RFK Racing delivered a night of highs and lows at Richmond Raceway, as Ryan Preece captured the pole position and led early, Brad Keselowski battled to a strong top-10 finish, and Chris Buescher worked relentlessly to keep his playoff hopes alive. This RFK Racing Richmond Raceway race recap details each driver’s performance, strategic calls, and the volatile turns of a critical NASCAR Cup Series event.
Keselowski Mounts a Gritty Charge Into the Top Ten
Brad Keselowski arrived in Richmond aiming for his third win at the venue—a victory that would lock in his NASCAR Playoff spot. Starting from sixth in the BuildSubmarines.com <a href="https://slicksandsticks.com/tag/ford/”>Ford, Keselowski fought Chase Elliott for a place among the leaders in the race’s opening laps. An early pit stop on lap 42 shuffled him to 23rd, but as other pit strategies played out, Keselowski steadily regained ground, successfully climbing back into the top ten by the conclusion of Stage One, where he finished eighth.
When Stage Two began, Keselowski restarted seventh and promptly moved up to sixth, displaying pace in the early going. Tire wear quickly became a key concern, and together with crew chief Jeremy Bullins, Keselowski had to weigh every strategic option as night fell. Their challenge intensified when the BuildSubmarines.com Ford picked up minor fender damage in a multi-car incident. Choosing not to pit and surrender valuable track position or expend their final set of tires, Keselowski finished Stage Two mired in 19th place.
With a set of fresh Goodyears in reserve, the team made a calculated pit stop before the final segment, sending Keselowski out in 16th. He initially held position, but after another pit stop on lap 289, he momentarily slipped out of the top 20. The fresher tires became crucial in the closing laps, allowing Keselowski to surge through traffic. Gaining steadily, he entered the top ten again by lap 315. Over the last three laps, Keselowski’s resilience earned him a hard-fought ninth-place result, extending his streak to four top-10 finishes in five starts.
Buescher’s Playoff Ambitions Tested by Handling Woes
Defending Richmond winner Chris Buescher began his race from 12th in the Fifth Third Bank Ford, needing a strong result to add momentum to his playoff campaign. However, from the green flag, the car lost ground as Buescher coped with poor rear grip. Despite dropping back, he kept working to find a rhythm in the early circuits and finished Stage One in 24th position.
During the break between stages, crew chief Scott Graves urged Buescher to keep his composure as the team implemented adjustments. These changes yielded improvements, and by lap 134, Buescher climbed as high as sixth place. The advantage was short-lived, as longer green-flag runs revealed persistent handling struggles. A late restart saw his No. 17 Ford narrowly escape a multi-car wreck, but Buescher lost positions and ended Stage Two in 22nd.
The final stretch remained a challenge, with the team continuing to tweak the car’s setup in hopes of unlocking more speed. Buescher reported that his car’s performance in the corners had improved over previous runs, but repeated pit stops couldn’t reverse the night’s setbacks. Despite his persistence, Buescher finished 30th, coming short of the recovery he needed for his playoff push.
Preece’s Pole and Early Leadership Undone by Brake Issues
Ryan Preece entered Richmond Raceway on a run of strong form, including two top-five finishes in his last three starts. That momentum carried into qualifying, as he took his second career NASCAR Cup Series pole in the No. 60 Kroger/Kleenex Ford Mustang, leading the field for the opening 58 laps of Saturday night’s contest. Facing a critical playoff scenario, crew chief Derrick Finley opted to keep Preece out on older tires to hold back a reserved fresh set for later use. Preece handed over the lead to Tyler Reddick at lap 59 and ended Stage One in 15th position.
After a four-tire service at the break, Preece found himself fighting dirty air and slipped down to 19th place. Responding tactically, Finley put the saved fresh tires on at lap 112. The strategy worked briefly, as Preece cycled back to the front during green-flag pit stops and pitted again at lap 150. A timely caution 33 laps later allowed him to pit from sixth and cling to the lead lap. With renewed pace, Preece rallied to finish Stage Two in sixth, collecting useful stage points for his playoff quest.
Entering the final segment from eighth, Preece appeared poised for a strong result. Around lap 285, however, a brake-pedal problem emerged, making it difficult for him to drive aggressively into the corners. As the mechanical issue worsened, he lost a lap before the crew stopped at lap 334 for repairs, including removing brake tape to bring temperatures down. This extended pit stop cost him four laps, and with the race’s last portion running caution-free, Preece was unable to climb back, closing out the night in 35th place.
What’s Ahead for RFK Racing
RFK Racing left Richmond with a mix of frustration and motivation. Keselowski’s steady, tactical drive kept him inside the playoff picture, while Buescher’s and Preece’s struggles served as reminders that every adjustment and strategy call can shape a season. The team now shifts focus to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the next race scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2025, airing on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET. As the season’s challenges continue, RFK Racing will need to harness both resilience and adaptability to secure their playoff ambitions.
