Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing entered the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series with high expectations, aiming for victories and possibly another title. Instead, Keselowski endured a turbulent season that set a frustrating new record, marking the Brad Keselowski winless 2025 season as one of the most agonizing droughts in recent Cup history.
Hopeful Start Turns Bitter as Races Slip Away
The year began with optimism swirling around Brad Keselowski, a veteran with thirty-six career Cup wins and a reputation for closing races in dramatic style. Throughout the season, he was a frequent presence at the front of the pack, leading laps and giving fans plenty of hope that a breakthrough was near. But in a pattern that grew ever more exasperating, he came up short each time as opposing drivers managed to pass him for victory right when it mattered most.
Late-race cautions shattered carefully laid strategies, while restarts often saw him lose position after leading the field. A particularly painful moment arrived in Phoenix, where a final lap pass denied him a critical win that could have salvaged the narrative. Instead, disappointment deepened with a statistic that cast a harsh light on his season.
Setting a Record for Heartbreak on the Track
According to prominent racing analytics, Keselowski was overtaken for the win in seven different races during the 2025 season — the highest number for any winless driver in NASCAR Cup Series history. The stat drove home just how cruel the campaign had become for Keselowski, his team, and his loyal fans.
“Random stat:Brad Keselowski was the driver passed for the win in seven races in 2025.This was the most by a winless driver in a single season in NASCAR Cup Series history. pic.twitter.com/YPDtObcIpw”
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights)
Each of those seven races was a “nearly there” moment, with the possibility of triumph in sight before it turned into another “almost” instead of a win. Keselowski concluded the season with a solid 13 top-ten finishes and six top-fives, highlighting that speed and competitive edge were present, but none resulted in a trip to victory lane. Fans hoping each week for a turnaround were left disappointed right through to the checkered flag at Homestead.
For a champion so respected for his closing abilities, these near-misses were more than just bad luck. The repeated collapses under late pressure began to look like a genuine pattern, sparking intense conversations among fans, especially on social media.
Strategic Risks That Did Not Pay Off
Keen observers and fans of NASCAR pointed out the calculated risks Brad Keselowski and his RFK Racing team took throughout the season, often trying unconventional tactics for better mileage or track position. Sometimes in racing, bold gambles are rewarded, but in 2025, they seemed to backfire more often than not.
“They are notorious for running a cycle long… gambling and staying out.”
— NASCAR fan
Pocono Raceway offered a clear example of this struggle: Keselowski led as the pits closed, opted to gamble by staying out, and then suffered significant position losses, winding up with a top-five but missing the victory. Instead of moments of brilliance, these decisions typically resulted in heartbreak, and fans saw a season where each gamble left more to regret.
Fan Frustration and the Weight of Expectation
The pain of repeated letdowns created intense emotions among Keselowski’s supporters, many of whom described their experience of the season as agonizing. They watched as their favorite driver led in the final laps, only to see him overtaken again and again. The consistent pattern turned even the most promising restarts into points of anxiety, as fans braced for inevitable disappointment.
“Yet he says it isn’t time to retire… oh brother!”
— NASCAR fan
Despite the persistent shortcomings, Keselowski, now forty-one, has stated his determination to keep competing. His speed on the track suggests he can still win, but that unwavering confidence hasn’t prevented fans and pundits from questioning if it’s time for a new direction. In sports, especially following heartbreak, these doubts are all but guaranteed to surface.
“This stat just broke my racing heart fr.”
— NASCAR fan
Why This Record Hurts for a Proven Winner
For a driver who has long held the reputation as one of the sport’s elite closers, being passed for the win seven times in one season is especially bitter. These were seven separate races where success seemed nearly inevitable, only for it to be snatched away in the final moments. The quiet radio chatter, the collective groan of the crowd, and the celebrations of others left a lasting sting.
Keselowski’s 2025 season became an emotional roller coast for both himself and his fanbase. As NASCAR turns to the off-season, the priority for RFK Racing is clear: they must find solutions for late-race speed, focus on executing smarter strategies, and address why they can dominate large stretches of a race but falter at the very end. There’s little room for another year defined by “almosts.”
Looking Ahead to 2026: Can Hope Return?
As Brad Keselowski reflects on the winless 2025 season, both he and his fans are left with difficult questions and renewed motivation to change the trend. While heartbreak defined this year’s effort, the fight for redemption begins now. The hope for RFK Racing and Keselowski’s dedicated supporters is simple: that the series of near-misses from 2025 set the stage for a breakthrough in 2026, finally turning “almost” into triumphant “at last.”
Random stat:
Brad Keselowski was the driver passed for the win in seven races in 2025.
This was the most by a winless driver in a single season in NASCAR Cup Series history. pic.twitter.com/YPDtObcIpw
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) December 3, 2025
