Brad Keselowski displayed a glimpse of his best form during Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway, leading a race-high 46 laps before narrowly finishing second. The RFK Racing co-owner was edged out by Chase Elliott by just 0.168 seconds after a tense final-lap exchange. Keselowski’s vintage Atlanta run reignited hope for his playoff chances amidst a challenging season.
Starting from sixth on the grid, Keselowski quickly made his way forward, working closely with teammate Ryan Preece to draft and set a competitive pace. Although steering damage from a multi-car incident in Stage 2 briefly disrupted his momentum, Keselowski recovered to reclaim the lead by Lap 184. Despite holding onto first place with four laps remaining, a last-minute series of moves involving Alex Bowman and Elliott stalled his momentum and prevented a comeback.
The intensity of the finish delivered a performance reminiscent of Keselowski’s prime years, drawing praise from experts. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic compared this effort to Keselowski’s defining 2014 Talladega playoff victory, marking the run as a reminder of his determination and aggressive driving style during his Penske days.
“Brad was so good tonight man. This was like vintage Brad Keselowski by the way. This reminded me so much of Brad’s heyday with (Team) Penske… go back to the 2014 playoff race at Talladega, that must-win race. He was just driving with determination, making big bold, sweeping passes and aggressive blocks. This was like watching Brad 10 years ago.” —Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic
Jeff Gluck, hosting alongside Bianchi on the NASCAR Teardown podcast, agreed that Keselowski looked impressive, though ultimately, circumstances left little opportunity for him to alter the result. That 2014 win at Talladega came under intense pressure after penalties threatened his championship run, highlighting the grit that Keselowski showed once again this weekend, even if victory narrowly escaped him.
While Keselowski was understandably disappointed, RFK Racing showed overall strength by placing all three of its Fords in the top 15 for the second straight race, signaling potential as the season progresses.
Playoff Prospects Narrow as Road Course Challenges Loom
Although Keselowski’s Atlanta result brought a spark of hope, his path to the NASCAR playoffs remains difficult. Sitting 122 points shy of the cutline with eight races left, the two-time Atlanta winner faces must-win pressure to advance. The playoff scenario tightens further with Chase Elliott’s victory increasing the number of unique winners to 12 this season, leaving only four playoff spots available.
Teammates Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece maintain some hope through points, but Keselowski’s deficit ranks among the largest. Jordan Bianchi illustrated the steep challenge Keselowski faces, especially given his struggles on road courses.
“They were fast last week at Pocono and put themselves in a position to maybe get a win. They’re fast again tonight. They should be good at Indianapolis and maybe Dover as well, but you look at the schedule and he’s never won a road course race in the Cup Series before. So, you don’t expect him to be a realistic guy who could win on a road course. Well, there’s three of those left, so all of a sudden, his chances to win are actually much smaller than a lot of other guys,” —Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic
With three upcoming road course events at Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen, Keselowski confronts his weakest tracks. Despite 50 Cup Series starts on road courses, he has yet to secure a win. These races could determine whether he can capitalize on potential wildcards or fall further behind in the playoff chase.
Still, there is cause for cautious optimism. Keselowski has regained speed, and RFK Racing’s consistent execution gives him a chance. The resilience he showed at EchoPark echoes his familiar fighting spirit, suggesting he may yet mount a meaningful push for the postseason.
The crucial question now is if Brad Keselowski can harness that momentum and convert his vintage Atlanta run into the wins needed before the regular season concludes.