Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski’s journey in NASCAR has grown far beyond the driver’s seat. After more than a decade of dominating the track, the 2012 Cup Series champion made a bold transition into ownership in 2021. He bought a massive share in Roush Fenway Racing to kick off his beyond-the-track journey in the Cup Series.

In 2022, alongside his driving duties, he took on a leadership role that put him at the forefront of the team’s operations. Under his leadership, Keselowski revived Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s lost pride as the team made back-to-back entries in the NASCAR playoffs. This journey will leap in 2025 when RFK Racing will field the third charter in the Cup Series. However, ahead of the upcoming season, Keselowski took a dig at veteran team owners.

Brad Keselowski unveils RFK’s secret weapon

As Keselowski navigates his new ownership responsibilities, he is redefining what it means to lead a NASCAR team. Recently, while speaking with Kelley Earnhardt Miller on the Business of Motorsports podcast, Keselowski revealed his biggest strength as a team owner. He also pointed out that RFK’s feedback mechanisms are the major point of difference.

“You know, you look at the owners now and their feedback loop is super long. What I tell people at RFK is that we have an advantage of it. We have the quickest feedback loop in motorsports,” Keselowski told Kelley. “I get out of the car Saturday, Sunday whatever day it is, and instantly like all right we got to go fix this, this, and this because this isn’t working. We’re moving right. There are no four days of meetings. It doesn’t have to work its way up and then back down right like we’re going, right? And that’s probably our biggest strength,” he further added.

Keselowski’s comments reflect how a driver-owner team can have a swift development program compared to legacy teams. Larger organizations, particularly those with significant resources and multiple layers of management, often face long feedback loops. In these teams, collecting data, analyzing it, and implementing changes involve many people. This can create delays that impede their ability to make quick adjustments, particularly during race weekends, when time is of the essence.

In contrast, driver-owner organizations often involve a one-stop decision-making window. Under Brad Keselowski’s leadership, RFK is implementing the same, which gives them an edge over others. This often reflects on the team’s performance. In 2022, he guided the team through its rebranding. In 2023 team’s performance saw both Keselowski and teammate Chris Buescher qualify for the NASCAR Playoffs.

The 2024 season showed further progress, as Keselowski secured a long-awaited victory at Darlington Raceway, breaking a 110-race winless streak. This victory marked his first as a team co-owner and proved that RFK Racing was on the right path. As the 2025 season looms, Keselowski is more determined than ever to propel the team to greater heights. His confidence is reflected in the team’s decision to field another charter in the 2025 season.

RFK Racing’s resurgence plan for the upcoming season

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Looking ahead to 2025, this will be the first time since 2016 that Roush Racing will drive more than two cars. Back then, they employed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Trevor Bayne, and Greg Biffle. For 2025, they leased a third charter from Rick Ware Racing. This will allow Ryan Preece to drive the No.60 Ford under the guidance of veteran crew chief Derrick Finley.

Keselowski has high hopes for the expansion and believes it will play a pivotal role in the team’s quest for a title. “We’re thrilled to have Derrick [Finley] lead the No. 60 team. His experience and technical knowledge of the sport will play a crucial role in the initial development and growth of the No. 60 team,” Keselowski said. Finley has worked as Director of Operations, Technical Director, and Competition Director across different organizations for over 20 years in NASCAR.

Notably, Finley has been with RFK since 2022, and his new role will surely give hope to the team. Meanwhile, Keselowski’s reunion with his former crew chief Jeremy Bullins could reignite the firepower that once saw them finish second in the standings in 2020. With Bullins at the helm, Keselowski might focus more on guiding other charters than fighting his own battles.

However, there will be several concerns, including the performance of Chris Buescher. The No.17 Ford driver had a struggling 2024 season, picking up just one win and finishing 17th in the standings. Though he had showcased flashes of brilliance in 2023 with three wins and a 7th-place finish in the standings, he will be under pressure to make a comeback. He, along with his seasoned crew chief Scott Graves, will be keen to repeat the 2023 performance. So, what do you think? Will RFK racing be able to light up the upcoming season?