When the No. 6 Ford crossed the checkered line at Darlington Raceway, its pit crew were visibly ecstatic. Brad Keselowski not only snapped his 110-race winless drought but also allowed Ford people to heave a sigh of relief. RFK Racing rejoiced in its first owner-driver victory after Chris Buescher’s recent wins. But this win came after a long struggle, as team owner Jack Roush observes.

The RFK team came into being when Keselowski moved over to Roush’s fold from Team Penske. Shifting from the dominating Ford team to a waning one raised many eyebrows. However, Keselowski’s determination lifted the previously strong team from the shadows. And further success is predicted, as Roush recently proclaimed.

Jack Roush declares RFK’s lead in the Ford group

As the first three months of the 2024 season rolled by, tensions were on the rise for the Ford bandwagon. Chevrolet and Toyota kept picking up wins like berries in a garden, while the third OEM stood out. Experts considered hitting the panic button for Ford, but drivers like Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano brushed the worries aside.

Brad Keselowski’s win has secured a place for Ford in the winner’s group. Jack Roush, RFK’s co-owner, has high hopes for his team’s drivers, as he recently told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. “The way we finished last year, and the way that the car looked…the new car looked in the aero testing…I would’ve guessed what would have happened before now. We’ll catch up by taking more races the rest of the year.”

Although Chris Buescher rallied three wins last year, Brad Keselowski achieved his first win for RFK Racing. His last win was in the 2021 Talladega race, following which he left Team Penske. From 2022 onwards, it was an uphill climb as Keselowski breathed life into the once-legendary Roush-Fenway Racing.

Jack Roush emphasized Keselowski’s invaluable efforts in pulling the team out of the shadows. “He’s always been under the impression that they (cars) had their own life. And when we gave him this chance to put life into this organization, he was able to get satisfaction in being involved in more decision-making. He’s found out that some things are not as simple as they look.”

Indeed, to leave the comfort of the dominant Team Penske and join a weaker team required guts. And Brad Keselowski patiently wove his path to an eventual victory.

Keselowski’s thorn-laden journey taught him a lot

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Brad Keselowski’s departure from Team Penske came as a surprise to many. It was a stable organization where he won 35 races and also clinched the 2012 Cup championship. And after Keselowski entered Jack Roush’s fold, three years of winless agony awaited him. Plus, he pioneered a major cultural shift within RFK, enforcing the winning mindset in the team.

Hence in a post-Darlington interview, Keselowski was proud of being part of the team’s growth. “I’ve learned so much over the last three years about people and culture and organizations and the technical aspects of what it takes to build a race team that can win, and that’s the action I crave, always craved, is being a part of that journey. I have that. That makes winning so much more special and more impactful to me personally.” Thus, Keselowski’s long-awaited win crafts a heartwarming story of steady growth and eventual revival.