Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing and NASCAR Cup Series driver, has adopted a practice common in football by applying a black line of eye paint beneath his eyes during races. He explained in a recent Reddit Q&A that the paint helps reduce glare inside the car, improving his vision in challenging conditions. Typically, drivers rely on tinted windshields to limit sunlight glare, but this reduces their ability to see when the track surface is wet.
Keselowski shared,
“When you have tint on the windshield, you can’t see those (rain) spots on the racetrack. So, what we tend to do with my cars is try not to run the tint on any races where we think it might rain.”
The absence of tint leads to increased brightness inside the vehicle, which can be distracting.
The problem with that is that it makes it very bright inside the race car. The glare gets worse. Using eyeblack helps to offset that without making it to where I can’t see the racetrack when it’s wet.
By using black eye paint, Keselowski absorbs sunlight that would otherwise interfere with his vision, allowing him to assess track conditions more effectively, especially in rain-prone events.
Keselowski’s Recent Performance and Playoff Chances
Keselowski is currently vying for a spot in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with only one race left at Daytona to secure his place among the 16 drivers heading into the postseason. After a slow start this season, the No. 6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team has gained momentum, marked by recent strong finishes: ninth at Richmond, third at Iowa, and fifth at Indianapolis.
These results increase his chances of clinching a victory and progressing to the playoffs. Keselowski’s determination is further boosted by the recent birth of his fourth child, a son, born on August 20, providing personal motivation during this critical stretch of the season.
The Role of Eye Paint in Enhancing Driver Visibility
Black is technically a shade that absorbs all visible wavelengths of light, reducing reflected glare. This helps drivers maintain clear depth perception and detect subtle changes on the racetrack. Keselowski’s adaptation of this NFL-style eye paint is a strategic method to combat sunlight interference without sacrificing the ability to identify wet spots on the track, which tinted windshields can obscure.
By balancing the use of eye paint and windshield tints depending on weather conditions, Keselowski and his team aim to optimize his visual clarity during races, which is critical for high-speed decision-making and safety.