Brad Keselowski occupies a unique position on the Cup Series field. He is a co-owner of the RFK Racing organization and also a driver for it. Thus, his opinions on issues related to the welfare of sport come from a very deep dynamic. This is also why special attention should be paid to one’s position on the number of road races during a season.
Four road races are planned for the 2026 season. One of them, at the Circuit of the Americas, just finished last Sunday and Keselowskifinished 20th. Talk to SpeedFreaks in an interview, he explained why he thinks NASCAR doesn’t have to hold that many road races in a single season.
Advertisement
THE RFKthe driver said, “I just put my business owner hat on and I don’t understand why the sport wants to do so many road races. As a business owner, those are the races that are hardest to sell sponsorships for. Those are the ones that have the lowest attendance. That doesn’t make sense to me. We should go where the sponsors want to be. Where the fans want to be.”
Television audiences are not very good for road events either. Bad numbers in every major category are why he stands firm on his views. There can be very little controversy about what he said. Road racing has yet to compare to the fan appeal of oval racing. But there is a good reason for this. He explained the same thing.
Why road races don’t sell as much as oval races
Keselowski said: “I think a lot of fans identify NASCAR with the ovals. They understand the concept of what we do on the ovals and appreciate it more than the road courses. That’s my perspective of what I see. I can’t speak for all the fans.” He is not alone in this line of thinking. There are other drivers who don’t like road courses either.
Advertisement
But NASCAR believes that the type of track is essential to vary the season and interest young audiences. This reluctance to let go is why he has also experimented with ways to address drivers’ concerns. Road racing horsepower has been increased from 670 to 750 this year. Not that it makes much of a difference on the track, but it shows intent.
All things considered, a future without road or street course racing on the Cup Series schedule remains difficult to imagine.
The position ‘It doesn’t make sense’: Brad Keselowski opposes NASCAR’s recent road racing push appeared first on The rush to sport.
