The subsequent spherical of this yr’s NASCAR Playoffs is about to start and the drivers who’ve been predicted to be the contenders for the Cup championship this yr are all nonetheless very a lot within the image, names such as Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. But aside from these 4 drivers, there could possibly be, as is normally the case, an underdog, a shock contender. And this yr, that shock title could possibly be Brad Keselowski, in line with Steve Letarte.
The former crew chief turned analyst not too long ago nominated the Roush Fenway Keselowski driver-owner to be this yr’s shock contender who might make it to the ultimate 4 in Phoenix regardless of not being on many predictions record. To again his level, Letarte resorted to the instance of final yr’s Cup champion, Joey Logano to make his level about Keselowski.
Steve Letarte backs Brad Keselowski to be this yr’s shock Final 4 contender
During a latest dialog in regards to the odds for drivers, which, for Keselowski, are 12 to 1, Steve Letarte defined why the #6 driver might make it to Phoenix contemplating Joey Logano did the identical final season. He said, “I believe one or the 2 favorites make it to Phoenix yearly. But there’s at all times like, even Joey Logano, the champ, he’s the champ. He is the reigning champ, now not the defending champ as a result of he’s been kicked out of the playoffs.”
“Nobody actually had him going to Phoenix or at the least I didn’t. But he went there and held anybody alongside the championship. So I solely say that as a result of that is like, Kes’ can be a man I might get to the championship 4.”
Having mentioned that, Letarte added that Keselowski gained’t be the favourite for the championship. But his expertise and his “swagger” could possibly be to his benefit, particularly heading into Texas now. “When he strains up row 2 or 3 at Texas, I don’t assume he’s gonna be nerve-filled. He’s tremendous analytical. He’s been there earlier than. He’s gonna do what he does,” Letarte described.
“He’s both gonna be adequate or not however I don’t hate the Kes’ guess.”
Keselowski on his crew’s success in 2023
So far this season, RFK Racing has emerged as the highest Ford crew. In truth, each of their drivers are nonetheless within the playoffs whereas for a powerhouse like Team Penske, there’s just one driver, Ryan Blaney. Moreover, this yr they’ve already gained 3 races. This is clearly a giant step ahead for the group. But as per Keselowski, they’re nonetheless going to measure themselves based mostly on their outcomes.
“The world’s going to measure ourselves based mostly on outcomes. One of the issues that’s actually essential to me is as it involves the race crew, we don’t need individuals to set particular person objectives,” he mentioned.
Keselowski claimed that the yr they’re at the moment having, they might’ve anticipated it at the beginning of the season. However, they couldn’t have identified how it will play out, which might be extra so the case going ahead. Because at this level, Brad Keselowski & Co. are within the playoffs, they usually’re competing for the wins nearly each week, which might, at the least in idea, take them to the last word prize on the finish of the season in Phoenix.
