Brad Keselowski opened the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with a strong result at Daytona International Speedway. The RFK Racing driver finished fifth in the Daytona 500, his first top-five finish in the race since 2014.
Brad returned to competition after an injury sustained during a family skiing trip in December 2025. He arrived at Daytona still recovering and had medical clearance only after testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
A late crash unfolded around him in the final moments, but he crossed the line inside the top five.
Wild finish decides the 2026 Daytona 500
The 68th running of the Daytona 500 ended with a tight and chaotic sprint to the finish. Tyler Reddick won the race in the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing. He beat 2023 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 0.308 seconds at the checkered flag. Joey Logano finished third, while Chase Elliott took fourth. Keselowski completed the top five.
The final lap featured contact and blocking in the pack. Riley Herbst attempted a late move in front of Keselowski, which helped trigger a multi-car crash behind them. Several cars slid across the finish line as the leaders pushed forward.
During the race, pit strategy and mid-race wrecks shuffled the running order. Keselowski briefly lost ground after getting loose off Turn 4, but he recovered and worked back into contention before the final restart.
Brad Keselowski’s recovery from injury before Daytona return
Keselowski’s performance came only weeks after a serious leg injury. In December 2025, he slipped on ice during a skiing trip and fractured his thigh bone. The injury required recovery time during the offseason and created doubt about his return for the opening race.
He completed a medical test and received clearance to compete. He arrived at Daytona using a cane for support while continuing his recovery.
Despite the setback, Keselowski qualified ninth and ran competitively throughout the 500-mile event. He also finished ahead of teammate Chris Buescher, who placed seventh, while Ryan Preece ended the race in 25th.
Ending a long Daytona 500 top-five drought
The fifth-place finish ended a long stretch without a top result in NASCAR’s biggest race. Keselowski’s previous Daytona 500 top-five came in 2014, when he finished third. Since then, several appearances ended in crashes or poor finishes, including results outside the top 30 in multiple seasons.
Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion, entered the 2026 event with 36 career Cup wins but was still seeking his first Daytona 500 victory. Before this year, he had led 180 laps across 16 starts in the race without claiming the win.
Now a co-owner and driver at RFK Racing, he continues to help guide the organization while competing full-time. The 2026 season opener showed progress for both Keselowski and the team, with two cars finishing in the top 10 and all three completing the race.
The Daytona 500 win remains missing from Keselowski’s record, but his fifth-place finish marked a solid start to the new NASCAR season and his return to full A
Brad Keselowski’s Fifth-Place Finish Ends Decade-Long Daytona Drought