Brad Keselowski ‘fairly shocked’ by results of huge – Sports News
Brad Keselowski anticipated NASCAR race weekends to look completely different now that final season’s playoff Elimination format is prior to now.
The former NASCAR Cup Series champion, who gained the title underneath the unique Chase format back in 2012, admitted the 2026 return of the system hasn’t modified driver habits the way in which he thought it will.
Despite not naming any drivers immediately, he additionally highlighted the significance of ending all races in any respect prices. “I’m really fairly shocked we haven’t seen more of a distinction,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s really clicked yet for a good part of the field. I see guys who don’t finish out the day and… you can’t do that with this format,” he continued.
Drivers are now forced to balance aggression with long-term positioning rather than swinging for the fences in one big moment to change the whole year. The Cup Series champion is now determined by total points across the final 10 races.
Yet, according to Keselowski, drivers haven’t adjusted. Across the opening stretch of the 2026 season, many in the field have continued making high-risk moves to chase wins late instead of locking in strong points finishes that now matter more than ever.
That approach has created a gap between those adapting and those still racing, as if the old system still exists. Look no further than Tyler Reddick, who has already won four of the first seven races and has taken full advantage of reckless driving around him.
Reddick’s season-opening Daytona 500 win saw him emerge from a 30-car crash on the final lap. The Darlington victory showcased the 23XI Racing driver’s ability to overcome mechanical issues and a late-race setback. He closed a seven-second gap, passed Keselowski on Lap 266, and secured the win with aggression and control.
Keselowski himself has quietly achieved what the format calls for. He sits eighth within the standings with 206 factors regardless of no wins, highlighted by a second-place end at Darlington, the place he led a race-high 142 laps and maximized stage factors.
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