Brad Keselowski will experience a real roller coaster of emotions after Go Bowling 2024 at The Glen. On one hand, RFK Racing co-owner Chris Buescher will be pleased that Chris Buescher took his first win of the season in such dominant fashion. However, the 40-year-old racing veteran had hoped to finish higher than 26th, with the result leaving him very far from the cut with only a playoff spot 16. It is not only Keselowski’s result at Watkins Glen his worst result in nine races, but the Michigan native was also guilty of a pit lane violation. If that wasn’t enough, the driver of Ford Mustang no. in the second playoff race of the season at Watkins Glen International. He finished 28th in qualifying and things didn’t improve for the veteran driver from that point. Keselowski was involved in three incidents on the track and was subject to two lane penalties. The first happened on lap 17 when the forty-year-old was caught rushing at the exit, forcing him to start the second special from the back of the grid. On lap 37, his pit crew was found guilty of a tire violation, which sent him to the back of the field again. The first incident occurred in the first lap, involving Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney, forcing the latter to retire early. If that wasn’t enough, the veteran was also involved in a serious accident on the 84th lap when William Byron tried to pass as Joey Logano had made contact. This forced the right front wheel of Chevrolet no. Byron’s 24 into Keselowski’s window, forcing both drivers into the wall.
Although both drivers escaped the incident unscathed, it definitely affected Keselowski’s overall track position. So it is not surprising that the driver of Ford Mustang No 6 could not get a good result. However, it wasn’t all gloom for RFK Racing as Chris Buescher took a dramatic victory at Watkins Glen International, holding off Shane van Gisbergen for two more laps to enter Victory Lane for the sixth time in his career. What does this mean for Brad Keselowski’s playoff hopes?
He started the weekend just one point off the grid, but a disastrous result at Watkins Glen made his goal of making the knockout stages that much more difficult. As things stand, the 40-year-old is 12 points off the grid with just one race remaining at Bristol Motor Speedway to make up his deficit. The RFK Racing driver knows a similar result at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race will end his championship hopes, meaning Keselowski will have to get his act together before the final round of the 16th playoff race. Drivers are rarely responsible for incidents on the track, but it is even rarer for those who are victims of such accidents to absolve their rivals of any responsibility. However, that’s exactly what happened at Watkins Glen International, when Joey Logano took responsibility for a nasty lap 84 crash involving William Byron and Brad Keselowski. The Team Penske driver has already secured a spot in the round of 16 after winning the first playoff race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but blamed track conditions as the main cause of the incident.Brad Keselowski experienced a true roller coaster of emotions after the 2024 Go Bowling at The Glen, a race that tested both his resolve and his championship hopes. As co-owner of RFK Racing, Keselowski was no doubt thrilled to see his teammate Chris Buescher secure his first win of the season in a dominant performance. Buescher’s victory marked a moment of triumph for the team, entering Victory Lane for the sixth time in his career and helping RFK Racing keep its momentum alive. However, for the 40-year-old veteran driver himself, it was a weekend to forget, as his hopes of making the playoffs suffered a significant blow.
Keselowski entered the weekend at Watkins Glen with high hopes, sitting just one point shy of the playoff cutline. Unfortunately, the race would become his worst result in nine races, finishing a disheartening 26th. It wasn’t just the placement that was disappointing; the path to that result was paved with several errors and incidents.The trouble started during qualifying, where Keselowski could only muster a 28th-place starting position. From there, things took a turn for the worse. The veteran driver became entangled in three separate on-track incidents, the first of which occurred on lap one. A collision involving Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney saw the latter retire early, with Keselowski barely escaping without major damage. However, his misfortunes didn’t stop there.
With just one race left before the playoff field is set, Keselowski faces an uphill battle to secure his spot in the postseason. The next and final race, the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, will be a make-or-break moment for the veteran driver. Known for his skill on short tracks, Keselowski will need to bring his A-game to Bristol if he hopes to overcome his 12-point deficit and advance to the round of 16.
A similar result to Watkins Glen could spell disaster for Keselowski’s championship hopes, but the RFK Racing driver is no stranger to high-pressure situations. With his extensive experience and tenacity, Keselowski will undoubtedly give everything he has to secure his playoff spot. The veteran driver will need to avoid the costly mistakes and penalties that plagued him at Watkins Glen and focus on executing a clean, strong race at Bristol.
In the world of motorsports, few emotions are as complex as those felt by a driver who is both a competitor and a team owner. For Keselowski, this weekend was a microcosm of that emotional complexity. On the one hand, his team’s success with Chris Buescher’s victory was a moment of joy and pride for RFK Racing. On the other hand, Keselowski’s own struggles left him grappling with frustration and uncertainty about his playoff future.
The contrasting fortunes of Keselowski and Buescher reflect the unpredictable nature of racing. One driver’s victory can’t always offset another’s disappointment, but as co-owner, Keselowski can take some solace in knowing that RFK Racing is still performing at a high level. He will need to draw on this positive momentum as he heads to Bristol for what could be the most important race of his season.In a rare gesture in the competitive world of NASCAR, Joey Logano, the Team Penske driver who has already secured his playoff spot, took full responsibility for the lap 84 crash that involved William Byron and Brad Keselowski. While Logano’s intentions weren’t malicious, the conditions on the track and the aggressive nature of playoff racing contributed to the collision. Logano’s ability to own up to the mistake offers a glimpse into the sportsmanship that still exists in a high-stakes environment, though it did little to soften the blow for Keselowski, who found himself yet again on the wrong end of an incident.
As Keselowski prepares for Bristol, the veteran driver will need to put the disappointments of Watkins Glen behind him. A strong finish at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race is not just preferred but essential. With the playoff hopes on the line, all eyes will be on Keselowski as he seeks redemption and a chance to fight for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Championship.Will Keselowski rise to the occasion and secure his playoff spot, or will the challenges of Watkins Glen haunt him at Bristol? One thing is certain: it’s do or die for the 40-year-old racing veteran.
