Brad Keselowski recently opened up about the tough realities drivers face on the track, especially when it comes to the pressure and influence from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). The RFK owner shared his experience from the Martinsville race, where things didn’t seem quite right, but he couldn’t fully piece everything together in the heat of the moment. As he reflected on the events, it became clear that tensions between manufacturers and teams were escalating.

Keselowski also drew some striking parallels to a situation in Talladega where manufacturers made decisions on the driver’s behalf, which changed the outcome of the race and the season. What does this mean for the future of NASCAR? The RFK Racing #6’s candid take on the growing manipulation of races and the lack of driver leverage paints a concerning picture of how things are unfolding.

Brad Keselowski is brutally honest about OEMs

Brad Keselowski opened up about some of the challenges drivers face because of the OEM influence and how race manipulation plays into the mix. He explained that while he’s in the car, he can only see and hear so much. “When I’m in the car, Bob, I can only see like this much, and I hear from my spotter. I’m like, something didn’t feel right,” he said. “But I didn’t know everything that was going on in real-time.”

It wasn’t until he saw the race breakdowns later that he realized just how much had occurred—much more than he could grasp while racing. In the interview uploaded on Frontstretch’s YouTube channel, Keselowski also reflected on the strange situations during the race, especially with the cars in front of him. At one point, he thought the car in front of him was dealing with a mechanical issue, and the same seemed to be happening with another car ahead of him. But as things unfolded, it became clear that something didn’t feel right, though he couldn’t piece it all together while racing.

When looking back, he explained that the escalation of tensions between OEMs and teams could not be avoided. He compared the Martinsville incident to what happened in Talladega where drivers were being told over the radio not to push a Ford. This is why Keselowski believes these tactics were spreading. It was creating an environment where manipulation was becoming more common and races felt less fair depending on how many teams were running the manufacturer. Drivers might even face stricter consequences, like being benched, for pushing back or breaking rules, as NASCAR has taken serious action against the drivers involved.’

Brad Keselowski was skeptical about how effective these messages were. He likened the situation to children pushing boundaries until they face real consequences. Even with warnings, he felt the message didn’t stick unless it directly impacted drivers and that the real issue was that drivers didn’t have enough leverage in the current setup.

He pointed out “Drivers are at the mercy of the teams and OEMs in this model,” explaining why drivers succumb to such requests although there are consequences. Despite everything happening in NASCAR, Keselowski loves the sport, and that’s why, in 2025, he plans on expanding his team, which might just become a problem for Denny Hamlin.

NASCAR Insider believes Brad Keselowski is a threat to Denny Hamlin

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Kenny Wallace recently weighed in on the ongoing legal drama between NASCAR and teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Wallace shared his thoughts in a “Coffee with Kenny” video on social media, addressing the fact that 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, will not have a guaranteed spot in next season’s races without a charter.

Despite this, Wallace believes they will still win most races due to the limited number of teams and their solid performance. He explained that with fewer entries and the expensive nature of racing, 23XI will likely qualify more often than not.

However, Wallace also pointed out potential challenges for 23XI and Front Row, especially with the news that RFK Racing, co-owned by Brad Keselowski and Jack Roush, might expand to a third car in 2025. He cautioned that this expansion could make things more difficult for 23XI and Front Row, as more cars in the field would mean even tougher competition for those limited spots in the race lineup. Wallace joked about the irony of 23XI and Front Row suing NASCAR for monopolistic practices while Keselowski’s RFK Racing could be adding another team to the mix.

While acknowledging the competitive nature of the sport, Wallace also emphasized that he understood 23XI Racing’s position. He clarified that Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan were simply trying to secure a bigger piece of the pie, just like any other business-minded people would. Do you think NASCAR has become too dramatic with the lawsuit and the race manipulation right before the finals? Share your thoughts on this in the comments section.