In the complete historical past of the NASCAR, solely 34 of the almost 3,000 drivers who’ve began a Cup race have reached that milestone.
Brad Keselowski is about to grow to be the thirty fifth at Martinsville Speedway.
The 42-year-old champion and RFK Racing co-owner is nursing a leg damage early within the 2026 season, however he is nonetheless absolutely able to competing at a excessive degree, ending fifth within the Daytona 500 and almost successful lower than per week in the past at Darlington.
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Since making his debut with Hendrick Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway in November of 2008, the Michigan native has put collectively a Corridor of Fame profession. He has received 36 races, together with three of the game’s 4 crown jewels, and he bested Jimmie Johnson for the 2012 NASCAR Cup Sequence championship.
His first victory was about as dramatic as one may think about, sending Carl Edwards flying the other way up via the air as they battled to the end line at Talladega.
A profession to be pleased with…and much from doneChampionship victory lane: 2012 NASCAR Dash Cup Sequence champion Brad Keselowski, Penske Racing Dodge enters victory lane
Championship victory lane: 2012 NASCAR Dash Cup Sequence champion Brad Keselowski, Penske Racing Dodge enters victory lane
Now on the cusp of his 600th profession begin, Keselowski mirrored on his profession, saying: “I simply needed to have a profession and was making an attempt to show myself. To suppose that I’ve had one other 599 since then is fairly cool. I simply wish to sit down with a 24-year-old me and inform him that was going to occur.”
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He then added: “After I first bought in a cup, I simply needed to be right here. I didn’t take into consideration something exterior of that. I didn’t consider the stats. I didn’t take into consideration the accolades, I simply needed to be right here and I’m fortunate to be right here.”
However for many who suppose Keselowski is nearing the top of his exceptional profession, suppose once more. Keselowski expressed a need to achieve 800 profession begins, which solely ten different drivers have achieved at this level.
If he reaches that quantity, Keselowski would nonetheless be racing when he is 47 and thru the 2031 season. That is very affordable, and hey, he’s the boss so he can positively set his personal timeline.
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Keselowski’s profession has been an enchanting one, as he got here out of the gate as a disruptive younger racer who was always moving into it with the veterans of the game. Most nonetheless keep in mind the all-out brawl between him and Jeff Gordon through the 2014 title combat. Now, he is probably the most revered veterans and a really constant driver.
Keselowski additionally discovered fast success when he first arrived on the scene, successful a championship in simply his third full-time season. That continues to be his solely title, however he was nonetheless very aggressive within the years that adopted, ending 2020 because the championship runner-up.
Constructing a brand new legacy as a group ownerBrad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
And whereas he may have spent the remainder of his profession with Workforce Penske, and will have probably snagged one other title within the first few years of the Subsequent Gen period with the group’s dominance at Phoenix (Penske received each title between 2022 and 2024), Keselowski selected to tackle a brand new problem.
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He left a cushty journey at one of many huge three groups, and went to RFK Racing with the purpose of re-building a as soon as dominant group. It has been a battle, each as a driver and an proprietor. Keselowski has solely received a single race in 4 years with the group, however he has put within the work to make Roush a contender once more. It is child steps, however they’re clearly higher than they had been earlier than Keselowski’s involvement.
Roush received back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004 and as soon as fielded 5 full-time automobiles, however simply over a decade later, they had been down to 2 automobiles and discovering Victory Lane turned a uncommon prevalence. They had been winless for 4 straight years earlier than Keselowski’s arrival, however have since received six races (5 courtesy of Chris Buescher), and expanded again right into a three-car group.
Proper now, all three automobiles are within the high 12 in factors, and if Roush can proceed to climb greater, then Keselowski’s legacy as an proprietor would rival his legacy as a racer.
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He’ll begin twenty third for his 600th profession Cup race on Sunday, and what higher race to snap a 65-race winless streak?
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