“He most likely doesn’t get sufficient credit score for the way good he’s behind the wheel,” Hamlin stated. “He’s simply actually, actually good. It simply could haven’t proven within the win column the previous couple of years. If you’re constructing a company otherwise you’re attempting to assist the technical aspect of issues, the competitors aspect of issues — it’s a course of.
“I can perceive that firsthand how robust it’s for a two-car group or a three-car group to go on the market and win. So, I feel that we nonetheless haven’t seen in by the numbers, Brad’s most likely getting proper to his prime, which is nearly that 40 quantity. He’s entering into that basically candy spot the place statistically, he’s going to be in his prime. Have we even seen the perfect Brad but?”
Although it’s been almost three years since Keselowski has felt the enjoyment of being in victory lane, the 2023 season was a step in the suitable route in direction of reestablishing himself as one of many sport’s greatest. Keselowski, who parted methods with Staff Penske following the 2021 season after 11 years, completed eighth within the factors standings this previous season, recording seven high 5s and 16 high 10s.
Brad Keselowski ‘happy not glad’ with 2023 season
The 12 months prior, his first behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing, of which he’s co-owner of, Keselowski completed a career-low twenty fourth within the factors standings. Not solely did he bounce again final season, however fellow RFK driver Chris Buescher gained three races and completed seventh within the factors standings.
Whereas RFK Racing took strides in 2023, Keselowski made it clear the targets of the crew stay even increased.
“I feel the overarching theme is happy not glad,” Keselowski stated on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio in November. “Happy with the progress, not glad with the place we’re at. I felt like there have been occasions final 12 months the place we didn’t look that nice after which there have been quite a lot of occasions final 12 months, particularly across the late summer time the place I felt like we appeared like two of the perfect vehicles on the monitor.
“It didn’t all click on when it wanted to. That’s a part of racing, that’s a part of sports activities and life. If we get all of it to click on, we is usually a championship contender with each vehicles. So, happy that we’re capable of say that — we wouldn’t have been capable of say that final 12 months. However not glad that we weren’t capable of notice it. Particularly in these ultimate eight races, or most likely within the ultimate 4 or six races. That’s the problem for us forward is getting us to a spot the place we will notice that with outcomes.”
