate science, but it looks pretty certain that we’ll go for the high-end package this time. But, you know, maybe not. That’s why we practice.
—Brad Keselowski, Driver and Team Co-Owner
With only Keselowski among active Ford drivers having previously raced at Mexico City in the Xfinity Series, RFK Racing is expected to rely on Chris Buescher’s strong record on road courses to carry the momentum. Still, Keselowski remains determined for his No. 6 team to capitalize on any opportunity to rack up points, keeping the playoff dream within reach as the schedule winds on.
The Larger Conversation: Officiating, Fairness, and NASCAR’s Future
The latest incident at Michigan has moved the spotlight onto NASCAR’s policing of race rules and the growing frustration among drivers over consistency and communication. With the stakes high for playoff-eligible teams, every penalty, especially those with conflicting data, has the potential to shape championship pursuits, team strategies, and the perception of fairness within the sport.
As Brad Keselowski questions NASCAR pit road speeding penalty, fans, teams, and industry insiders alike continue to debate whether recent calls are examples of rigorous enforcement or symptoms of a deeper problem with the system. For now, the RFK organization presses on, searching for speed on track and answers off it, while the rest of the garage keeps a close eye on the next call that could make or break another driver’s season.
