RFK Racing on path back to “a perennial championship contender”

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Chris Buescher picked up his third win of the season Saturday night time at Daytona Worldwide Speedway and each he and Keselowski will compete within the 16-driver playoffs, Buescher now because the No. 4 seed.

That’s a large turnaround from final season, when each groups didn’t make the playoff subject, though Buescher did safe a late-season win.

Since Keselowski joined the group as a driver and co-owner in 2022, Buescher has all 4 of the group’s victories. The previous Roush Fenway Racing had an extended historical past of success in NASCAR however had not received within the Cup Collection since 2017.

Keselowski’s arrival coincided with the debut of the Subsequent Gen automobile within the Cup sequence competitors and a change to the competitors facet of the racing workforce.

Improved outcomes have come progressively, however they’ve definitely picked up in frequency the longer the 2023 season has gone on.

Keselowski relishes the chance he and Buescher have this season but in addition stays targeted on the “larger image.”

Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing, BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang, Chris Buescher, RFK Racing, Fastenal Ford Mustang

Picture by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images

“We’re constructing one thing that’s going to be particular for a very long time,” Keselowski mentioned. “That’s an enormous purpose of mine. I’m pleased with everyone within the workforce, definitely Chris for his efforts.

“The larger image is to have a sustainable race workforce that may win championships for years to return, be a perennial championship contender.

“I believe you have a look at the wins that RFK has had this 12 months, they’re not fluke wins, they’re earned wins. However (this week), all this sort of washes away and we’re targeted on the ten weeks to return.”

Victory Lane eludes Keselowski

Whereas Keselowski has but to attain a win this season, he has been in place to take action a number of instances.

The flexibility to have each automobiles up entrance regularly and in rivalry for wins is one other huge step for the group. Saturday night time was the primary race since 2014 that RFK had drivers end first and second in a race.

“A number of weeks in the past, we have been sitting down, type of going over the purpose and visions, what we worth. One of many issues we introduced up was 1-2 finishes,” Keselowski mentioned. “It’s been a very long time since this firm has had 1-2 finishes.

“After all, I wished to be the one on the entrance of that. Proud nonetheless of Chris and his efforts and each groups, the place they’ve grown and are available collectively. Doing all the fitting issues to develop us and to only take us to that subsequent stage.”

The beginning of the 10-race playoff schedule additionally bodes properly for RFK.

Each drivers completed within the top-10 on the spring race at Darlington and Buescher received final season’s race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

“Large to stand up entrance and to have the ability to management races, simply execute at a really excessive stage whereas additionally having the tempo and simply earn it,” Keselowski mentioned. “We’re not profitable races that we don’t should win.

“There’s a variety of power for us, a variety of nice racing to sit up for.”