Back in his Team Penske days, Brad Keselowski was a master of consistency, precision, and sheer speed. Every racer kept an eye on Bad Brad. With 36 Cup Series race wins and a 2012 championship to his name, he knew how to stretch forward on a race day. Whether it was a superspeedway or a short track, if Keselowski was in the mix, you knew he was a threat. But those golden days are gone now.

Since leaving Penske in 2021 to take on the challenge of being both a driver and co-owner at RFK Racing, Keselowski’s trajectory has shifted. Wins have been scarce, and the results haven’t lived up to the standard he once set. Sure, he’s played a massive role in revitalizing RFK Racing, turning it into a competitive team again, but the big question remains: Will Keselowski, the driver, ever get back to his former self? Kevin Harvick isn’t convinced.

Harvick’s honest take: Is Keselowski’s past his prime?

Kevin Harvick has never been one to sugarcoat things. On his Happy Hour podcast, the 2014 Cup Series champ put the question out there: “Is Brad Keselowski ever going to get back to what he was at Penske?” During his Penske tenure, he was one of the most reliable drivers on the grid, finishing in the top 10 of the standings 9 times in 12 seasons. He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. But RFK presents a different kind of challenge—one that demands just as much work off the track as on it.

Harvick recognizes Keselowski’s contributions off the track, acknowledging his leadership and his knack for “structural organization, racing common sense, and all the things that come with that.” But when it comes to performance behind the wheel, Harvick is skeptical.

“We’ve seen flashes of brilliance out of that car over the past few years,” Harvick noted. “But it comes in small pockets. It’s just not been where it needs to be to be back in championship mode.” And the stats back that up. Since Keselowski took over at RFK in 2022, he’s managed just one win—the 2024 Darlington race. Meanwhile, his teammate Chris Buescher has found victory lane five times in the same period.

Harvick has plenty of praise for Buescher, calling him “one of the most underrated guys in the sport.” And it’s not hard to see why. In 2023, Buescher pulled off three wins and posted a career-best average finish of 12.2. Keselowski, in contrast, relatively struggled to find his footing, finishing an alright eighth in the standings and making an early playoff exit. It’s a stark contrast to his Penske days when he was a perennial title contender.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season painted a similar picture. Keselowski didn’t have a “bad” season by any means. He managed one win, nine top-five finishes, and 14 top-10s, leading a total of 318 laps. He wrapped up the season in 13th place overall. Buescher, on the other hand, only found victory lane once in 2024 at Watkins Glen but remained one of the most consistent performers, racking up a solid six top-five and 16 top-10 finishes while continuing to be a key factor in RFK Racing’s success. His road course skills in particular have been a major asset.

While Keselowski’s Darlington win broke a drought dating back to 2021, Buescher’s steady performances and ability to extract every bit of speed from his car suggest that, at least right now, he’s the more reliable driver at RFK. It’s a dynamic that raises questions about where Keselowski stands as a competitor versus a team leader.

Harvick’s doubts aren’t just about speed—they’re about longevity. “I don’t think we ever see another championship out of Keselowski,” he said, bluntly. A harsh take? Maybe. He’s not saying it isn’t possible. “I just haven’t seen it yet” Harvick concluded. But looking at the numbers, it’s not an easy one to argue against.

Keselowski looks forward to the best of both worlds

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Harvick’s words might sting, but they only tell a part of the story. Keselowski’s decision to move to RFK Racing wasn’t just about extending his driving career. It was about transforming a struggling team into a competitive force. Since taking the reins in 2022, he’s been hard at work shaping RFK’s future.

The team has made big strides now. It has added a third car to the roster, securing a long-term sponsorship deal with Kroger, the retail giant. The team is also forming a key technical alliance with the Haas Factory Team. These moves have strengthened RFK’s financial and competitive standings. And at the heart of all this progress is Keselowski.

“Day 1 walking into what’s now RFK, I knew it was going to be about challenges,” Keselowski said recently. “It was part of the fun, knowing that you have to fix it, tune it up.”

His priorities have shifted from personal glory to building something bigger than himself. Success in the shoes of a team owner takes more time and patience than a driver.

“We want to be contenders. We want to win multiple races, put all our cars into the playoffs, and at least get one of them to make a deep run,” Keselowski said. “I think we’ll have a good chance at that. We’ve got some really good people and really good resources.”

But, can Keselowski juggle the pressures of being both a driver and a team owner while trying to return to his championship-winning ways? Harvick isn’t convinced.

The 2025 season will be a defining moment. RFK Racing is positioned to take another leap forward with a new crew chief, a third car in the mix, and major backing from Kroger. If Keselowski can carry his team’s off-track momentum onto the track, he might just prove the doubters wrong. But if recent seasons are any indication, it might be a tough road ahead.