Since NASCAR’s founding in 1948, those in charge have maintained strict control, never holding back when it comes to enforcing the law. Yet, the curtain-closer of the 2023 Cup Series regular season will not only be known as a wreck-fest but also for playing fast and loose with some racers.

At Daytona, Chris Buescher of the RFK Racing team stole the show, sweeping the rug from under Kevin Harvick’s feet. However, it seems they now find themselves in the eye of a storm—a whirlwind of controversy that isn’t ready to die down anytime soon. The kerfuffle was put under the spotlight by the DBC crew, along with Brad Keselowski‘s spotter.

Car movement of Brad Keselowski during a red-flag caution

When the red flag waves in NASCAR, it’s a clear sign that all bets are off and the race grinds to a halt. It could be due to debris littering the track post-crash, inclement weather playing spoilsport, or a combination of the two. With the red flag flying high, teams must resist the urge to tinker or touch up their cars, whether in the pit or the garage.

Yet, during the grand finale of the regular season, Brad Keselowski seemed to throw caution to the wind, literally. In what seemed like a dog chasing its tail, Keselowski circled his car on an open patch. His reasoning? A suspicious whiff of smoke hinted at a possible fire brewing on his car’s port side. 

In the post-race spotlight, Keselowski was quick to defend his unorthodox move. The No. 6 Ford Mustang driver argued that his best shot at snuffing out the potential blaze was to give it air.

The fiery topic was dissected on the DBC podcast, with guest stars Brett Griffin, Freddie Kraft, and Keselowski’s spotter, TJ Majors. Majors gave a play-by-play, noting, “Apparently, Brad started smelling smoke. So, he’s like, I’ve got to move a little bit.

“I am going to put it out because most of the fire safety stuff was on turn 4, where the wreck was. So we are in the red flag, and he’s like, ‘I smell smoke,’ and I am just going to move a little bit and see if I can get it out”, added further.

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Griffin and Majors theorized that burned rubber might’ve been the smoking gun. What’s striking, though, is NASCAR’s radio silence on the matter. Authorities effectively put a lid on the chatter, citing safety first.

However, the move didn’t sit well with the hardcore NASCAR fanbase or the insiders. It seems this lap of controversy is far from its finish line.

It is imperative to adhere to guidelines under all circumstances, opine NASCAR fans and insiders

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For NASCAR aficionados, rules aren’t just guidelines; they’re the very fabric of the race. The recent ruckus over Keselowski’s red-flag maneuver sparked quite the debate.

Fans are up in arms, questioning why, if the rulebook explicitly states cars must remain stationary under a red flag, Keselowski escaped unscathed. They argue, not unjustly, that many a driver has had their race aspirations dashed due to mechanical snafus. Had the hammer come down on Keselowski, the race’s endgame might’ve been a different tale.

Read More: “Second Is First Loser”: Brad Keselowski Sheds Light on Not Wrecking His Teammate

The DBC crew leaned in on this conversation, opining that actions should have consequences. Their stance? If you’re on the move during a red flag, fire, or no fire, penalties should be in play. But the checkered flag on this debate hasn’t been waved yet.

We’d love to hear your two cents. Should Keselowski have been hit with a penalty for putting the pedal to the metal under a red flag?