For over three years, Brad Keselowski had only been a passing thought in NASCAR’s races. After his last win for Team Penske in 2021 Talladega, his luck entered a deep slumber as he took over as owner-driver at RFK Racing. However, the #6 driver finally broke that sleepy spell in Darlington, and now people cannot get over his rediscovered success.

Keselowski’s age-old track rival Denny Hamlin also broached RFK’s newfound victory. Hamlin is an owner-driver himself, co-owning 23XI Racing while racing for JGR. Hence the No. 11 Toyota driver had some valuable insights regarding Keselowski’s shift to a crumbling team in 2021. Significantly, Hamlin also hailed the move as crucial for RFK.

Brad Keselowski’s risky step backed by Hamlin

RFK Racing, formerly Roush Fenway Racing, was a front-row team in the NASCAR Cup Series in the past. Before 2022, it held 137 Cup wins since it entered the circuit in 1988. However, it had not won since the 2017 season and was also devoid of championship pursuits for over a decade, with their last Cup Series title wins coming in 2003 with Matt Kenseth and in 2004 with Kurt Busch. 

Brad Keselowski’s entry at the end of 2021 was destined to change that. There were some reasons for his shift, and Keselowski was disenchanted with Team Penske, as Denny Hamlin recently observed on a new episode of ‘Actions Detrimental’. “But I just feel like, things were going on over there at Team Penske…I think that they had some loss of sponsorship over there. And they probably made him an offer he wasn’t overjoyed with. Then he started looking at his other options.”

Denny Hamlin then outlined how the RFK entry was his best option. Even though Brad Keselowski held 34 Cup wins and a 2012 Championship under Roger Penske, he wanted to do something more. This was made possible as he entered Jack Roush’s fold as a co-owner. Hamlin explained: “He was able to make an impact on the competition which he desperately wanted…At Team Penske, he wanted more influence on the competition side of things.”

And things took off for RFK Racing under Brad Keselowski’s meticulous influence. Hamlin said: “RFK at the time…they didn’t have much to lose like they weren’t really relevant anymore. Not since the Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle days…They made the change, and now they’re back to one of the better two-car organizations we got on the field.”

Brad Keselowski’s success as an owner-driver harks back to his ownership stints in the past, which helped hone his leadership skills.

Keselowski is a proven leader

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When Brad Keselowski debuted in NASCAR in 2004, he raced for his father Bob’s Truck team. He moved into Dale Jr’s fold in Xfinity in 2008. But the idea of becoming an owner of a NASCAR team, following in his father’s steps, never left his head. He first founded Brad Keselowski Racing, a truck team in NASCAR’s third-tier series. It fielded drivers like Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, and Austin Cindric, but shuttered after 10 seasons in 2017.

Keselowski also dabbled in off-track ownership ventures following BKR’s closure. He founded Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing, which uses resources like metal 3D printers to manufacture parts for the aerospace and defense industries. This space brand set up shop in the same building where Brad Keselowski Racing took off.

And then in 2020, when Keselowski was on the lookout for another opportunity to win a championship, it brought him to RFK’s doorstep. After initial hurdles, he built a sturdy team and pushed Chris Buescher to victory several times. Notably, the #14 driver was named NASCAR’s ‘Most Improved Driver’ besides being among one of the six drivers to win at least three races in 2o23, with RFK Racing. Buescher also finished in a career-high seventh position in the NASCAR Cup Series standings last year, with the team. 

So it’s safe to say that Keselowski’s inclusion to the team has been like a beacon of hope. Hopefully, RFK Racing will be capitalize on that and get back to their early-2000s form soon enough. Having said that, for now it seems, now Brad Keselowski is basking in his own glory after his first victory as owner-driver at RFK. Do you think he can pick up more wins this season? Let us know in the comments below!