RFK Racing has shown incredible growth throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, with both drivers in Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher putting themselves in the playoff hunt.
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Heading into Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Richmond, both Buescher and Keselowski had their sights set on victory.
The long-awaited win for RFK Racing finally came as Buescher was able to take his No.17 Fastenal Ford to victory lane. It means so much for not only Buescher but the team as a whole, as team co-owner Keselowski also put himself in a position to compete for the win.
RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE CHRIS BUESCHER ON HIS CUP WIN AT RICHMOND! pic.twitter.com/G0afscDBpe
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 30, 2023
Brad Keselowski Reacts to RFK Racing's Victory
Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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Two years and counting is a long time for Keselowski, as he is still seeking his own win as a team co-owner. However, it seems as if a win for him is closer than one might think.
The pair of RFK drivers combined to lead 190 of the 400 laps. Buescher told The Associated Press that it was victory for everyone at RFK who has been working so hard to get them back to a winning level.
"That win is for everybody at RFK Racing who has worked so hard to get us to this point," Buescher said.
As for Keselowski, he thinks the team is close to breaking through to getting more than just a victory here and there.
"One win is good, but you get three or four or five and then you feel a lot better," Keselowski said. "It sure beats not having any at all, but we want to keep going. It's nice to have one car locked in the playoffs. We have a good points gap, but we want wins, and this is where we need to be."
Keselowski was happy for Buescher and sent out a celebratory post on Twitter.
A solid day for everyone @RFKracing! Im so proud of @Chris_Buescher, he continues to prove how great of a wheelman he is. Ready to keep building as a team and stay competitive every week. We’ve got 4 more races to lock ourselves into the playoffs. 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/qAmYs1hv9o
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 31, 2023
Things have come a long way for Keselowski and the rest of RFK Racing. As he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, they are knocking on the door of being back to the level that Roush Racing was at for many years in the early 2000s.
"We got one car in, but we really want both cars in the playoffs," Keselowski said. "We are leading laps, and having fast cars, and knocking on the door, and that gives a shot."
📈 "We're trying to push ourselves into the category, and we're knocking on that door."@RFKracing team owner Brad @keselowski reflects on locking @Chris_Buescher into the 2023 playoffs and the continued upward trajectory of the team this season. pic.twitter.com/HxQBJpxVzK
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) July 31, 2023
SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Claire Lang then asked him what it means for him and the rest of the team to be able to say they are back to both cars being able to run at the front of the field. Keselowski said being back is winning multiple races.
"I think you might have heard me in the offseason say that we went from irrelevant to relevant," Keselowski said. "Now we are trying to push ourselves into the contender category. And we are knocking on that door."
Both drivers are in the hunt. And even if Keselowski can't win one of the last four races before the playoffs begin, don't count him out at his home track at Michigan International Speedway. He is likely to be in the field of 16 on points.
