In the world of NASCAR, where fortunes can change with every lap, the 2022 season marked a new chapter for the team with the arrival of seasoned veteran and Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski at the helm. Hopes were high, but misfortune seemed to shadow them throughout the year. However, the 2023 season unfolded as a remarkable underdog story, and the turning point came at Richmond when both Ford cars finished in the top 5, and Chris Buescher secured the win.

With both cars securing spots in the playoffs, RFK Racing defied the odds and crossed the challenging Round of 16. As RFK enjoys the highest of highs in the 2023 season, their success has cast a shadow over two giants of the sport, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing. The champions convention in the trenches includes heavyweights like Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick, but notably absent from the invite list is Keselowski, who is fully occupied with the playoff round of 12.

Brad Keselowski’s comeback tale amidst the struggling Ford camp

Ford racing giants and championship-winning teams, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing, have seen their nearly two-decade reign of dominance crumble in the 2023 season. Brad Keselowski and Co. emerged to the forefront, leaving stalwarts of the team, Harvick and Logano, on the sidelines as they failed to make the cut for the playoffs.

The No. 22 Pennzoil team faced the sharp glare of the spotlight following their humiliating elimination in the first round of the playoffs. This unprecedented turn of events marks the first time in NASCAR history that a defending champion has been unceremoniously ousted during the initial playoff round. The NASCAR community is left reeling from these unexpected developments, as Brad Keselowski now stands tall as the new face of Ford.

Recent discussions on the GoPRNLive podcast reached a unanimous consensus on this topic, with the final verdict being crystal clear: “They [RFK] have clearly become the banner carriers for Ford.”

SiriusXM’s Pete Pistone pointed out that Penske and SHR had been struggling for most of the season, unable to match RFK’s performance. “Whatever they’re doing at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, I know the other four teams would love to have that secret sauce because they’ve got it. And the other two big teams, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing, just do not, and they have not for most of the season.” 

Kim Coon from NBC Sports chimed in, highlighting the strong lineup at RFK with Chris Buescher as a standout performer with three wins, and even though Brad Keselowski hadn’t secured a victory, he had consistently been on the cusp of one. “You look at Chris Buescher, three wins. There’s, um, you know, Brad Keselowski’s performances, although he doesn’t have a win, he’s right there knocking on the door of a win. But it’s kind of shocking for you to say no SHR cars in the playoffs anymore.”

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For Brad Keselowski, there’s a less glamorous statistic hiding in plain sight. With nearly 90 races without a victory, Keselowski’s winless streak is becoming hard to ignore. In a sport driven by stats and razor-thin margins, Keselowski downplays it all by saying, “I don’t really think about the numbers much.”

Racing against the odds to break the winless streak, numbers be damned

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In a recent interview with FOX Sports, the veteran driver opened up about his relentless pursuit to snap his ongoing winless streak, which has now stretched to nearly 90 races. Despite the mounting pressure, Brad Keselowski remains remarkably composed and focused on the road ahead.

Keselowski’s confidence is unwavering as he highlighted his consistent presence at the forefront of races, frequently leading laps and narrowly missing the elusive win. “Well, we’ve been right there. A couple of seconds, leading a lot of laps. And whether the winless streak is 30 races, five races, or 100 races, you just want to win,” Keselowski commented. “I don’t really think about the numbers much. I think about capitalizing on opportunities.”

What sets Brad Keselowski apart in this unique narrative is his ability to reinvent himself. Over the last two years, he has undergone a transformative process, willingly taking a step back to ultimately propel himself forward in the long run. “It’s a painful process of short-term pain with long-term gain,” Keselowski explained. “And I think the people who truly understand the sport respect that journey.”

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With the playoff of 12 taking action this weekend starting in Texas, the burning question on every mind is: How long will Brad Keselowski and his streak extend before it’s broken, and will it be broken at all?