2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski has been cleared to participate in the 2026 DAYTONA 500, RFK Racing announced on Monday.
Keselowski, 41, will be returning to competition at NASCAR’s top-level starting with Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, where he’ll drive the No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing.
The Rochester Hills, Michigan-native was required to gain clearance from NASCAR on Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, after suffering a broken leg while on a ski trip with his family in December.
Keselowski did not compete in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, making way for RFK Racing reserve driver Corey LaJoie to drive the No. 6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the pre-season exhibition event.
“Getting cleared was a huge moment for me. You put in the work, you trust the process, but until you hear that final ‘yes,’ nothing is guaranteed,” said Keselowski. “Knowing what Daytona means, and how hard it would have been to miss it, made this moment even bigger. I’m grateful to the medical team and to NASCAR for being thorough, and I’m excited to get back in the car.”
The approval process required a comprehensive medical evaluation that included an X-ray taken on January 30, which revealed remarkable healing, providing doctors with confidence that Keselowski would be able to move to the next phase of clearance.
“Brad approached his recovery the same way he approaches racing; with focus, commitment, and attention to detail,” said Chip Bowers, RFK Racing President. “His drive and determination to be healthy and ready to compete in the Daytona 500, just eight weeks after his injury, is inspiring to everyone at RFK Racing.”
Keselowski remained motivated throughout the entire process, knowing that the opportunity to win the DAYTONA 500 was just ahead of him, something tha,t despite an incredible career filled with lots of accolades, has alluded him since joining the Cup Series in 2008.
“The Daytona 500 is the most coveted race we have. The history, the names on that trophy, it speaks for itself,” Keselowski said. “I’ve won at Daytona, but I haven’t won the 500, and that’s always been one I want. After everything it took to get back to this point, having another chance at it means everything.”
Keselowski will be in one of the four RFK Racing entries that will be tackling the racetrack at Daytona this weekend, along with Chris Buescher in the No. 17 Fastenal/BodyGuard Ford Mustang, Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Kroger/Viva Ford Mustang, and Corey LaJoie in the No. 99 Trimble Ford Mustang.
