Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of RFK Racing, is a man of many talents and interests. Off the track, he is a successful entrepreneur with his own manufacturing company, KAM Manufacturing. He is also passionate about giving back to his community, especially to veterans.
Brad Keselowski's book paints a vivid picture of a man who is not only a talented race car driver but also an entrepreneur, deep thinker, and someone who loves to celebrate the military and the United States. As NASCAR prepares to race on the streets of Chicago for the second straight year, it seemed fitting to sit down with the man who is also co-owner of RFK Racing.
Keselowski, who snapped a 110-race winless streak earlier this year at Darlington, talked with FOX Sports about his love of country, his foundation that works with veterans, racing at Chicago, what it means to make the playoffs, and why he questions everything. Seriously, he questions everything.
Brad Keselowski: Patriot, Entrepreneur, Thinker, and NASCAR Champion
From the beginning of the conversation, Keselowski's love of country was evident. When asked about his patriotism, he said, "It comes from a place of gratitude — gratitude is really important. Perspective of knowledge, which is reading about civilization, time, history — and those two kind of coming together in such a way where you just recognize how fortunate we are to be where we are today."
Keselowski also spoke about his excitement for racing in Chicago. "The coolest part was being able to walk from your hotel to the race track, to be in a city — that drive off of Turn 6 or Turn 7, where you can see the skyline, it's a really unique and incredible experience," he said.
Keselowski's pursuit of knowledge and his questioning nature are also evident in his business ventures. He is the co-owner of RFK Racing and KAM Manufacturing, which uses the latest 3-D technology to create pieces for space, defense, and other industries. When asked about his education, Keselowski said, "All the time. All the time. Do they ask you when you are in these meetings with other CEOs? And what do you tell them?" He replied, "I tell them I've got a GSD. I didn't get a PhD? GSD is Get Stuff Done."
Keselowski's competitive spirit is evident both on and off the track. After snapping his winless streak, he said, "I hate to say it didn't have any effect on me because clearly winning is great. It's good for our team. It's good for me personally. It's great for our partners and everybody. But I would say it didn't take long after getting that first win of the season, and really my first points win for RFK, to quickly shift gears into, 'All right, that was good. Next.'"
Keselowski is also focused on helping his driver, Chris Buescher, make the playoffs. He said, "Anytime you're not in, you're stressed about it. And we know that even though he's got a couple-car gap to the cutoff, a couple of new winners, and that's gone very fast. We feel that pressure to get him in, feel the pressure to make sure he has the right equipment and the resources around him. We're doing all we can, and I'm confident that he can get it done."
From an owner's perspective, Keselowski knows that making the playoffs is crucial. He said, "From an owner's perspective, it's catastrophic to miss the playoffs — whether it's your sponsorships, your OEM [manufacturer] relationships, your ability to recruit and retain talent in the shop or on the road or pit crew. It's a really, really big deal."
Keselowski's faith and belief in the power of positive thinking have served him well throughout his life. He said, "Whether it be my faith or some of my experiences, it served me well throughout my life that you do what you know is right even if the short-term consequences seem unfavorable and ultimately the long-term consequences will be possible. I try to live my life that way to this day in all aspects, although I'm not perfect at it. I try to have a values-based thinking, which is more long-term than it is short-term."
Brad Keselowski is a man of many talents and interests. He is a successful NASCAR driver, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is also a deep thinker and a man of faith. He is an inspiration to many, and his story is one that is worth telling.
