NASCAR Veteran Keselowski Reaches 600-Start Milestone

The 2012 champion aims for a special win at Martinsville Speedway.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:21am

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, with the cars, track, and grandstands broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors.Keselowski's milestone 600th start at Martinsville showcases the fractured, high-energy dynamics of NASCAR's short-track racing.Martinsville Today

NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski will make his 600th career Cup Series start on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, a remarkable milestone for the 42-year-old who became the sport's first millennial champion in 2012. Keselowski is seeking his first win in nearly two years, hoping to join Richard Petty as the only drivers to win in their 600th start.

Why it matters

Keselowski's longevity and adaptability over his 18-year Cup career are a testament to his skill and competitiveness. As the co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, he is also trying to steer his team back to Victory Lane after a winless 2025 season.

The details

Keselowski has 18 top-10 finishes in 32 starts at the historic Martinsville short track, more than any other track on the circuit. He led a race-high 142 laps last week at Darlington Raceway before finishing second, showing his team's potential. However, he still feels his car lacks the "blinding speed" of the dominant Toyota of Tyler Reddick, who won easily despite an early alternator issue.

  • Keselowski will make his 600th career Cup Series start on Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • His most recent Cup Series win came nearly two years ago.

The players

Brad Keselowski

A 42-year-old NASCAR driver who became the sport's first millennial champion in 2012 and is seeking his first win in nearly two years.

Tyler Reddick

The driver of the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, who has four wins in the first six races of the 2026 season and is building a massive points lead.

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing

The team co-owned by Keselowski that is trying to steer itself back to Victory Lane after a winless 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“It's a number I never dreamed of.”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver

“To be judged as successful in this sport, you have to win and be a contender to win regularly. I sense we're not far off, but we're also not there. So we're somewhere in this ambiguous spot. I'm hopeful that we can push through with some sort of stellar performance and assert ourselves.”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

Keselowski will try to join Richard Petty as the only drivers to win in their 600th career Cup Series start on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

The takeaway

Keselowski's remarkable 600-start milestone is a testament to his longevity and adaptability in NASCAR, as he seeks to steer his team back to Victory Lane and cement his legacy as one of the sport's most successful drivers of the modern era.