Brad Keselowski likens NASCAR rule book to confusing IRS tax code after RFK struggles

Brad Keselowski has voiced his concerns about the complexity of the NASCAR rule book after RFK Racing faced a string of technical inspection failures. The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been challenging for Keselowski, who sits 32nd in the championship standings.

He managed to finish fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 last weekend, notching his first top-five and top-ten result of the year. As co-owner at RFK Racing, Keselowski also has a close eye on his teammates Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher, especially as both fight for a playoff spot near the points cutoff.

Both Preece and Buescher have faced setbacks connected to inspection penalties this season. Preece finished second at Talladega, his best result so far, but was disqualified afterward because the No. 60 Ford failed post-race inspection due to a rear spoiler violation.

Chris Buescher and the No. 17 team lost 60 points when the front bumper was found to have improper reinforcement after the Kansas race. Although RFK Racing appealed and regained half of those points, the loss of 30 points still hurts Buescher in a tight playoff race.

Keselowski addressed questions at Nashville about whether RFK Racing was pushing the limits too far. He responded that the rules themselves are extremely complex and compared the NASCAR rule book to the “IRS tax code.”

According to Keselowski, understanding and following all the rules can be confusing for any team. He explained that sometimes parts of the rule book refer to other sections, which can lead to oversights especially during a busy season that runs across 38 weeks.

NASCAR has had a higher rate of inspection issues this year. Nine cars across NASCAR’s three national series have been disqualified in post-race inspection, including two winners.

Keselowski admitted that while the frequency of these violations is up, teams are responsible for compliance. He stated that RFK Racing has had internal conversations and made some changes to ensure better preparation and attention to detail moving forward.

The penalties have important consequences. Points losses can make a big difference in qualifying for the playoffs, putting extra pressure on teams to avoid mistakes during car preparation.

The competitive nature of the series means even small rule violations can mean missing out on vital opportunities. The penalties for Buescher and the disqualification for Preece show how tightly NASCAR enforces its technical standards.

RFK Racing intends to move forward with more focus and care. Keselowski said changes in team structure have been set to prevent similar issues.

NASCAR teams are expected to continue adapting as the season progresses, with every point mattering in the chase for playoff spots. As the competition stays fierce, teams like RFK Racing must work even harder to follow every rule while still pushing for success on the track.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.