NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski’s commitment to military veterans was forged in 2010 during a life-altering visit to Walter Reed Medical Center, where he encountered a wounded friend. This pivotal moment led to the creation of the Brad Keselowski veterans charity, the Checkered Flag Foundation, which has since made a significant impact on injured servicemembers and their families.
A Chance Encounter Sparks a Lifelong Mission
In 2010, as a NASCAR Cup Series rookie and NASCAR Xfinity Series contender, Brad Keselowski traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit Walter Reed Medical Center. This military hospital treats servicemembers who have suffered grave injuries during service overseas. What started as a routine stop for the rising racing star quickly became a transformative experience.
During his visit, Keselowski unexpectedly crossed paths with a friend recently returned from deployment in the Middle East, who had been injured in an IED incident. The encounter deeply affected Keselowski, as he witnessed firsthand the difficult recovery process his friend was enduring, both physically and mentally.
“I was at Walter Reed Medical in 2010,”
recalled Keselowski to Frontstretch.
“And I ran into a friend who had recently deployed in the army to the Middle East and was in an IED-related incident. I randomly ran into him at the hospital, and he was not in good shape, physically or mentally.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Struck by the gravity of his friend’s situation and realizing the contrast between his own life and those of his contemporaries facing these hardships, Keselowski felt compelled to take meaningful action.
“I actually remember feeling so bad for him and just thinking to myself how lucky I was to be a racecar driver and to be where I’m at,”
Keselowski said.
“Where, you know, my contemporaries, whether it be friends or people of my age and generation, were faced with something so difficult.”
Driven by the emotional impact of that day, Keselowski decided to establish a charitable organization focused on aiding injured veterans.
“I decided right then and there when I saw him in that hospital and saw how bad he was. It was a tough experience.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
From Racing Dreams to Supporting Heroes
Though fully committed to his NASCAR career, Keselowski had often considered a future in the military. Raised by 1989 ARCA Menards Series champion Bob Keselowski, Brad’s first career ambition was stock car racing. Yet, had he not found his place on the track, a life in the armed forces—specifically as a pilot—was his next aspiration.
“I was a young teenager,” Keselowski said.
“I was probably 13, maybe younger than that, right in that age, before I had any kind of racing thoughts as a racecar driver. The easy answer is fly airplanes. That would have been pretty cool, but I wouldn’t limit myself to just that. Helicopters look pretty cool, too. Do that in the army. Anything that would let me fly, I would have probably done.”
Keselowski’s fascination with military aviation was clear.
“There’s a couple [aircraft] that I liked. On the helicopter side, of course, there’s the Apache, which is super cool. On the airplane side, I fell in love with the [F-14] Tomcat. I wouldn’t want to be a Tomcat guy now. At that time, it was towards the cream of the crop.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Despite his early interest in military service, Keselowski found lasting success in racing. Over the years, he became a NASCAR Cup Series champion, co-owned a multi-car Cup team, and embraced fatherhood. However, his passion for supporting veterans only grew stronger.
Meaningful Encounters and Emotional Journeys
Since the inception of the Checkered Flag Foundation (CFF) in 2010, Keselowski has undertaken numerous visits to military hospitals, forging bonds with wounded servicemembers and their families. These visits have yielded powerful stories that continue to shape both his outlook and the focus of his foundation.
“I’ve done a number of hospital tours over the years,”
Keselowski said.
“And at one point, I walked into the hospital room with someone, and it was just a soldier who had lost all his arms and legs. He was basically on life support, and his mom was sitting there with him as he was recovering, and from what I was told, he did recover, and [was] getting to talk to his mom for a little bit.”
One particular moment remains deeply etched in his memory:
“That was one of the hardest, because she is just fresh into this new reality of her son and just being there for a moment for her to have someone to talk to you. I’ll never forget that.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Direct interactions with those in hospitals are among the most rewarding, yet Keselowski describes even small gestures as significant. These “microdoses” of meaning reinforce his dedication to CFF’s mission with each new story.
Ceremonies, Tributes, and Public Acknowledgment
The Checkered Flag Foundation’s Homecoming Heroes Event, held in May, showcased the charity’s approach to recognition and support. Veterans received certified service canines, and the event included a comedy show and live music by country artist Tim Dugger, further sharing gratitude for military service.
Keselowski’s public tributes have also made a lasting impression. In September, he raced a special Tribute to Veterans car at Darlington Raceway, emblazoned with the names of 643 military veterans.
“Our Tribute to Veterans car is finally here and ready to carry the names of 643 military heroes this weekend at Darlington Raceway! If you will be at the track this weekend stop by the fan zone on Sunday from 12-6 to see the paint scheme up close. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/G4a7QZB4Ps”
—Checkered Flag Foundation (@BKCFF)
This act resonated with participants and their families.
“The Tribute to Veterans car [was] probably the biggest [rewarding moment],”
Keselowski said.
“I don’t want to say the stories are the same; they’re not the same. But they’re in a similar vein of a loved one saying, hey, my dad’s on your car, my brother or my sister or my aunt or whatever it might be. And seeing them on their car made it feel like they were still here. Getting to see them and be remembered, that’s always really touching.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Ongoing Dedication and Long-Term Vision
Since that pivotal day at Walter Reed, Brad Keselowski, originally from Michigan and now 41 years old, has channeled personal commitment into action, helping the foundation raise millions of dollars for wounded veterans over 15 years. His perspective on hardship and gratitude has only deepened with each interaction.
“It gives you tremendous perspective,” Keselowski said.
“I hesitate to take any credit, but it gives you tremendous perspective when you think you know what a bad day is until you see some of those people and the sacrifices they’ve made and the hardships that they’re going through. And you’re like, ‘Well, maybe this wasn’t as bad a day as I thought it was.’ There’s a lot of perspective there.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Keselowski remains committed to the longevity of the Checkered Flag Foundation, expressing hopes that his children will take up the cause so that the charity’s mission will endure long into the future.
“My goal for the foundation is, candidly, that when the day comes when I’m not alive, that it keeps going, that it endures,”
Keselowski said.
“I hope my kids will be able to pick it up and do something with it. I hope they want to pick it up and do something with it and are able to. That’s one of my goals that I’m really proud of [and] thinking of a lot.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“I hope it’s around 100 years from now, doing something cool and special.”
—Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
The Enduring Impact of Racing for a Cause
Brad Keselowski’s veterans charity stands as a testament to the power of empathy, personal experience, and long-term dedication. His ongoing work with the Checkered Flag Foundation has created concrete support and meaningful recognition for wounded servicemembers and their families. As Keselowski looks to the future, his commitment suggests that this mission, born from a chance encounter at Walter Reed, will not only continue but inspire others across generations to honor and serve veterans nationwide.
Our Tribute to Veterans car is finally here and ready to carry the names of 643 military heroes this weekend at Darlington Raceway!
If you will be at the track this weekend stop by the fan zone on Sunday from 12-6 to see the paint scheme up close. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/G4a7QZB4Ps
— Checkered Flag Foundation (@BKCFF) August 28, 2025
