NASCAR's Brad Keselowski Races Through Injury

Keselowski finished 20th at Circuit of the Americas just 10 weeks after breaking his femur

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski raced at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, just 10 weeks after breaking his femur in a fall at a ski resort. Despite the severe injury and agonizing rehab, Keselowski decided to drive the entire race, finishing 20th in one of the most competitive events in motorsports.

Why it matters

Keselowski's gutsy performance despite his recent injury highlights his perseverance and dedication as a professional race car driver. His ability to overcome such a significant setback and still compete at a high level is a testament to his mental toughness and commitment to his craft.

The details

In mid-December, Keselowski slipped and fell on ice at a ski resort, breaking his femur. The 42-year-old driver described the injury as the "worst pain" of his life, and there were concerns he may not be able to walk again, let alone race. However, Keselowski rehabbed intensively for six hours a day and made the decision to drive the entire race at Circuit of the Americas, rather than use a relief driver as initially planned.

  • In mid-December 2025, Keselowski broke his femur in a fall at a ski resort.
  • Keselowski returned to racing at the Daytona 500 in February 2026, finishing 5th.
  • The race at Circuit of the Americas took place on March 4, 2026, just 10 weeks after Keselowski's injury.

The players

Brad Keselowski

A NASCAR Cup Series champion, future Hall of Famer, and co-owner of the RFK Racing team.

Tyler Reddick

The winner of the race at Circuit of the Americas, driving for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing team.

Ryan Preece

Keselowski's RFK Racing teammate who finished 18th at the race.

Chris Buescher

Keselowski's other RFK Racing teammate who finished 24th at the race.

Ryan Holiday

A bestselling author on Stoicism who attended the race and met with Keselowski beforehand.

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What they’re saying

“I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was part of me that's like, 'That might actually feel better.'”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver (New York Times)

“I'm a race car driver. That's what I do. I've trained and worked for this my whole life. Short of not being able to drive...”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver (New York Times)

“You just turn it off. You just try to get in the zone and turn all that stuff off. I'm sure it will catch up with me tonight.”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver (New York Times)

“I expect it. I expect to lay it all out on the line. If I'm going to ask everybody else to give it their all, I've got to give it my all, too.”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver (New York Times)

What’s next

Keselowski will continue his recovery and aim to be fully healthy for the remainder of the NASCAR season as he looks to secure a spot in the playoffs.

The takeaway

Brad Keselowski's gutsy performance at Circuit of the Americas, just 10 weeks after suffering a severe leg injury, exemplifies the determination and resilience of top-level athletes. His ability to overcome adversity and compete at a high level, despite significant physical limitations, is a testament to his mental toughness and commitment to his craft.