At 41 years old, Brad Keselowski is at the age when most NASCAR Cup Series drivers start seriously considering retirement. Apparently, he is no exception to that rule.
Following the recent news that 44-year-old Denny Hamlin has signed only a two-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, Keselowski admitted to having thoughts of his own about walking away. At the same time, Keselowski conceded that he has yet to make peace with such a move.
So when does Keselowski find himself wanting to throw in the towel? And when does he feel like he isn’t ready to hang it up?
Last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 2012 Cup Series champion explained his thought processes concerning the matter at hand.
Seemingly Past His Prime, Brad Keselowski Frequently Ponders His Next Move
From 2011-2021, Brad Keselowski scored 32 NASCAR Cup Series victories while cementing a reputation as one of the sport’s elite drivers. But since the start of the 2022 season, Keselowski has triumphed just one time.
The lack of consistent success over the last few years has raised questions in the mind of both Keselowski and others about how much longer he might continue to race. The struggle to sort it all out is real, according to the RFK Racing co-owner/driver, who left his longtime role as a driver for Team Penske ahead of the 2022 season.
“You go through these stretches where you know you’re winning and you’re super-competitive and you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ll go until my body fails me,’” Keselowski said. “And then you have a stretch of races where nothing seems to be going right, whether it’s your fault or not. And then you’re like, ‘I don’t want to do this any more.’
“I think those are natural ebbs and flows that you work through. And you have to find your own motivation. That motivation changes throughout your career.”
So What Motivates Brad Keselowski To Continue Racing For The Time Being?
Even though Brad Keselowski isn’t a consistent frontrunner like he was for many years, the veteran wheelman still has times when he looks as competitive as ever.
Case in point: the late June race at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).
Keselowski led 46 laps, including the lap coming to the white flag, before ultimately finishing second to Chase Elliott.
The outcome was a bitter pill to swallow for Keselowski, who needed a win to earn an automatic playoff berth. Still, he was encouraged to perform so well after struggling for most of the season.
CHASE ELLIOTT WINS IN ATLANTA! pic.twitter.com/EQfNV9JuNR
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 29, 2025
“You find different things that motivate you,” Keselowski said. “I know my motivations have changed over the years. And that’s OK. But I’m tying this all back into the thought that if I go out here and run really well, and I have a shot to win, I’ll walk back in the garage area and say that I’ve probably got 10 more years left.
“It’s a very strong, emotional roller coaster being a race car driver.”
And a roller coaster Keselowski will likely remain on until the day he calls it quits from driving.
