Brad Keselowski came within inches of ending his long winless streak at Bristol Motor Speedway, only to watch another late-race opportunity slip away. After leading when the final caution flew, Keselowski pitted for fresh tires and lined up on the outside for the last restart, a move that ultimately cost him the lead. Despite tracking down Christopher Bell in the closing laps, his last-chance bump-and-run failed to deliver, leaving RFK Racing still searching for its first victory of the season.
Key Highlights
Brad Keselowski led late before a final caution set up a dramatic Bristol finish.
Restart choice on the outside lane allowed rivals Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar to slide ahead.
Keselowski caught Christopher Bell but his bump-and-run attempt only pushed Bell forward.
RFK Racing remains winless in 2025, extending Keselowski’s personal drought beyond 50 races.
Similar late-race heartbreaks have plagued Keselowski’s season, including a near-miss at Atlanta.
Restart Gamble Backfires
Keselowski’s night unraveled when Cole Custer merged onto the track directly in front of him, sparking the final caution that also involved Bubba Wallace. Though the caution initially seemed beneficial, the restart turned into a costly gamble.
“I’m just pissed. We did all the right moves, and just kind of got screwed on the last restart.” – Brad Keselowski
With fresh tires and the outside lane, Keselowski appeared ready to close the deal. But when Carson Hocevar spun his tires and Zane Smith surged ahead, the path cleared for Christopher Bell to seize the lead.
Bump-and-run Comes Up Short
Keselowski quickly chased Bell, setting up a classic Bristol finish. The RFK driver delivered a calculated bump on the final lap, but the hit failed to move Bell out of the groove.
“Still were going to be fine (after the caution), and then on the restart, the 77 [Hocevar] spun his tires and the 38 [Smith] cleaned him out. Basically, all Chris had to do was turn left. I had a shot at him down here on the last lap. I hit him, and it didn’t do anything.” – Brad Keselowski
Instead of a victory lane celebration, Keselowski settled for another runner-up-style frustration that has defined his season.
Season of Near Misses
RFK Racing’s winless campaign continued with this setback, extending Keselowski’s personal drought to more than 50 races. His last victory came at Darlington in May 2024, and Bristol marked yet another agonizing finish.
.@keselowski was there. 👀 pic.twitter.com/UBOXRmWsLt
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 14, 2025
“Just the story of our season, just a 50/50 shot on the restart and I got the lane that couldn’t launch. Just frustrating. We had a great car, great strategy, put ourselves in position to, if not to win, at least have a really, really solid day, and on that last restart, (we) just rolled the dice and didn’t get anything good.” – Brad Keselowski
The disappointment mirrors his Atlanta race earlier this season, where a late pass cost him the win on the final lap.
News in Brief: Brad Keselowski’s Bristol Heartbreak Extends Winless Streak
Brad Keselowski lost another late-race chance at victory during the Bristol Night Race after a final caution and a costly restart choice. Contact with Christopher Bell on the last lap failed to move Bell, leaving Keselowski still winless since May 2024. RFK Racing’s season-long drought continued as all three cars missed the playoffs. Keselowski cited frustration with a 50/50 restart decision that backfired.
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