NASCAR Cup Pocono
Brad Keselowski takes blame for surprising error that cost him the lead
Experienced driver Keselowski had to pass a lot of cars to get a well-earned top ten finish at Pocono, but it could have been so much more
Nick DeGroot
Edited: Jun 23, 2025, 9:57 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The RFK Racing co-owner was leading the way on Lap 56 at Pocono Raceway when he made a shocking error. Cameras cut to Brad Keselowski as he entered pit road, but he was the only one doing so. The reason? Pit road was closed and Keselowski had just willingly given up all of his track position. It was a stunning mistake by the No. 6 team and one they spent most of the race trying to make up for.
"When we were going down the short chute, the team said pit this time and I had no reason to challenge that," Keselowski told NASCAR on Prime. "Ultimately, I hold the steering wheel and I'm the one that's gotta check and I didn't check the crew chief and the spotter -- that's my fault."
To pit or not to pit
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Keselowski did fight his way back up inside the top five, even taking the lead through the final cycle of green-flag pit stops. But misfortune wasn't done with him just yet. Crew chief Jeremy Bullins called him to pit road, but Keselowski wanted to stay out a little bit longer, taking advantage of the clean air. And that's when the caution flag flew, derailing his day once again.
"We had a great car today," said Keselowski. "Our Ford Mustang was really good. We got the lead there in the first stage and we felt like we were in control and lost control of the race early with the pit road penalty. I thought we recovered really well from that, got up to third or fourth there. We kind of had a strategy to run long and the yellow came out in the middle of the cycle and cycled us back to the end there."
However, Keselowski did not give up, fighting from 24th on the final restart to finish ninth as RFK Racing put all three cars inside the top ten.
Speaking more about the costly decision to run long, Keselowski added that his crew chief "asked me to pit the lap before and I was in a clean air spot and I wanted to keep running, taking advantage of my tires. If I would have pitted, the yellow would have come out while we were on pit road. We probably would have cycled inside the top ten on new tires. Might have had a shot to win the race. So, I feel bad about not taking advantage of that."
Photos from Pocono - Race
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
2025 - Pocono - Sunday
NASCAR Cup
50
Read Also:
NASCAR CupBubba Wallace and Riley Herbst wreck as 23XI brakes ‘explode’ at Pocono
NASCAR CupChase Briscoe saves enough fuel, earns impressive NASCAR Cup win at Pocono
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst wreck as 23XI brakes ‘explode’ at Pocono
Next article NASCAR in-season challenge: What is it and who are the Round 1 matchups?
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nick DeGroot
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
General 55 min
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Feature
NASCAR Cup
Feature
NASCAR Cup 2 mo
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
More from
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski expects "lots of soul searching" in off-season as he reflects on 2026
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 d
Brad Keselowski expects "lots of soul searching" in off-season as he reflects on 2026
Brad Keselowski to address questions about NASCAR future and RFK exit at Martinsville
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
17 d
Brad Keselowski to address questions about NASCAR future and RFK exit at Martinsville
Ryan Preece on RFK nearly lapping the field: "You'll never see that again"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
19 d
Ryan Preece on RFK nearly lapping the field: "You'll never see that again"
Latest news
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
Misc General 55 min
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
8 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe