What makes a NASCAR champion? Is it those big moments, when a driver overtakes his rival in the last lap or a dramatic crash by a championship contender at a key moment, paving the way for his rival to capitalize on the opportunity? Or is winning the championship all about preparation, doing the little things right and consistently, and finally achieving big results? The answer is all of the above.

It may not look like it, but NASCAR is a team sport, with results depending as much on the driver as everyone else involved behind the scenes. And that’s exactly what RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski emphasized in a recent speech to his company, while his team continues its preparations during the summer months.

Currently ranked 10th, with one win in 18 races so far, Brad Keselowski will hope that the many factors play into his favor when he participates in the playoffs later this year. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Brad Keselowski said, “I gave this speech to our team the other day, our entire company. The championship is won right now. It’s won by the work and effort that’s gone during the summer months to prepare the best cars and the best teams possible. It’s easy to lose sight of that.

“We all think races and championships are won in the last lap, and to some degree they are. But for the majority of it, you put yourself in the position over the summer months by making really good decisions. By putting value on the race cars and the teams. We are knee-deep in that and excited for what’s to come.”

While the championship race will be held at Phoenix Raceway on November 10th, Brad Keselowski believes that the race itself won’t decide the outcome of who wins the title. Rather, it’s the preparations that teams undertake during the summer months and regular season that will decide which driver and team perform when it truly matters to take home the championship.

For the 40-year-old, it’s all about being in a strong position when it truly matters to be able to compete at the highest level. While that may mean dedication and hard work for teams during the summer months, Keselowski also believes that a mid-season break could be beneficial to avoid burnout, especially during the second half of the season.

A mid-season break for NASCAR teams?

With the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series seasons halfway through, Brad Keselowski has suggested that a mid-season break could be beneficial for teams, especially with the 2024 Summer Olympic Games underway. With NBC taking over NASCAR’s coverage after the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, the broadcaster is also expected to air the Olympic Games, starting from July 26 to August 11.

As a result, the NASCAR Cup Series will wrap up on November 10 in Phoenix, a week later than usual. However, Brad Keselowski thinks that the Olympic Games could be the perfect opportunity for NASCAR to take a mid-season break. Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Keselowski said, “We need to do an industry shutdown because we have the two-week Olympic break, which I think is great. Perfect. Let the Olympics have their heyday.

“Everybody loves the Olympics. It’s great for our sport to get a break and not compete against the Olympics. Everybody wins. Just lock our doors for a week or two, all the employees go home, go on vacation, go spend some time with your kids, refresh, and kind of reload for what is the final half of the season.”

With a hectic year-long schedule, Brad Keselowski believes an industry-wide break could help avoid burnout, and allow all stakeholders to refresh, recharge, and be in a healthy mental space. However, his suggestion wasn’t met with the same enthusiasm by other team owners when he spoke to them.

As things stand, it’s unlikely for a mid-season break to come into NASCAR anytime soon. But in the future, who knows? They may just follow in Formula 1’s footsteps with a mandatory 14-day shutdown for all teams and their factories during July and/or August in the distant future.

Do you think a mid-season break should be introduced in NASCAR? Let us know in the comments!