The rumble of engines and the roar of the crowd return to Pocono Raceway as anticipation builds for the upcoming Cup Series race! Known far and wide as the legendary track that is set to ignite a wave of nostalgia for NASCAR fans, memories of epic comebacks and heartbreaking defeats are etched forever. It’s no secret that NASCAR itself thrives on unpredictability, but some moments transcend the sport, leaving an indelible mark.

One such memory recently resurfaced for Brad Keselowski, as he took a ‘painful’ trip down memory lane at the Pocono race in 2014. While we ebb and flow through the motions of NASCAR and its exciting nature, fans seem to still debate the tale of how Brad lost despite coming so close to victory! It’s a real nailbiter that reminds you of how intense a NASCAR race can be!

Remember when Dale Jr. won the Pocono race in 2014? Keselowski does!

Some moments in NASCAR just stay forever with you, like this, when Brad Keselowski was so close to victory at the 2014 Pocono 400 race, but a pesky piece of debris on his car came in out of nowhere and dashed his dreams right out of the tracks at the last minute, allowing retired driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to go ahead and claim the checkered flag!

It was truly an intense chase where the drivers were neck-to-neck, and all the audience could do was watch on with bated breath to see who would take the first position. If no one else remembers, you can rest assured that Keselowski still holds on to the bitter taste of the loss.

The RFK driver shared a video of the race, captioning it simply “pain”—evident enough, he still feels that defeat!

To refresh your memory, at the Pocono Raceway 2014 NASCAR race, Keselowski, driving for the No. 2 Penske Team at the time, had dominated the early laps of the race; his pace was consistent, and he was even building up to a comfortable lead. But with just 5 laps to go, that lead started to slip away before his eyes as a piece of debris hit his car and caused his engine to begin overheating. In a last-minute effort to fix the issue, Keselowski tried to use the air off Danica Patrick‘s car to knock the debris loose, but it clearly didn’t work.

As Keselowski’s car began to fade, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Hendrick Motorsports Racing, saw his chance and swooped in, quickly roaring past the No. 2 car and taking the lead. It was a real nail-biter of a finish that had viewers on the edge of their seats till the finish line! Earnhardt Jr.’s last-minute opportunity guaranteed him victory in the chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Pocono that year and gave him his second win of the 2014 season.

Keselowski may have lost that day, but the memory of his valiant effort still resonates with NASCAR and Brad’s fans. In fact, they’re reminiscing about how intense and unpredictable the sport can be—one minute you’re cruising to victory, and the next, a tiny piece of debris can derail your whole race.

Brad’s fans recall the event from their POV!

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If you’re still gutted about a loss that happened nine years ago, then join the club! Fans are still buzzing about Brad Keselowski’s gut-wrenching defeat at the 2014 Pocono 400, where his victory was snatched from his grasp by a pesky piece of debris and handed to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Under Keselowski’s response to the not-so-happy memory of his defeat on X, fans shared their experience of watching this exciting moment in NASCAR and Pocono history!

“I remember it far too well. Seemed like Danica just parked it in front of you when you were trying to get the trash off the grille and killed your momentum,” one fan quipped, recalling Keselowski’s ill-fated attempt to use Danica Patrick’s car to clear the debris.

Another fan was more blunt about the situation, saying, “Needed 1 more lap.” If only Keselowski had been able to hang on just a little longer before Dale Earnhardt Jr. pounced for the win, maybe he’d stand a chance to take back the lead.

Many fans were left shouting at their screens that fateful day. “I remember screaming ‘what are you doing’ when you tried to get the debris off your grill and got passed,” one commenter admitted, laughing at the memory.

Undeniably, the heartbreak was palpable for Keselowski’s loyal supporters, as one fan lamented, “I was so heartbroken. I feel like you could have had 10 wins in 2014 if not for days like this,” recognizing how that defeat slipped through Keselowski’s fingers and before his eyes.

Despite the agony, fans can’t help but reminisce about the sheer drama and unpredictability of NASCAR racing. “I was at Disneyland that day but watching the race on my phone lol I gave out the biggest yell!!! 🤬🤬Omg!! Couldn’t believe what had happened! That win was yours Brad!!” one passionate fan recalled, still buzzing from the event as if they were part of it themselves.

As Keselowski prepares to hit the track again this weekend, his fans are rallying behind him. “You can do it this weekend 🇺🇸🏁 Let’s go!!!” one supporter cheered, hoping Keselowski could finally get redemption.

So all in all, while the sting of that Pocono defeat still lingers for both Brad Keselowski and his loyal fanbase, they know that there are many more races to come and many victories to claim. And everyone truly believes that if anyone can turn heartbreak into triumph, it’s this resilient NASCAR star. It all just comes down to strategy and, well, luck, but that’s just the beauty of NASCAR—anything can happen!