Brad Keselowski has cemented his legacy in NASCAR as both a driver and a team owner. Since making his NASCAR debut in 2004, Keselowski has been a force in the sport. The 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion made a bold step in 2022 when he decided to co-own a team. He joined Roush Fenway Racing as a driver-owner, taking on the dual challenge of performing on the track while managing a team behind the scenes.

Under his leadership, Keselowski rebranded the team as Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK Racing). After three years, RFK Racing plans to expand to three charters in the upcoming season. Despite the accolades, Keselowski recently opened up about a surprising motivation behind his ownership journey.

Brad Keselowski spills the dark truth of a driver’s career!

After spending nearly two decades in NASCAR, Brad Keselowski joined hands with Roush Fenway Racing to forge a new team. Keselowski’s decision to become a team owner wasn’t just about extending his influence in NASCAR; it was also about securing a lifelong connection to the sport. Speaking with Kelley Earnhardt Miller on the Business of Motorsports podcast, Keselowski admitted to a “selfish” yet honest motivation behind his ownership role.

“You know, the thing about being a race car driver is you know it ends pretty quickly. No matter how good you are, right? Mark Martin and Harry Gant made it into their 50s. That’s the exception. That’s the rarity of it… Being a team owner allows me to selfishly be a part of this sport for however long I want. Whenever my day with this sport is done, being a team owner allows me to make that decision—not the sport,” Keselowski told Kelly.

Keselowski’s comments touch on a hard truth that many drivers face. NASCAR careers often have a short shelf life, with younger drivers entering the field and pushing veterans out. The physical and mental demands of the sport, coupled with the intense competition, make longevity rare. For drivers like Keselowski, ownership offers a way to stay involved and maintain a connection to the racing community.

Notably, a few months ago NASCAR Hall of Fame Dale Earnhardt Jr. also spoke about the post-retirement issues. After retiring from full-time racing in 2017, Earnhardt Jr. initially embraced the change but later found himself grappling with the void left behind. “I had a weird deal where I was fricking awesome with being retired my first year. I was so glad to be out of the grind, but each year it’s gotten worse,” he shared on his Dirty Mo Media platform.

Notably, Brad Keselowski’s transition to team ownership hasn’t been without challenges, but it has also seen its share of successes. His first victory as a co-owner came in September 2022 when RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher won at Bristol Motor Speedway. However, Keselowski struggled to see the victory lane in the first two seasons. In 2024, he made a comeback with a victory at Darlington Raceway. This also ended his three-year-long winless streak.

The team’s performance has steadily improved, with both RFK Racing cars qualifying for the playoffs in consecutive seasons. In 2025, Keselowski’s ownership journey reached a new milestone with the team expanding to three full-time cars. A new charter bought from Stewart-Haas Racing will allow RFK to field Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Ford.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Takes a Playful Dig at Keselowski’s Loyalties

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Amid these on-track battles, Brad Keselowski recently found himself the subject of a lighthearted jab. NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t resist poking fun at Keselowski after a dramatic NFL playoff game left the Detroit Lions on the losing end. In a thriller, Dale Jr’s favourite team Washington Commanders beat Keselowski’s Lions to advance to the NFC Championship for the first time in 33 years.

After the game, Dale Jr. joyfully took a dig at Keselowski. In true Earnhardt fashion, he humorously tweeted, “Somebody check on @keselowski.” It’s worth noting that Keselowski has been vocal about his loyalties with the Lions. Born and raised in Michigan, Keselowski’s loyalty to his home team runs deep. Unfortunately, watching them falter in such a crucial game must have been a tough pill to swallow.

On the other hand, Dale Jr is also a vivid fan of the Commanders. A few days back he had made an emotional tweet in support of his team. “I have been a Washington fan since 1982. It’s been a long run. Some good. Some bad. But it’s amazing to be nervous for a playoff game again. And my little girls or growing to love the team. They just might have a lot of fun over the next several years,” he had posted on X.

While Keselowski may still be licking his wounds from the Lions’ loss, his ownership journey is set to leap in the upcoming season. With a new charter and team onboard, both Keselowski and RFK Racing aim to build on their recent progress and continue their quest for a championship crown.