Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing’s Statement Performance Makes Little Dent in Their Playoff Hopes

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had a pretty solid day. Their cars, #6 and #17, both snagged top 5 finishes, overtaking Ross Chastain and Ty Gibbs along the way. But even with this strong showing in Phoenix, their playoff dreams have hit a snag, thanks to how things went down in the first three races of the season.

RFK Racing’s one driver is in the top 16, while the other is not

At Phoenix, it’s all about setting the stage for the finale, showing who’s the boss on the track where it all wraps up. That’s exactly the vibe RFK Racing was bringing to the table. With an eye on grabbing as many spots as they could, Brad Keselowski made a daring move to slide ahead of Ross Chastain for fourth.

Chastain wasn’t having it and squeezed right back, nearly touching bumpers with Keselowski, trying to take back his position. Keselowski managed to fend him off and secure that fourth spot. On another front, Chris Buescher outmaneuvered Ty Gibbs for second place, although it wasn’t enough to challenge for the win.

And apparently, they crossed the finish line in the same spots they’d been aiming for, with Buescher snagging second and Keselowski nailing fourth. But, even with those solid finishes, their standings in the Cup series aren’t looking too hot. Chris Buescher barely made it to the 16th spot in the standings after Phoenix, a place that was previously held by John Hunter Nemechek post-Vegas. And Brad Keselowski? He’s not even in the top 16, sitting back at 28th after Vegas.

This shaky standing is all thanks to how things went down in Phoenix, Atlanta, and Las Vegas. Keselowski had a rough ride with finishes of 33rd at Daytona, another 33rd at Atlanta, and a slightly better 13th at Vegas. Buescher, on the other hand, landed 18th at Daytona, 9th at Atlanta, and took a hit at 37th at Vegas.

After Vegas, Kyle Larson was leading the pack in the driver standings with 118 points. But now, Ryan Blaney has sprinted to the top of the leaderboard. Keselowski, who’s never clinched a win at Phoenix, had his eyes on the prize this time. Yet, ending up in fourth wasn’t just a bummer for him; his team was left scratching their heads, admitting they were hoping for more.

Brad Keselowski’s team is not satisfied with the finishes

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Brad Keselowski’s team isn’t exactly jumping for joy over their recent performances. Despite not cracking the top ten at the track since 2021, Keselowski was inching closer, landing 15th place last fall. Now, with a top-5 finish under their belt, you’d think the team would be all smiles.

Yet, the word from Keselowski’s spotter to crew chief Matt McCall was that this result was “not exactly what we wanted or needed but a great way to fight back.” It seems like they were aiming for something a bit higher.

Read More: Winless in Phoenix, Brad Keselowski Denounces Title Deciding Venue as Yardstick for Short Track Package

Looking ahead, Bristol Motor Speedway might just be Keselowski’s chance to turn things around. He’s found victory lane there three times before, boasts an average finish of 16.3, and has racked up six top-5s and nine top-10s. So, fingers crossed, Bristol might be where they get that much-needed boost.