The turn of the NASCAR season has always been a time of anticipation and high hopes, but this year, all eyes are on RFK Racing co-owner and driver Brad Keselowski as he makes a remarkable return to the track after a harrowing offseason injury. The 2012 Cup Series champion fractured his right femur in December 2025 during a family ski trip, slipping on ice while exiting a vehicle at a ski resort. For Keselowski, what followed was nothing short of a test of willpower and resilience—one that could shape not only his own season but also the fortunes of his entire team.
"When I was laying on the ground, and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was like, ‘Oh my God — think about the soldiers in the Civil War. They would just cut their leg off right here,’" Keselowski told reporters during Daytona 500 media day. "And I understood why they would do it because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I ever went through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was part of me that’s like, ‘That might actually feel better.’"
The injury, which occurred on December 18, 2025, left Keselowski not only in excruciating pain but also uncertain about his future mobility, let alone his racing prospects. "I’m eight weeks in and I’ll tell you, until about three to five weeks in, there was a question of if I was going to walk again — let alone drive a race car," he admitted. The severity of a femur fracture is no small matter: as Keselowski described, "It’s not the same as breaking your leg below your knee. Your femur is the biggest bone in your body. It’s got a lot of things running through it, and it has to heal. You can’t really cast it. You can’t do any of those things. You just kind of have to tough it out."
After undergoing surgery a day after the accident, Keselowski embarked on an intense rehabilitation regimen, clocking over six hours a day in therapy. The process was grueling, but by February 9, 2026, he had passed a 50-lap driving test at Charlotte Motor Speedway—a crucial milestone that earned him medical clearance to compete in the Daytona 500. "Getting cleared was a huge moment for me," Keselowski told Bob Pockrass. "You put in the work, you trust the process, but until you hear that final ‘yes,’ nothing is guaranteed."
On February 11, 2026, Keselowski was seen at Daytona International Speedway, walking with a cane adorned with sponsor decals and practicing in his No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing. While he joked about the cane—"Got to own it. This is NASCAR. ... I knew I probably was going to get picked on a little bit and at some point, own it."—the reality of his situation was serious. The injury had cost him feeling in his upper leg and forced him to make minor cockpit modifications, including adding soft padding where his knees might hit. "There’s not a lot you can do," he said. "We put a little bit of soft padding in one section, but ultimately it is what it is."
Keselowski’s determination to return to racing has been met with both admiration and concern. Veteran journalist Jeff Gluck called the injury "a big question mark" for RFK Racing’s 2026 outlook, noting, "You have a big question mark immediately hanging over the team." Gluck pointed to the uncertainty around Keselowski’s endurance and consistency over a demanding NASCAR schedule, especially after a winless 2025 season in which the veteran missed the playoffs. His last victory came in May 2024 at Darlington, and he now faces the dual challenge of physical recovery and competitive redemption.
"I didn’t want to rush back," Keselowski explained. "If rehab went perfectly, we’d barely have time to test. That seemed super foolish." He skipped the preseason Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium to focus on his recovery, a decision he described as responsible and necessary. The stakes are high not just for Keselowski but for RFK Racing as a whole: if he returns at full strength, the team gains a proven contender and veteran leader; if limitations linger, RFK may have to lean more on teammates Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, both projected by Gluck to make the playoffs.
Despite the obstacles, Keselowski’s spirits have remained high. "When I'm in the car, I feel I know I've got an injury, don't get me wrong, but I feel the best in the car," he said. "The seat is molded to me really well, and you get a little adrenaline flowing. So I felt pretty good." Still, the veteran acknowledges that his recovery is ongoing and that full healing could take another four to six months. He’s got backup: David Ragan will be on standby for the next couple of weeks, and road-racing ace Joey Hand is set to fill in for the March 1, 2026, race at Circuit of the Americas if needed. "COTA is a big concern for me," Keselowski admitted. "I’ve got two-and-a-half weeks to COTA. If I had to run the full race today, I’m not 100 percent sure I could do it. But I’ll have another two weeks of reps and rehab to continue to gain and hopefully I can get there."
Amidst all the focus on Keselowski’s comeback, the Daytona 500 garage has been buzzing with other storylines as well. Joey Logano, Team Penske’s 35-year-old driver, turned heads by debuting a freshly shaved head—a bold response to a recent alopecia flare-up. "You can do this haircut at home," Logano quipped, explaining that he handed the clippers to his nine-year-old son, Hudson, for the transformation. Logano’s new look, which he dubbed "hair-o-dynamics," is both a practical and lighthearted take on managing a chronic autoimmune condition.
Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver racing full-time at NASCAR’s top level, took to social media to praise Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show. "What a proud moment it must be for the Puerto Rican community!! I enjoyed that," Wallace shared. He later reflected on the cultural significance of the performance during a time of division in the United States. "We’re in such a divisive country right now, and it’s sad. And to see how music brings people together, it’s like, ‘We need help, you know?’ ... I enjoyed it because I know millions of other people that have never been able to be on the big stage did, and that’s a really cool moment. It’s as simple as that. It was coming from the heart."
As the engines fire up for another NASCAR season, RFK Racing and Brad Keselowski are at a crossroads. Will Keselowski’s grit and determination be enough to overcome the physical and competitive hurdles ahead? The Daytona 500 will offer the first glimpse, but the true test of endurance and comeback spirit will play out over the long grind of the 2026 schedule. For now, the paddock—and the racing world—waits to see how one of NASCAR’s most compelling stories unfolds.