via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Brad Keselowski (#6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Violet Defense Ford) answers questions for a media press conference during the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum NASCAR Cup Series race on February 05, 2022, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Brad Keselowski (#6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Violet Defense Ford) answers questions for a media press conference during the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum NASCAR Cup Series race on February 05, 2022, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Challenge. This is one of the recurring keywords from almost all of Brad Keselowski’s answers about how he looks at his new role as the driver and co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski racing.
And he’s right, it is a challenge, only now he is realizing the unrealized, unexpected, and to a degree, underestimated consequences of the same.
Because it hasn’t even been a week since NASCAR imposed their incredibly strict penalties on the car No.6 for tampering with the parts, and now Brad Keselowski and co. are looking at yet another penalty.
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The penalty is once again due to his Mustang, only this time it didn’t pass the pre-race inspection. As a result, the former Penske driver will lose a crew member for the race in Austin this weekend.
Keselowski, Bilicki, Grala, Said, Lally cars failed tech 2x — will lose crew member. Keselowski & Bilicki good on third time so get to qualify & keep starting spot but Lally failed 3x so won’t qualify and pass-through after first lap. Grala, Said still need to pass on third time. pic.twitter.com/Z8MFYK8sqC
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 26, 2022
Journalist Bob Pockrass reported, “Keselowski, Bilicki, Grala, Said, Lally cars failed tech 2x — will lose crew member. Keselowski & Bilicki good on third time so get to qualify & keep starting spot but Lally failed 3x so won’t qualify and pass-through after first lap. Grala, Said still need to pass on third time.”
Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing have filed an appeal
After the decision to penalize the No.6 was announced on Thursday, RFK Racing had until Tuesday to decide whether or not they wanted to appeal. As you’d expect, the answer was pretty obvious, and the RFK team was pretty fast.
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They filed an appeal on Friday and issued a statement that read, “In connection to the penalties announced yesterday by NASCAR, we have filed a notice of appeal and look forward to the opportunity to work through the process.”
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) during practice for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Keselowski and his team would desperately hope that their appeal at least leads them back to their road to progress. Because so far this season, they haven’t really made any, and the penalties have only detoured them off of the road on which they were already struggling.
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Having said that, it’s pretty unlikely that NASCAR will take a step back on their decision. After all, such a decision isn’t made without due thinking and consideration.
