Brad Keselowski plans to start Sunday‘s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) while recovering from a broken right leg.
Keselowski, who broke his femur in a December fall, completed each of the season‘s first two races at Daytona International Speedway and EchoPark Speedway, both of which are drafting-style ovals.
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But with more physical strain ahead at the 2.4-mile road course, Keselowski will have sports-car ace Joey Hand on standby in case Keselowski needs to step out of his No. 6 RFK Racing Ford. Keselowski announced his plans to race Friday via social media, referencing the song “The Distance” by CAKE, and an RFK Racing spokesperson confirmed the plan to NASCAR.com at COTA.
Hand has made eight NASCAR Cup Series starts, including one in 2022 at COTA‘s full-length circuit. His best effort came while driving for RFK Racing on the Chicago Street Course in 2024, leading seven laps in the team‘s No. 60 entry and earning a fourth-place finish in wet conditions. Additionally, Hand owns wins on some of motorsports‘ grandest stages, including the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring and a class victory in the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“We’re glad to have him,” Keselowski said about Hand ahead of last week‘s race at EchoPark. “He’s the Ford reserve driver for all the road courses. He’s won all the big races that you can win across the globe. A great guy, too, and he’s been very helpful.”
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Keselowski underwent additional midweek medical and physical tests to confirm he could endure extensive time behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford. The 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Keselowski enters COTA ninth in the points standings, 64 points behind series leader Tyler Reddick.
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