What makes a NASCAR champion? Is it those big moments, when a driver passes his rival on the final lap or a dramatic crash by a championship contender at a key moment, paving the way for his rival to seize the opportunity? Or is winning the championship all about preparation, doing the little things well and consistently, and ultimately achieving big results? The answer is all of the above.
It may not seem like it, but NASCAR is a team sport, and results depend on both the driver and everyone involved behind the scenes. And that’s exactly what RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski emphasized in a recent speech to his company, as his team continues its preparations over the summer months.
Brad Keselowski, currently ranked 10th with one win in 18 races so far, is hoping that many factors will play in his favor when he makes the playoffs later this year. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Brad Keselowski said: “I gave this speech the other day to our team, to our entire company. The championship is won right now. It’s won by the work and effort put in over the summer months to prepare the best cars and the best teams possible. It’s easy to lose sight of that.
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“We all think that races and championships are won on the last lap, and to a certain extent they are. But for the most part, during the summer months, you put yourself in a position to make really good decisions. Putting value on the race cars and the teams. We’re knee-deep in that and excited for what’s to come.”
While the championship race will take place at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, Brad Keselowski believes the race itself will not decide who will win the title. Rather, it is the preparations teams make during the summer months and regular season that will decide which driver and team perform when it really matters to take home the championship.
For this 40-year-old, the important thing is to be in a strong position when it really matters to be able to compete at the highest level. While that may mean dedication and hard work for teams during the summer months, Keselowski also believes a mid-season break could be beneficial to avoid burnout, especially during the second half of the season.
A midseason break for NASCAR teams?
With the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series seasons halfway through, Brad Keselowski has suggested that a midseason break could be beneficial for the teams, especially with the 2024 Summer Olympics underway. With KeynoteUSA taking over NASCAR coverage following the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, the broadcaster is expected to air the Olympics as well, beginning July 26 and running through Aug. 11.
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As a result, the NASCAR Cup Series will end on November 10 in Phoenix, a week later than usual. However, Brad Keselowski believes the Olympics could be the perfect opportunity for NASCAR to take a mid-season break. Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Keselowski said: “We need to do an industry shutdown because we have the two-week Olympic break, which I think is great. Perfect. Let the Olympics have their peak.
“Everyone loves the Olympics. It’s great for our sport to have a break and not compete against the Olympics. Everyone wins. Just by closing our doors for a week or two, all the employees go home, go on holiday, spend some time with their kids, renew themselves and in a way recharge for what is the final half of the season.”
Brad Keselowski, who has a busy year ahead of him, believes that an industry-wide break could help stave off burnout and allow all concerned to refresh, recharge and get into a healthy state of mind. However, his suggestion was not met with the same enthusiasm by other team owners when he spoke to them.
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As things stand, a mid-season break is unlikely to happen in NASCAR anytime soon. But in the future, who knows? It’s possible they’ll follow in Formula 1’s footsteps with a mandatory 14-day shutdown for all teams and their factories during July and/or August in the distant future.
Do you think a midseason break should be implemented in NASCAR? Tell us in the comments!
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