Brad Keselowski’s explanation for his Bristol loss centers on a crucial misstep during a restart, as the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion continues his search for a win in a challenging 2025 season. On Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Keselowski finished second, just 0.3 seconds behind Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing, renewing focus on the Brad Keselowski Bristol loss reason.
Another Narrow Defeat Marks a Frustrating Season
Brad Keselowski and the No:6 Ford team found themselves once again finishing as runners-up, repeating their earlier P2 performance this season. The difference this time was that Keselowski felt they finally had the top-performing car on the track. His Ford Mustang controlled the race by leading more than 33 laps, supported by what the driver-owner described as a strong race strategy. However, these advantages weren’t enough as Christopher Bell emerged through late-race chaos and seized victory after a tense duel.
Keselowski has openly shared that the agony of missing out on a win has become all too common for RFK Racing this season. He suggested that luck and pivotal decisions during the race have repeatedly cost his team an elusive victory, and he labeled this latest defeat “frustrating.”
It’s the story of our kind of season. A 50/50 shot on a restart and I got the lane that couldn’t launch. It’s just frustrating. We had a great car, great strategy, put ourselves in position to, if not win, at least have a really, really solid day, and on that last restart rolled the dice and didn’t get anything good.
—Brad Keselowski, via RACER
The frustration was heightened by the knowledge that, unlike previous occasions, the team’s car and planning had put them in the prime position to contend for the win. Instead, a single restart changed everything for the RFK Racing squad.
The Final Restart and Chain Reaction that Changed the Race
As the race entered its closing laps, Keselowski outlined the key factors from the final restart that dashed his hopes for a win. He described how Carson Hocevar’s No:77 Chevrolet failed to accelerate, while Zane Smith, driving the No:38, missed the corner and interfered with Hocevar. This sequence cost Keselowski valuable momentum in his battle against Bell, derailing his run at a Bristol victory.
The [No.] 77 didn’t get a good launch, and then the [No.] 38 missed the corner and cleared him up, and the bottom lane took off. It was a 50/50 shot and like everything else, got the wrong one.
—Brad Keselowski
This critical sequence meant that the inside line—which Keselowski found himself stuck in—failed to launch effectively, leaving him unable to challenge Bell on the final dash to the checkered flag. The moment echoed prior misfortunes that have defined his season and left him and his team searching for answers.
Strategic Tire Play Yields No Reward
Adding to the disappointment, Keselowski revealed he believed his team managed tire strategy perfectly during the event. Special Goodyear tires with additional fall-off were in play, and Keselowski thought RFK Racing’s decisions had put him in the best position to win. Yet, the misfortune on the restart, amplified by a chain-reaction collision he described, nullified the advantage they had built through careful strategy.
The bottom was dominant. A lot of bump-and-run passes. It felt like Bristol from 1995 in that regard…. But we played the tire stuff, I thought, perfectly to win the race. Someone pulled out in front of me there and stopped, when I was leading, and I bumped into him and caused some kind of chain reaction.
—Brad Keselowski
The race saw Keselowski making strong moves, at one point coming close to overtaking Bell by making contact with the No:20 Toyota’s rear bumper. However, even aggressive tactics could not slow down Bell enough, and Keselowski’s challenge ultimately fell short.
Looking Ahead: Can Keselowski Recover This Season?
Keselowski’s post-race remarks reveal deep disappointment and concern that opportunities with such a competitive car may not come again this year, as RFK Racing’s performance has been inconsistent throughout the 2025 campaign. With seven races remaining in the Cup Series season, all eyes will be on Keselowski, RFK Racing, and his competitors—including Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar, and Zane Smith—to see if they can break through the streak of near-misses and finally clinch a win. The tension and intensity at Bristol could set the tone for the closing stretch, leaving the NASCAR field on high alert for what comes next.
