Motorsports is a game of inches, of moments, of a “handful of seconds.” That’s how Brad Keselowski, the battle-hardened driver and co-owner of RFK Racing, summed up his team’s 2025 season. It was a year defined by what could have been. A story of agonizingly close yet just out of reach.

The season finale at Phoenix was a perfect, if painful, microcosm of their year. Keselowski, in his iconic No. 6 RFK Mustang, made a gutsy call, staying out on older tires for a frantic overtime restart. For a fleeting moment, it looked like the gamble would pay off.

He had the track position, the lead, and the win in his sights. But as the checkered flag loomed, fellow Ford driver Ryan Blaney found that extra ounce of grip, that sliver of speed, and nipped him at the line. Half a car-length. It was the third time Keselowski had to settle for second place in 2025. “It’s kind of the story of our season,” a visibly disappointed Keselowski admitted post-race.

“We’re just needing a little bit of speed, trying to put ourselves in position. We were in position… I just wasn’t quite fast enough. Another second place.”That sentiment echoed through the RFK Racing garage. It was a season of profound growth and change, yet it lacked the champagne-soaked celebrations of the previous year.

Assessing the 2025 Campaign for RFK Racing

The 2025 season marked the fourth year under the RFK Racing banner, and it was one of the most ambitious seasons of expansion. For the first time since 2016, the team swelled to a three-car operation, welcoming Ryan Preece and the No. 60 Ford into the fold alongside Keselowski and Chris Buescher in the No. 17.

The front office saw a shake-up, too, with Chip Bowers taking the helm as the new team president. But the on-track results didn’t immediately reflect the investment. After both Keselowski and Buescher found Victory Lane in 2024 and made the playoffs in 2023, the expanded 2025 lineup went winless. More surprisingly, all three drivers missed out on the postseason dance.

For Buescher, it was a year of “what ifs.” He reflected, “It takes one extra step to truly be in contention, to fight to win more of them. We had a good handful that we had a good shot at, and just didn’t seal the deal.” It’s the kind of frustration that fuels a driver through the long winter break.

Why Expansion Was a Net Positive for the Team

It would be easy to point a finger at the expansion, to suggest the team stretched its resources too thin. Keselowski was quick to shut that down.” Actually, it’s been really good, adding a third team. It’s helped us in a lot of ways,” he stated firmly. “Hardly any area, I would say, it’s hurt us at all, so it’s been terrific.”

The data backs him up. While Keselowski’s average finish with RFK dipped slightly, his and Buescher’s core stats remained solid. Buescher even notched a career-best average start. And Preece? He posted the best results of his six full-time Cup seasons, piloting a car that was barely a part-time thought a year prior. Seeing that No. 60 team “grow its wings so quickly,” as Keselowski put it, was a major source of pride.

Finding Momentum When It Mattered Most

When the playoff dream died, it would have been easy for RFK Racing to pack it in and mail in the final ten races. But that’s not in their DNA. Instead, they dug deeper.Preece explained that the team redoubled its efforts, focusing on finishing the season with a head of steam. That shift in focus paid dividends.

Keselowski snagged four top-10s in the final six races, and Preece mirrored that with an impressive four top-10s in the last five events. For Preece, a personal shift in mindset was just as crucial. He learned to trust the process, stepping back from trying to micro-manage every detail and focusing purely on his role behind the wheel.

“We’re all frustrated we didn’t make the playoffs,” Preece said, “but there’s a ton of potential between all three of us, and I’m excited for that.” That late-season surge isn’t just a number on a stat sheet. It’s momentum. It’s the belief that they’re on the right track heading into 2026. It’s the proof that the foundation is strong.

This growing chemistry at RFK Racing also spilled off the track in a series of hilarious pranks between Buescher and Preece, from towed rental cars to a Halloween costume switch-up. Keselowski, the 41-year-old team patriarch, watched with amusement but offered a stern warning to anyone thinking of pulling a fast one on him: “Buyer beware. Anybody that comes for me better not miss.”

Final Thoughts

The message is clear. While 2025 was a year of near-misses and hard lessons for RFK Racing, it was also a year of building, bonding, and laying the groundwork for something bigger. The sting of those “handful of seconds” will serve as fuel. They’ve tasted defeat at the finish line, and they’re hungrier than ever to turn those seconds into wins in 2026.