Brad Keselowski’s 2025 disappointing season continues to unfold as he remains well outside the playoff picture more than halfway through the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The co-owner and driver of RFK Racing’s No. 6 Ford currently stands 28th in the playoff standings, trailing the cutoff by 122 points without a victory.
NASCAR on FOX reporter Bob Pockrass discussed Keselowski’s unexpected difficulties during the ongoing season, highlighting the gap between expectations and results. Despite Keselowski’s reputation and team backing, his performance has been noticeably below what fans and analysts anticipated.
An Unexpected Downturn for Brad Keselowski
On the Beating and Banging podcast, Bob Pockrass identified Keselowski as one of the season’s biggest underachievers.
“When you look at Brad Keselowski, over 100 points behind the cutoff and without a win, you just would not have said that’s where his season was going to be,” Pockrass said (06:34 onwards).
“Especially with the way Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece have been running. Now, certainly they’ve had some bad luck, but there have been some weeks where they just have not had the speed. They’ve been getting better as of late, but when you look at the totality of the first half of the year, I would say that Brad Keselowski’s results are disappointing,” he added.
Keselowski has managed just four top-10 finishes so far, including two top fives, as the regular season approaches its final stretch with eight races remaining. His best recent results include a second-place finish at Atlanta and fifth at the Coca-Cola 600 held in Charlotte.
“Good effort, led a lot of laps. We put ourselves in a position. Every loss hurts. I don’t dwell on them. We’ll go on to next week and try to win,” Brad Keselowski said after the Atlanta race (via Yardbarker).
However, Keselowski has also experienced setbacks, including poor showings at Nashville and Mexico City last month, where he finished 23rd and 25th, respectively. These struggles have intensified concerns over whether he can mount a late-season playoff push.
Comparing Performance: Keselowski’s Teammates Show Strength
While Keselowski has struggled, his RFK Racing teammates have generally found stronger form. Chris Buescher, driving the No. 17 Ford, has been one of the more consistent performers in the field. Buescher currently sits safely within the playoff cutoff, having achieved ten top-10 finishes and a podium appearance at Michigan.
Buescher’s steady results include a tenth-place finish in Mexico City, and strong runs at Pocono Raceway and EcoPark Speedway, where he placed fourth and ninth, respectively.
Meanwhile, Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Ford has delivered some of his best performances this season. Preece recorded a career-best third-place finish at Las Vegas in March and has secured six additional top-10 finishes since then. Entering the weekend event at the Chicago street race, he holds 14th spot in the Cup points standings, just 23 points shy of Bubba Wallace and the playoff bubble.
Implications for Keselowski’s Season Outlook
The gap between Keselowski and his teammates highlights ongoing challenges for the veteran driver during the 2025 season. As the regular season winds down, Keselowski faces mounting pressure to improve results if he hopes to qualify for the playoffs. His ability to rebound will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, given his dual role as both driver and team co-owner of RFK Racing.
With limited races remaining before the playoffs, Keselowski must find speed and consistency to overcome his current 122-point deficit. Meanwhile, his teammates continue to build momentum, underscoring the competitive environment within the team and the high expectations Keselowski must meet moving forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Brad Keselowski Polish?
A. The Keselowski family comes from Poland. During his teenage years, Keselowski helped at his dad’s race shop by cleaning floors and cutting grass. In 2000, Keselowski started racing stock cars in the Factory Stock division.