What do the fans mean to NASCAR? The answer can make or break a track’s and even NASCAR’s fortune. And Brad Keselowski is all too aware. So when asked to choose between Nashville’s two beloved tracks – Superspeedway and Fairgrounds – the 40-year-old driver handed the keys to the fans, albeit with words that could be considered diplomatic by many.

Talking to Frontstretch, Keselowski thus humbly acknowledged that if he’s considered a people’s champion, it’s only because the fans are the true champions of the sport.

It’s all about the fans for NASCAR

Choosing between Nashville Superspeedway and Nashville Fairgrounds is like comparing the old to the new. Fairgrounds is one of America’s oldest racing venues, dating back to the early 1900s. Whereas Nashville Superspeedway was opened by Dover Motorsports in 2001. Both venues have a special place in fans’ hearts, but as things stand, only one is operational.

When asked from an ownership standpoint about his preference between the two iconic racetracks, Brad Keselowski told Frontstretch, “I just want to go anywhere where we’re wanted. That’s where I want to race. Pick a spot where the people want us, that’s where I want to go. Where those show up, cheer us on, brands will engage, fans will engage. That’s where we need to be.”

NASCAR’s unwavering commitment to its fans has always been a hallmark of the sport, and Iowa Speedway serves as a shining example. When the track was removed from the Truck and Xfinity Series schedules in 2019, fans were left scratching their heads. However, the move was to allow the track to undergo vital renovations and upgrades. This ensured that Iowa Speedway would not only meet the sport’s evolving standards but also provide a stellar experience for those who matter most – the fans.

Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president, highlighted the importance of giving fans what they want; “We talk a lot about the racing product and what that looks like, and we hear from a lot of our fans who would like to see more short tracks. And then we also hear how good intermediate racing is with this Next Gen car. And I think Iowa in a lot of ways shows both the short track as well as an intermediate race track in the way that it races. I’m so excited to see it on the schedule.”

As fan clamor for more short-track races reached a fever pitch, NASCAR had no choice but to include Iowa Speedway in the Cup Series calendar for the first time in its 76-year history. However, the shift was long overdue, considering that ages had passed since a Cup race was held in Iowa. This made it all the more important to revitalize the sport’s roots in the Hawkeye state in 2024.

What this proves is that NASCAR goes where the money is. And money is where the fans want to be because that’s where sponsorship opportunities lie for brands to gain some visibility. At the end of the day, the sport needs to be sustainable while growing and exploring new markets. The only way to make that happen is by listening to what their audience wants and implementing it. As NASCAR heads to Nashville Superspeedway, Brad Keselowski will hope to put on a good show in front of over 30,000 fans at the 1.33-mile track.

What are Brad Keselowski’s chances at Nashville Superspeedway?

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Brad Keselowski’s record at Nashville Superspeedway is pretty modest. Having raced at the D-shaped track thrice in his career, the 40-year-old’s best finish was 11th place last year, nine spots higher than his starting position. However, his other two outings were far less impressive. In 2022, while driving for RFK Racing, he finished 29th- two spots lower than his starting position. The previous year, he started 15th but finished 23rd, bringing in a disappointing result for Team Penske.

However, Keselowski is presented with a good chance of securing his second win of the season at Nashville Superspeedway. Having finished fifth in qualifying, the highest in his career at the track, Keselowski will be sharing Row 3 with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick at Ally 400. The RFK Racing owner/driver will hope to replicate the form we saw at Darlington Raceway earlier this year.

However, Keselowski will be taking on some of NASCAR’s elite drivers, including Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson, who will also be vying for victory from the top of the grid. The powerhouse teams of Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports boast significantly more resources than RFK Racing, and Keselowski himself acknowledged that his team hasn’t yet reached the top echelon.

Sharing his thoughts on where RFK stands as a team, Keselowski said, “We are not the top team. There are 16 organizations and we are bouncing back and forth between being the fourth or fifth best on any given week this year. We want to be a top-three organization consistently, so we need to take another step to get there and that takes money.”

Given where Keselowski finished in qualifying at Nashville Superspeedway, his assessment of being fourth or fifth in any given week is accurate. However, stranger things have happened in NASCAR, and with one win, seven top 5 results, and nine top 10 finishes, Brad Keselowski is more than capable of springing a surprise when you least expect it.

Do you think Brad Keselowski could win the Ally 400? Let us know in the comments!