Brad Keselowski’s transition to the Next Gen car in the NASCAR Cup Series has presented ongoing challenges, both in the driver’s seat and as co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK). Since the introduction of the Gen 7 model in 2022, Keselowski has faced difficulty adapting, affecting his race results and the overall performance of his team—a reality that has led to frustration and pressure as he juggles dual roles within the organization. The topic of Brad Keselowski Next Gen struggles has taken center stage as the veteran driver assesses his diminishing victories and steep learning curve.
Background: A Champion Faces Hard Times
The Next Gen car marked a significant shift when it entered NASCAR’s top series in 2022, coinciding with Keselowski joining RFK as both a competitor and co-owner. With a decorated past that includes 35 Cup Series wins and a championship title in 2012—the final triumph for Dodge—Keselowski’s résumé was impressive before this change. However, since the Gen 7 debut and his move to RFK, he has secured only one victory.
Keselowski candidly admitted his struggles. “That’s been hard for me,” he said, referencing the personal and professional challenges that came with the change in car and team dynamics.
Mixed Results in Recent Seasons
Since the Next Gen car’s introduction, Keselowski has made the playoffs twice: he finished eighth in 2023 and thirteenth in 2024. His first season with RFK proved to be especially challenging, finishing 24th overall and missing the playoffs. Now, with only six races left in the current year, Keselowski sits twentieth in the standings, having recorded two second-place finishes, one third, and two fifths—well below his career average.
As a team co-owner alongside Chris Buescher, he has seen mixed fortunes. Both missed the playoffs in 2022, then returned in 2023 where Buescher finished seventh. However, Buescher missed the cut again last year and this year is seventeen in the standings. Ryan Preece, a recent addition as the team expanded to three cars, also failed to make the playoffs, sitting eighteenth.
Brad Keselowski Details the Difficulty of Adapting
On the “Stacking Pennies” podcast, Keselowski was open about how the new car design has altered his driving experience and results.
“The Next Gen car changed me in some ways for the worse as a driver because you have to drive it way differently,”
said Keselowski, sharing his perspective on adapting to the new era of racing.
He contrasted his early Cup days—when high horsepower and tire spin demanded precise control—with today’s car.
“My first Cup start was at Texas, and you could literally spin the tires off the corner, you spun the tires up. You come off of turn four, and you’d be putting the gas pedal down on the rear tire. Now, you can’t spin the tires on a restart. Like, I’m in the zone, mash it, here it goes (and it’s) like I’m in an old pickup truck,”
Keselowski explained.
He further expressed,
“It’s different because the other cars that I’ve raced, throttle control was paramount. If you didn’t have it, you’re going to the back fast. And this car, it’s like the antithesis of that. You’ve got to like just smash the pedal. That’s been hard for me personally.”
Looking Toward the End of a Driving Era and Ownership Future
At 41, Keselowski acknowledges that his long career on the track is nearing its closing laps. As he contemplates moving solely into an ownership role at RFK, he remains determined to make the most of his remaining time behind the wheel, even amid these technical obstacles. He has had to reshape his driving style and mindset to stay competitive.
“I have to remind myself to like just drive it stupid, you know?”
Keselowski admitted, describing the unorthodox approach now necessary.
“I am definitely Team Horsepower. You look at races like Bristol, where the tires wore and you couldn’t do that and I was like, ‘Oh, these guys are in a heap of trouble,’ particularly the younger drivers that never had to drive anything that required throttle control. They just burn them off.”
Potential Changes on the Horizon for the Next Gen Car
With only a limited window left to prove himself again as a Cup Series winner, Keselowski is looking ahead to rumored changes for the next season. NASCAR is expected to increase the current 670 horsepower per motor to somewhere between 740 and 750, which could impact driving dynamics in ways more reminiscent of earlier eras.
“It looks like NASCAR is going to change the rules next year to where we’re like 740 750,”
he predicted.
“It’s not quite 100 (more horsepower) because right now technically they’re at 670 – but realistically they’re like 685, 690. I think it’s just going to be a bigger spacer. That’s my understanding.”
If the anticipated upgrade materializes, it may help restore the throttle sensitivity Keselowski excelled with in previous generations, potentially revitalizing his competitive edge and giving him one last push for another championship.
The Significance of Keselowski’s Struggles
Brad Keselowski’s ongoing battle with the Next Gen car reflects a broader tension within NASCAR as veterans adapt to new technology and changing race dynamics. As a leader at RFK Racing and a former champion, Keselowski’s effort to adjust is watched closely by fans, competitors, and stakeholders within the NASCAR Cup Series. With potential rule changes looming and his driving career approaching its final stretch, the next chapter for Keselowski—whether on the track or as a full-time owner—remains one of the sport’s most compelling stories.
