Brad Keselowski’s Chicago NASCAR Heartbreak: A Race Cut Short by Chaos

The streets of Chicago were alive with the roar of engines on July 6, 2025, as the NASCAR Cup Series took on the challenging Grant Park 165. Fans packed the city, eager to witness high-speed drama unfold on the tight, unforgiving street course. But for Brad Keselowski, a veteran driver and co-owner of RFK Racing, the race ended in a gut-wrenching crash that left him stranded and frustrated, his playoff hopes teetering on the edge.

The Chicago Street Race, now in its third year, has become a spectacle that blends NASCAR’s raw intensity with urban flair. The 2.2-mile course, weaving through the heart of the city, demands precision and nerve, with 90-degree corners and concrete walls leaving little room for error. Keselowski, driving the No. 6 Ford, entered the race knowing a win could be his ticket to the playoffs, especially after a season marked by near-misses and bad luck. His recent second-place finish at Atlanta had shown he had the speed, but Chicago’s unique layout posed a different challenge.

The race started with promise. Michael McDowell surged to an early lead, claiming Stage 1, while Keselowski battled in the pack, navigating the tricky street circuit. But chaos struck early on lap 4 when Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet spun out after clipping two walls, triggering a pileup that ensnared Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Riley Herbst, and Will Brown. The wreckage blocked the track, forcing a red flag and halting the action. For Keselowski, the damage was catastrophic. Over the team radio, his voice crackled with disbelief: “We’re destroyed. I can’t move. I have no left front… Just got wiped out from behind, guys.”

The incident wasn’t just a crash; it was a microcosm of Keselowski’s 2025 season. Despite flashes of brilliance, like leading 46 laps in Atlanta before being overtaken by Chase Elliott on the final lap, the 41-year-old driver has been plagued by misfortune. Currently ranked 27th in the Cup Series standings with five DNFs in his last 12 races, Keselowski’s playoff dreams hinge on a win in the remaining eight races. Chicago, a track where he’s struggled—finishing 24th in 2023 and 18th in 2024—was a long shot, but the early wreck extinguished any chance to capitalize on the race’s unpredictable nature.

What makes this moment sting even more is Keselowski’s resilience. A former Cup Series champion and a driver with 36 career wins, he’s no stranger to adversity. From breaking his ankle in a 2011 testing crash yet still winning at Pocono, to his must-win triumph at Talladega in 2014, Keselowski has built a career on defying the odds. But as the wrecks pile up and the season slips away, even a driver of his caliber feels the weight of each missed opportunity. His frustration was palpable, a sentiment echoed by fans on social media who watched the No. 6 Ford limp off the track.

The Chicago Street Race itself remains a polarizing event. For some, it’s a bold evolution of NASCAR, bringing the sport to new audiences in city centers. Shane van Gisbergen, the race’s eventual winner under caution, has thrived on this course, leveraging his road-racing prowess to claim victory. Yet others, like Chase Elliott, argue that NASCAR’s soul lies on oval tracks, with street races like Chicago serving as a thrilling but secondary showcase. The tight corners and concrete barriers create a high-risk, high-reward environment where one mistake—or one collision—can end a driver’s day.

For Keselowski, the focus now shifts to the races ahead. With his team’s president, Steve Newmark, stepping down to join the University of North Carolina, RFK Racing faces a transitional moment off the track as well. Keselowski, both driver and co-owner, must rally his team to find the speed and strategy needed to secure a win. Tracks like Daytona or Bristol could offer a chance to turn the season around, but time is running out.

The Chicago wreck wasn’t just a crash; it was a reminder of NASCAR’s unrelenting nature. For Brad Keselowski, it’s another chapter in a season of what-ifs, but his determination remains unshaken. As fans await his next move, one thing is certain: the No. 6 Ford will be back, chasing redemption with everything on the line.