Once upon a time, Brad Keselowski was a force of nature on the NASCAR circuit. Back in his Team Penske days, he was a model of consistency, precision, and unrelenting speed—a driver who could dominate at any track, from superspeedways to short ovals. With 36 Cup Series victories and a 2012 championship under his belt, “Bad Brad” was always a title threat.
But those days feel like a distant memory now.
Since departing Penske in 2021 to take on the challenge of being both a driver and co-owner at RFK Racing, Keselowski’s career trajectory has taken a different turn. While he’s been instrumental in revitalizing RFK, the big question remains: Will Keselowski the driver ever reclaim his former glory?
If you ask Kevin Harvick, the answer is simple: No.
Harvick’s Blunt Take: “I Don’t See Another Championship in Keselowski’s Future”
On his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick didn’t hold back when discussing Keselowski’s decline.
“Is Brad Keselowski ever going to get back to what he was at Penske?” Harvick asked. It’s a fair question—during his tenure at Penske, Keselowski was a perennial contender, finishing inside the top 10 in points nine times in 12 seasons.
But since joining RFK Racing, the story has been different. While Keselowski has played a pivotal role in rebuilding the team’s competitive edge, his on-track performances have failed to meet the standard he once set.
“We’ve seen flashes of brilliance out of that car over the past few years,” Harvick admitted. “But it comes in small pockets. It’s just not been where it needs to be to be back in championship mode.”
And the numbers back him up. Since Keselowski took over at RFK in 2022, he has managed just one win—the 2024 Darlington race. Meanwhile, his teammate Chris Buescher has won five times in the same span.
Buescher: The New RFK Alpha?
Harvick isn’t just critical of Keselowski—he’s full of praise for Chris Buescher.
“Buescher is one of the most underrated guys in the sport,” Harvick said, pointing to his 2023 breakout season, where he claimed three wins and a career-best average finish of 12.2. In contrast, Keselowski finished eighth in the standings but failed to make a deep playoff run.
In 2024, Buescher remained a consistent force, securing one win (Watkins Glen), six top-five finishes, and 16 top-10s—outperforming Keselowski in overall reliability. Even though Keselowski’s Darlington victory ended his multi-year winless drought, it did little to shift the perception that Buescher is the more reliable driver at RFK.
A Leadership Role or a Racing Legacy?
Harvick’s skepticism isn’t just about speed—it’s about sustainability.
“I don’t think we ever see another championship out of Keselowski,” Harvick stated bluntly. “I just haven’t seen it yet.”
It’s a tough assessment, but not an unfair one. Has Keselowski traded his winning edge for the responsibilities of team ownership? Is he more focused on building RFK’s future than recapturing his own past glory?
With RFK Racing trending upward, there’s no doubt that Keselowski is making an impact—as a leader, strategist, and architect of the team’s success. But can he still be a championship-caliber driver in this new era?
For now, Harvick isn’t convinced. And looking at the numbers, it’s hard to argue with him.
