Brad Keselowski names most talented NASCAR rival with ‘most raw speed&x27; Anthony WoodWed, September 16, 2026 at 5:01 AM UTC 0 Brad Keselowski is rapidly approaching 600 NASCAR Cup Series races (Image: Getty) Since making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2008 with Hendrick Motorsports, Brad Keselowski has seen his fair share of drivers, competing in almost 600 races to date, winning 36.
Brad Keselowski names most talented NASCAR rival with ‘most raw speed'
Anthony WoodWed, September 16, 2026 at 5:01 AM UTC
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Brad Keselowski is rapidly approaching 600 NASCAR Cup Series races (Image: Getty)
Since making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2008 with Hendrick Motorsports, Brad Keselowski has seen his fair share of drivers, competing in almost 600 races to date, winning 36.
During that span, the RFK Racing driver and co-owner, 41, has raced against multiple-time champions and some of the most successful drivers in the sport's history, including Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Kevin Harvick. Most recently, he finished second behind Christopher Bell in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
However, in 2010, Keselowski singled out Kurt Busch as the most talented driver in the field, according to The Athletic. Fast forward to 2025, and how he rates his competitors has changed with the times.
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"The sport has changed a lot since then," Keselowski said. "When I thought of talent in that era, I thought of someone who could just make a race car go really fast.
"That was more important than it is now. Now, probably more so than ever, the talent is very procedural - who can maximize pit road, who can nail restarts, who can do the procedural stuff, not the just 'go haul a-- around this racetrack.' So the talent that's rewarded is different than it was then."
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Keselowski believes Kyle Larson has the most talent among today's Cup Series drivers (Image: Getty)
Keselowski explained that by the metrics he used in 2010, Hendrick star Kyle Larson "has the most raw speed of anyone in the garage," whereas from a "procedural-based mentality" perspective, he believes Team Penske's Joey Logano likely has the edge.
"He probably doesn't have the go-fast that Kyle Larson has, but he's very well-rounded in all the aspects of the game - restarts, pit road, passing, defense," Keselowski said of the three-time champion. "He's the most rounded guy in the field."
Logano may be "rounded," but this hasn't led him to the heights he usually expects this season, with the 35-year-old having won just one race all season. Recently, Logano did manage to progress through the Playoff Round of 16 to the Round of 12, courtesy of a 20th-place finish at Darlington Raceway, followed by fifth at both World Wide Technology Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway.
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As for Larson, 2025 also hasn't been a particularly memorable season for him either, winning three Cup Series races while also wrecking in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in what was his second attempt at "Double Duty." In the Playoffs, 19th at Darlington, 12th at WWTR, and 32nd at Bristol were enough to see him make it to the next round.
Meanwhile, Keselowski failed to qualify for the Playoffs, enduring a tough first half of the season, which saw him crack the top 20 just five times in the first 16 races. Since then, the tides appear to have turned for the 2012 champion, finishing second at both Atlanta Motor Speedway and Bristol, with further top fives at both Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway.
Next up is the first Round of 12 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Keselowski has ended up in victory lane twice to date.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: September 16, 2026 at 08:27AM on Source: RED MAG
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