​When the NASCAR Cup Series kicked off in February with the Daytona 500, Brad Keselowski and his crew were buoyant after a fifth-place result. Since then, RFK Racing, which includes Grand Valley graduate Cody Osburn among its pit crew, has enjoyed a mixed run. “We started off strong, I thought, at the beginning of the season, and so did the rest of the operation,” he said. “In the opening race, the Daytona 500, we had a legitimate shot to win, and we would have, if not for a late, unfortunate block from another car.”
Since that race, Keselowski piloting the No. 6 car and his team have secured only one other top-five finish, a runner-up at Darlington on March 22. “There was a stretch of races where it seemed like our black cloud from 2025 returned,” Osburn noted. “June was brutal, I believe we had three DNFs, which knocked us out of playoff contention for a while.” In June, Keselowski’s best finish was 15th at Sonoma, and he sits 20th in the standings with 392 points. With the playoffs approaching, Osburn believes a comeback is possible but will require sustained effort.
The Chase will begin after the Aug. 29 race at Daytona, with the top 16 drivers advancing to a 10-race championship battle. Erik Jones currently occupies the 16th spot with 411 points. “Ideally, you want to be in the top 10 to have a realistic shot at the championship at the end of the year,” Osburn explained. “I remain optimistic because that stretch of races is usually where we perform well, and I’d be surprised if we weren’t contending for wins in some of the races.” He added that the gap between 16th and 20th is small, making a charge feasible.
Osburn regards Daytona as a season highlight thus far. “We were so close to winning the 500,” he said. “Super-speedway events carry extra meaning for me because you rely more on the Fueler for pit stops. There are numerous stops during those races when it’s just Brad and me due to limited tire wear. It would have made for a great story, especially with Brad coming off a broken leg.” The team is actively working to overcome the earlier struggles. “It’s been tough for the pit crew to perform at our peak because of pit-road situations,” Osburn noted. “Whether it’s a suboptimal pit stall or recent wrecks that knocked us out early, dropping points has been a gut punch. But the good news is we still have plenty of races left to claw back into contention.”
Osburn believes this year presents a better position than last. “Last year we dug a huge hole, and it was incredibly difficult to climb out,” he said. “This year, we’re facing a more manageable challenge.”