As the NASCAR regular season draws to a close, Brad Keselowski‘s playoff battle with his teammates at RFK Racing is reaching its most turbulent point, with drivers Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher vying for the final coveted playoff position. The high-stakes competition intensifies across upcoming races at Watkins Glen, Richmond, and Daytona, putting the focus on team dynamics and individual ambition in the Brad Keselowski playoff battle teammates story.
RFK Racing Teammates Locked in Tight Playoff Race
Last season, Ryan Preece faced the uncertainty of a possible exit from the Cup Series, lacking both wins and playoff experience after six years. Within Stewart-Haas Racing, Preece found himself overshadowed by teammates with stronger finishes and more secure futures. His statistics—just five top tens and a single top five at that time—left team leaders considering alternatives. Everything changed when Brad Keselowski offered Preece a spot at RFK Racing for the 2025 season. Since then, Preece has delivered a much-needed turnaround, notching ten top tens and three top five finishes, pushing him squarely into playoff contention.
This remarkable improvement is now fueling a heated intra-team rivalry, as Preece’s strong results challenge Chris Buescher for the last available playoff spot at RFK Racing. Just three regular season races remain, raising the stakes for both drivers as they compete directly for a coveted postseason opportunity.
Tempers Rise After Pivotal Iowa Speedway Race
The high-pressure situation at Iowa Speedway highlighted how slim the margin has become between the two RFK Racing drivers. Brad Keselowski showcased his experience, capturing both stage victories and achieving a third-place overall finish, narrowly missing out on the win. Preece continued his upward trajectory with a second consecutive top five finish, while Buescher struggled, ending the race in twenty-second place.
Buescher had enjoyed a sizable gap ahead of his teammate, occupying the sixteenth and final playoff spot with a 42-point buffer prior to the race. After Iowa, that lead shrank to just 23 points. The narrowing gap emphasizes how every lap in the remaining races at Watkins Glen, Richmond, and Daytona could determine which RFK driver continues to the playoffs—and which is left on the outside looking in. Fans and analysts alike are closely monitoring the developments at RFK, wondering whether Keselowski’s team will be united in pursuit of victory or divided by fierce competition for survival.
Preece and Buescher: Balancing Respect and Rivalry
Despite the pressing playoff implications, Ryan Preece maintains that his rivalry with Buescher is underscored by mutual respect. In his words:
I think we have enough respect for each other on the racetrack to do it the right way.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Though he expresses confidence in their ability to compete fairly, Preece acknowledges that the intensity of the battle might require a more aggressive approach as the season wraps up. He points to Watkins Glen as a particular opportunity for Buescher, who is the defending race winner there. But as the playoff line tightens, Preece anticipates that each driver will fight hard for every point.
We are going to race hard. I think between this week and next week…He (Buescher) sees Watkins Glen as a great opportunity to go win and get himself in…If the points battle is really close going into Daytona, obviously, we’re going to take care of each other when it comes to superspeedways. The last few laps, you gotta do the best you can to try to win that race.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
With each event offering dramatically different challenges, the contest between teammates adds a volatile layer to RFK Racing’s playoff hopes. Keselowski, Buescher, and Preece all bring distinct strengths: Keselowski’s success on superspeedways, Buescher’s expertise at Watkins Glen, and Preece’s short-track prowess in Richmond.
I don’t think I would change anything. I typically try to race everybody with the level of respect that I would want back. I don’t necessarily think that I would go and wreck somebody to try to get points like that. I’m just gonna race everybody the way I’d want to be raced.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
The final races are set to test not only the skill of these drivers but also the integrity of their teamwork as they balance self-interest with collective goals.
Crew Chiefs and Industry Voices Highlight Playoff Uncertainty
The NASCAR paddock and veteran commentators, including journalist Claire B. Lang, have taken note of the dramatic storyline developing within RFK Racing. Lang captured the essence of the struggle as the drivers approach Watkins Glen, underscoring the emotions at play:
Had a chance to ask some questions of @RyanPreece_ today. He’s a talented, aggressive racer who desperately wants to make the #NASCAR Cup playoffs. He is racing his teammate @Chris_Buescher who holds the final playoff spot currently headed into this weekend @WGI . Yikes – that… pic.twitter.com/OwqTpSoKiE
—Claire B. Lang, Journalist
Lang’s comments reflect how the upcoming events are set against a backdrop of high hopes and high pressure, where any mistake or flash of brilliance could result in a season-defining outcome for both Preece and Buescher.
NASCAR Car Controversy Fuels Frustration
While the playoff rivalry captures headlines, there are additional challenges testing drivers’ patience this season. Many NASCAR Cup Series drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick, have criticized the current Next-Gen car for making passing difficult and hindering competitive racing. The Iowa race highlighted the problem, with William Byron winning despite running at reduced speed to conserve fuel, and neither Keselowski nor Chase Briscoe able to overtake him even with faster cars and more fuel to burn.
Recent discussions around raising the car’s horsepower from 670 to 750 sparked significant debate, with some arguing the proposed increase is insufficient to address issues related to heavy car weight and on-track maneuverability. Ryan Preece, echoing other veterans, voiced his concerns to reporter Peter Stratta:
From the driver’s standpoint, I wish we would be able to go to a test and overshoot it. Give us too much and just have to dial it back from there because I feel like we need, I know a 1000 horsepower seems like a big number.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
But in my eyes, with the car weighing 3,500 lbs, you’re going to need a big percentage increase to notice, I think what we’re trying to accomplish.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
As the debate over car specifications rages on, the combination of technical changes and playoff rivalry adds layers of complexity for drivers like Preece, who must juggle these challenges alongside their immediate competitive goals.
What Awaits as Playoff Drama Unfolds?
With only a few races left before the playoff field is finalized, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece, and Chris Buescher face not only each other but also the demands of a car that many drivers feel needs dramatic improvements. For RFK Racing, the next three races—at Watkins Glen, Richmond, and Daytona—represent the last opportunities for a postseason ticket. Preece’s remarkable turnaround, Buescher’s defending champion status at key tracks, and Keselowski’s experience place each in legitimate contention, yet only a strong and consistent finish will guarantee a spot in the playoffs.
The Brad Keselowski playoff battle teammates story is far from settled. Internal competition and ongoing debates about the future of NASCAR’s car technology ensure that uncertainty and intensity will persist right up to the checkered flag. Eyes across the sport remain fixed on this RFK showdown, awaiting the next move in a season defined by both resurgence and rivalry.
