RFK Racing driver Brad Keselowski dons two hats. One is a race car driver, and the other is the co-owner of his team. For most of his career, Keselowski raced under the Team Penske banner. Which by far has been the most successful period for him as a race car driver. However, after multiple wins and a championship triumph in 2012, Keselowski embarked on a new journey with Roush Fenway Racing in 2022.

Although he stuck around with the Ford group, he shouldered extra responsibility as the team co-owner. Very few drivers have successfully managed to keep up with this role, but the veteran driver seems to be having fun with his newfound career challenge.

Explains what it means to be the co-owner and driver of a race team

It was during the 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremony that Roush Fenway announced the new driver and part-owner of their Cup Series team. However, after making the switch to RFK, the driver just couldn’t repeat his success from Penske’s days and struggled to win. But, finally, this season, he broke a winless streak of 110 races by taking the checkered flag at Dover, his first victory as a driver and owner.

It certainly isn’t an easy task to manage the pressure of getting results on track while also looking after team operations as a custodian. A handful of drivers have been successful in managing these two roles at the same time. When asked about what his dual role means in layman’s terms for those who are not up-to-speed with NASCAR, he jokingly replied, “That means I’m dumb.”

Well, of course, he didn’t mean it. Rather, he decoded the reason why he made the switch to ownership, alongside his racing exploits. “No, just kidding. I like a lot of work, I love the team, and I love the sport. I’m glad to get to do what I do for a living. Driving a race, it’s not like I’m curing cancer, but we could have a lot of fun, we could do some great things. There are highs and lows, like in any sport. You win one week, you finish last the next week.” He said this in an interview with WGN News.

On the flip side, whatever Keselowski now says is seen as one of the voices of prominent stakeholders in the sport. And his opinion as a team owner on the idea of NASCAR going international was certainly insightful.

More oval races than road course races should be NASCAR’s focus, says Brad Keselowski

Now, there’s been a lot of rumors and speculation surrounding the 2025 Cup Series schedule. One of the major discussions surrounding the schedule is a plan for NASCAR to host a points race either in Montreal, Canada, or Mexico City. However, neither of the two options are traditional ovals, and while Keselowski would be open to the idea of going international, more road course races just don’t sit right with him.

“I think it’s good to go to those places for one or two years and kinda take a break and come back. What kind of irks me about is, I wish when we went to these international events that they were ovals … To add an actual oval race and you could do it internationally, I think would be huge. I think that would connect with our fans, our partners, and everybody who tells the story of NASCAR in the best way possible.” He said this on the Happy Hour podcast.

He also went on to explain how the inaugural race at the Iowa Speedway was a huge success. Sort of pointing in a direction where NASCAR should expand and tap into its regional markets rather than desperately looking for new ones. Well, competing for wins on track as a racer and making his thoughts on key business decisions in sports as an owner, he certainly is doing a fine job in his dual role.