NASCAR News: Brad Keselowski to miss Clash, LaJoie to sub
Brad Keselowski (pictured), the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of RFK Racing, will miss the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1, 2026, as he continues to recover from a broken right femur. RFK Racing’s reserve driver, Corey LaJoie, will pilot the No. 6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in Keselowski’s place for the preseason exhibition event.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
The injury occurred on December 18, 2025, during a family ski trip. Keselowski slipped on ice while exiting his vehicle after dropping off his daughter for ski lessons, resulting in a shear fracture of his right femur. He underwent emergency surgery in Boone, North Carolina, where a titanium rod was inserted to stabilize the bone. The procedure was successful, with no skin breakage, though initial nerve damage temporarily caused loss of feeling from his knee to hip. Nerves have since begun reconnecting, allowing Keselowski to walk nearly normally and lift his leg.
Recovery from a femur fracture typically takes 8-12 weeks. Keselowski has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation—six to eight hours daily—overseen by Atrium Health specialists, involving workouts, ice therapy, and electrical stimulation devices. He described the injury as extremely painful, noting it surpasses previous broken bones he’s experienced.
Keselowski and the team decided against rushing his return for the Clash, emphasizing caution. “I didn’t want to rush back,” Keselowski said in an interview with FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. “The team and I made the decision together that if all the rehab went absolutely perfect, we’d be ready like, literally, the day of the Clash. And that seemed super foolish and didn’t give us any time to do any testing on myself or anything like that.”
He remains optimistic about returning for the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026. “I’m happy for Corey to get this opportunity,” Keselowski added. “I’m laser focused on being ready for Daytona… This is a minor setback.” A medical evaluation test is planned for February 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to assess his fitness, requiring no pain medication, reasonable mobility, car entry/exit capability, and signs of bone regeneration.
Corey LaJoie, who competed part-time in 2025 with Rick Ware Racing after previously driving full-time for Spire Motorsports, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity. “Happy to be of service,” LaJoie posted on social media. “Wishing BK a speedy recovery. Let’s go get another trophy at The Madhouse.” LaJoie, a past winner at Bowman Gray Stadium in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, will also serve as standby driver for the early weeks of the season, including Daytona if needed.
The Clash, a non-points exhibition race, will air live on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 8 p.m. ET. Keselowski’s absence does not affect his ironman streak of consecutive points-paying starts, which stands at over 581 races dating back to 2009.
RFK Racing has not issued additional official statements beyond confirming the driver change, but the focus remains on Keselowski’s full recovery ahead of the 2026 Cup Series campaign.