No victories this season, a looming threat of elimination, and a winning Talladega race left incomplete. And yet, RFK Racing‘s Brad Keselowski maintained the tranquil consistency required for the long haul. Veteran NASCAR driver disclosed the enviable trait in Keselowski which guaranteed future triumphs.

Team Penske‘s lone playoff warrior, Ryan Blaney, dashed past the checkered flag with impressive speed and skill. Brad Keselowski dominated most of the race after his Stage 2 win but could not translate it into victory. And yet former racer and NBC analyst Kyle Petty had more faith in the RFK owner’s steady performances over Blaney’s hit-or-miss routine.

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While some criticized Keselowski’s maneuver of spinning Carson Hocevar out of the race, the #6 driver simply characterized it as part and parcel of the competitive sport. Petty shrewdly recognized this untangled mindset as an integral aspect of a racer’s longevity. Speaking to NBC writer Nate Ryan, Petty reaffirmed his stance and said, “I’m going to use Brad K as an example of something that happened today.

“99.9% of the accidents that happen on the highway when you run into the guy, you’re the one that gets the ticket. Brad never apologized for spending the 42 [of Hocevar] and he never took any of that blame for the accident in his post-race interview…He is so mentally focused that he doesn’t believe he did anything wrong. He was so focused on pushing that car and getting back to the front and putting himself in a position. And he’s so mentally strong that he pays no attention.”

But Petty was aware not everyone could function the way Keselowski did. For instance, the #12 race winner Blaney. According to the insider, “He [Ryan Blaney] has all the physical attributes, he has all the mental skills, they’re just not there every week. That focus, that desire, that drive, it just seems to go away or something blocks it every now and then.”

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With years of accumulated racing wisdom and understanding, Petty suggested a revolutionary solution. 

NASCAR insider stressed an important addition to a driver’s grueling regiment

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The conversation surrounding mental health was at a fairly nascent stage when Denny Hamlin opened up about consulting a sports psychologist. After a disturbing season ended in 2010, the current championship contender sought a mental and emotional recovery through professional channels. The most obvious and commonplace aid in a physically strenuous and mentally taxing sporting activity is still considered taboo in the racing circuit. But driving stars like Hamlin become an inspiring influence in mainstream acceptance.

One of the 75 greatest drivers of all time, Jeff Burton admitted the beneficial effects of a psychologist in his life and career a few years ago. Most recently, the 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace detailed his struggle with depression and the professional steps he undertook to fight it. And Kyle Petty was completely on board. Referring to it as “just another tool in the toolbox”, the expert analyst vehemently advocated for a sports psychologist in a racer’s life.

Petty argued, “If we’re going to say a simulator is a tool. If we’re going to say a weight machine or a barbell is a tool, then a sports psychologist is a tool. So why not use it? In this day and time, why not use every tool you can to be the best driver that you can be? The best all-round driver physically, mentally, emotionally, focus, everything that rolls into it. Why wouldn’t you use that as a tool? If I was driving today… I would dang sure have one on my side to be able to understand where I’m at.”

The analyst had a clear message for all the racers of the modern generation. Either be as level-headed as Keselowski or allow a licensed professional to guide you there. When even young racers are neglectful of their mental health, this pragmatic advice from a veteran served as a source of strength in this crucial cause.

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