Brad Keselowski Out for the Clash Amid Recovery from a Broken Femur

If you’re a NASCAR fan, you know drivers are built differently. These are people who willingly strap themselves into rockets on wheels and drive in circles at 200 mph for fun. But apparently, the most dangerous thing a driver can do isn’t bump-drafting at Talladega or dodging a wreck at Bristol—it’s walking in a parking lot.

Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion and co-owner of RFK Racing, is officially sitting out the preseason Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Why? He lost a battle with a patch of ice in December while on a ski trip. The result? A broken right femur.

He wasn’t even on the slopes yet. He had just dropped his daughter off for lessons, parked the car, and slipped down he went.

It’s the kind of “dad injury” that usually results in a bruised ego and a wet pair of jeans, but for Keselowski, it resulted in emergency surgery and a leg that is now, in his own words, “made of titanium.”

1. The “Minor Setback” That Requires Learning to Walk Again

In typical racer fashion, Keselowski is downplaying the whole thing. He’s calling a snapped femur—the strongest bone in the human body, mind you—a “minor setback.” He told FOX Sports that he didn’t want to rush back for the Clash on February 1 because it would require his rehab to go “absolutely perfect.” And let’s face it, rushing recovery just to run an exhibition race at a football stadium probably isn’t the smartest career move when you have a whole season ahead of you. Instead, he’s handing the keys of the No. 6 Ford over to Corey LaJoie for the exhibition event. LaJoie, who is serving as the reserve driver for RFK Racing, gets a shot to show what he can do in top-tier equipment. It’s a solid move for the team, and frankly, it’s probably safer for everyone if the guy pressing the gas pedal can actually feel his leg.

2. The Road to Daytona: Pain, Ice, and Titanium

Here is where the story gets gritty. Keselowski isn’t just sitting on the couch binging Netflix. He’s grinding through six to eight hours of rehab a day. He described the machines hooked up to him as devices designed for “shocking you, squeezing you, or freezing you.” It sounds less like physical therapy and more like medieval torture, but hey, whatever gets you back in the car, right? The goal is the Daytona 500. That’s the big one. Keselowski has made it clear that he intends to be ready for the Great American Race. But it’s not just about grit; there are actual medical hurdles he has to clear first. According to the man himself, three things need to happen before NASCAR clears him: Firstly, he should kick the pain meds. He can’t be on any prescribed painkillers. This makes sense, considering operating heavy machinery while under the influence is generally frowned upon. Secondly, he should walk the walk: He needs to be able to walk reasonably well and, more importantly, be able to extract himself from the car in an emergency. If the car catches fire, hopping out on one good leg isn’t going to cut it. Lastly, there should be bone regeneration: The doctors need to see that the bone is actually knitting back together. He’s eyeing a medical evaluation test on February 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. If he can prove he’s road-ready, he’ll be cleared. If not? Well, LaJoie might be getting a few more laps in.

3. A Freak Accident with a Side of Perspective

There is a weirdly dark silver lining to this story. Keselowski mentioned that while he was in the ambulance, arguably having one of the worst days of his life, news broke about the Greg Biffle plane crash. It was a heavy reality check. “I was thinking I was having one of the worst days of my life… and then you see something like that, you just think to yourself, ‘My problems can be way worse,’” Keselowski said. It’s a sobering moment in an otherwise frustrating situation. A broken leg heals. Titanium rods hold up pretty well. However, it definitely puts things in perspective when you realize that slipping on ice is preferable to the alternatives. So, what does this mean for the 2026 season? Keselowski is coming off a 2025 season that was a bit of a dud. No wins, 20th in points—it wasn’t the performance RFK wanted. He’s 41 now, and while he says he wants to race into his late 40s, starting the year on crutches isn’t the ideal reboot. However, if there is anyone stubborn enough to turn a broken leg into a motivation tactic, it’s probably Brad. He’s already talking about how being home has reminded him how much he wants to race.“It makes me want to race,” he said. “If anything, it’s a reminder of what my life would be like if I wasn’t racing.” So, while we won’t see the No. 6 mixing it up at the Clash, don’t count Keselowski out for Daytona. He might be walking with a limp, but as long as his right foot can mash the throttle, he’s going to be a threat. Just maybe tell him to wear better boots in the parking lot next time.

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