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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 19: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, waits backstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19, 2026 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Brad Keselowski isn\u2019t questioning whether he can still win races in the NASCAR Cup Series<\/a>. He\u2019s questioning whether he\u2019s had the equipment to do it.<\/p>\n As the former Cup Series champion faces an uncertain future following his split from RFK Racing, Keselowski offered a revealing assessment of his recent struggles. He believes his ability behind the wheel remains intact, even if the results haven\u2019t reflected it.<\/p>\n And when the conversation turned to RFK\u2019s competitiveness, Keselowski didn\u2019t pretend everything had been working.<\/p>\n His comments offered a rare glimpse into the frustration behind a difficult stretch of his career, while also making one thing clear: The 2012 Cup Series champion isn\u2019t ready to walk away from racing.<\/p>\n Brad Keselowski Acknowledges RFK Racing Hasn\u2019t Been a Top-Tier Team<\/p>\n Keselowski\u2019s comments came during a conversation with reporters at Charlotte, where he was asked why he remains confident he can win at NASCAR\u2019s highest level despite recording just one victory over the past five seasons.<\/p>\n His answer centered on the difference between a driver\u2019s ability and the equipment underneath him.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I\u2019m capable of way more,\u201d Keselowski said. \u201cI mean, you\u2019re right. I\u2019ve only won once in the last five years, but then I\u2019ve got like eight or nine second-place finishes and a lot of, you know, shoulda, woulda, couldas that were outside of our control.\u201d<\/p>\n Brad Keselowski has won just once in the last five years. So why does he want to keep racing? @NASCARONFOX<\/a> <\/p>\n Keselowski pointed to Mark Martin as an example of a driver whose career experienced a resurgence when the right opportunity came along.<\/p>\n Martin joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2009 and won five Cup Series races that season, demonstrating that a veteran driver\u2019s most productive years don\u2019t necessarily follow a predictable timeline.<\/p>\n For Keselowski, the comparison underscored a larger point about how much equipment matters in NASCAR.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re not in the right opportunity, it doesn\u2019t matter who you are as a driver. There\u2019s a little Kevin Harvick saying you can\u2019t make a slow race car go fast, and you can\u2019t drive a slow race car fast. It\u2019s just how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Then came his most revealing assessment of RFK.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think our cars are awful, but clearly we\u2019re not tier one. And, you know, I\u2019m proud of the work that we put in, and I\u2019m proud of where I\u2019m at as a driver and, you know, I feel comfortable in tier one that I could win races.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a notable admission from someone who has played such a central role in RFK\u2019s efforts to rebuild its NASCAR program.<\/p>\n Keselowski wasn\u2019t dismissing the work that went into the organization. In fact, he made a point of expressing pride in it. But he also drew a distinction between making progress and consistently competing with the sport\u2019s strongest teams.<\/p>\n When asked whether RFK could eventually reach that level, he didn\u2019t rule it out.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, there\u2019s always been potential for RFK to be tier one, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n Keselowski\u2019s Next NASCAR Move Could Prove His Point<\/p>\n The timing makes Keselowski\u2019s remarks particularly interesting.<\/p>\n RFK Racing and Keselowski are set to part ways after the 2026 season, ending a partnership that began when he joined the organization as a driver and co-owner in 2022.<\/p>\n The disagreement over his future centered on competing priorities. Keselowski wants to continue driving, while RFK leadership envisioned him transitioning toward a larger competition-management role.<\/p>\n That leaves Keselowski searching for another opportunity, potentially one that would allow him to test his belief that he can still compete for victories in top-level equipment.<\/p>\n He also indicated Saturday that discussions about his future have been more encouraging than some might expect.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of behind-the-scenes chatter and things that happen that don\u2019t always make their way to you guys,\u201d Keselowski said. \u201cSo I would say that there\u2019s some really good opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n His confidence hasn\u2019t eliminated the uncertainty. Keselowski still has decisions to make about where he\u2019ll race in 2027, and finding a competitive seat presents its own challenges.<\/p>\n But the veteran isn\u2019t treating the end of his RFK tenure as the end of his racing career.<\/p>\n For now, his message is unmistakable. He believes he has more victories left in him. Whether his next opportunity gives him the chance to prove it could become one of NASCAR\u2019s<\/a> most compelling stories heading into 2027.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMaggie MacKenzie<\/a> Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t