As the NASCAR community gears up for Sunday’s high-stakes showdown, all eyes are on Brad Keselowski, the team owner and driver whose past feuds still reverberate through the sport. Teammates Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece have offered a fascinating glimpse into their thoughts on Keselowski, intertwining their current allegiance with a nostalgic look back at one of NASCAR’s most notorious rivalries.
Flashback to 2010—an electrifying chapter in NASCAR history when Keselowski and Carl Edwards took their simmering feud to the next level. During a nail-biting race at Atlanta, Edwards, seeking vengeance for a prior incident where Keselowski sent him flipping through the air at Talladega, retaliated with a dramatic spin at a blistering 195 mph. “At least I didn’t do it intentionally when it happened,” Keselowski remarked, encapsulating the fiery spirit of that moment.
In a candid pre-race discussion, Buescher revealed a surprising twist: during that infamous feud, he found himself rooting for Edwards rather than Keselowski. “I guess I have to admit at some point that I was under the RFK banner when the Carl and Brad feud was going on. And so I guess I wasn’t really on Brad’s side at that point, but we haven’t had that discussion in person,” he confessed.
Today, however, Buescher stands proudly as part of Keselowski’s RFK Racing team, embracing the unique dynamics that come with having a team owner who also races. As the only driver-owner in the NASCAR Cup Series, Keselowski shares a race-day perspective with his drivers that few can claim. “It has been the most unique way to talk about race cars and your ownership, right? Because anything that we are experiencing, a race car, anything that we want to be better, he’s living at the same time,” Buescher explained, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that defines their shared journey.
Keselowski’s commitment to improving the team is palpable. He wants their cars to perform better on the track, addressing issues from the middle to the rear end with an understanding that only comes from direct experience. Buescher believes this hands-on approach is crucial for their progress, as it allows for real-time feedback and solutions.
Ryan Preece echoed Buescher’s sentiments, shedding light on the ambitious goals set for the season. With RFK Racing striving to break free from its recent struggles, Preece revealed, “He wants to win five plus races this year between all of us. So, that’s the goal: constantly trying to push boundaries and be faster and make cars faster.”
The team is determined to elevate their performance across all facets, from the car setups to the pit crew and beyond. They are focused on creating opportunities for victory, and with three cars on the grid, their ambitions do not seem far-fetched. The Daytona 500 offered a glimpse of their potential, with Keselowski making a strong charge to the front before being taken out by Riley Herbst.
Despite the setbacks, the team has shown flashes of brilliance, with multiple top-five finishes that hint at untapped potential. The challenge now lies in transforming those sporadic bursts of speed into a consistent winning formula. As the engines roar to life this Sunday, the narrative of Brad Keselowski, his storied past, and the forward-looking aspirations of RFK Racing will undoubtedly captivate fans and competitors alike. The stage is set for a thrilling season ahead.
