WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Brad Keselowski will have a driver on standby for the next three NASCAR Cup Series races, including Watkins Glen.

Ryan Kemna/TRE

Ryan Kemna / TRE

Keselowski’s wife, Paige, is due to give birth to the couple’s fourth child. As a result, RFK Racing will have Joey Hand on standby at Watkins Glen and others at Richmond and Daytona.

#15: Joey Hand, Rick Ware Racing, Ford BlueOval City Ford Mustang

Keselowski sits 19th in points, more than a race worth of points away from the playoff cutline and without a win in 2025. He needs a win to get into the playoffs.

If there is a race where he starts and a backup driver gets in and wins, Keselowski will get credit for the points and the win that would lock him into the playoffs.

If Keselowski can’t start a race due to his wife giving birth, he won’t get any points but he will get a waiver to remain playoff-eligible. When Denny Hamlin missed the Mexico City race in June when his wife gave birth, NASCAR granted him a waiver.

Keselowski qualified 16th at Watkins Glen.

Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.

A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.

Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.

Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com