New look to rev things up
Brad Keselowski knew his father was losing his battle with cancer when he promised him he’d win last year’s Daytona 500.
His effort ended in a fireball when Keselowski was involved in a last-lap crash while racing for the victory.
“I knew he was pretty sick and his prognosis was he wasn’t going to make it through the summer. I said, ‘Dad, we’re going to win the Daytona 500,’” Keselowski said. “It’s bittersweet that it didn’t happen while he was still alive.”
Bob Keselowski died in December, and his son is back at Daytona International Speedway still trying to fulfill his promise. Keselowski will try to snap an 0-for-12 streak in NASCAR’s season-opening race with his new team.
He left Team Penske a month before his father died to join the ownership group of Jack Roush’s organization. The rebranded RFK Racing team swept both Daytona 500 qualifying races to put Keselowski next to teammate Chris Buescher in the second row for Sunday’s start. The wins Thursday were the first in any race since 2017 for a Roush organization in need of Keselowski’s engagement to return to NASCAR’s elite.
And, after a Hendrick Motorsports rout in Daytona 500 time trials, the Ford fleet has shown to be race ready. Ford drivers swept the first four spots in Thursday night’s first qualifying race, then swept the top three in the second race.
“I’m excited internally for us, what we believe we have, the capability we have and the opportunity ahead of us for the rest of the weekend and the rest of the year,” Buescher said.
The Ford camp has its strategy figured out for Sunday, when all its drivers are expected to work together to ensure a blue oval makes it to victory lane. That’s proven to be the effective approach among the manufacturers, but it’s more important than ever this year as Sunday marks the official debut of NASCAR’s new Next Gen car.
The car is designed to cut costs, help the smaller teams compete with NASCAR’s powerhouse organizations, improve the on-track product and give the manufacturers more brand identity. But the Next Gen also provides an affordable entryway for potential new owners — two of whom will be part of the Daytona 500 for the first time.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is expected to be at the track when the boxer’s No. 50 Chevrolet for The Money Team Racing makes its debut with Kaz Grala. Jacques Villeneuve, the former Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, will make his first Daytona 500 start for European startup Team Hezeberg. And businessman John Cohen got into the race with Greg Biffle, who, at 52, will be the oldest driver in the field.
Cohen and Mayweather are both Black and representative of NASCAR’s push to increase diversity. And, on Sunday, Jusan Hamilton will become the first Black race director to call the Daytona 500 in its 64th running.
“I hope it sets a positive example for others that, regardless of race and background, if you work hard and have a mindset toward your goal, it is achievable,” the 31-yearold Hamilton said.