Although finishes are what typically define race car drivers, Brad Keselowski will be experiencing a significant career start this weekend. The 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion boasts the fourth most race starts in the current field and best of all for him, he’s marking the 600-start milestone in one of the best season starts he’s turned in since becoming a team owner in the series.
Only three other drivers on Sunday’s starting grid have more starts than Keselowski with Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch leading the group with 756. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin has 727 and three-time champ Logano has 621.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty has the most series starts (1,184) in history and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Ricky Rudd is second on the list with 906. Petty is the only driver to have won his 600th start.
“Great to be back here, great to have cars that are super competitive and to be running up toward the front,’’ Keselowski said. “To hit 600 starts is a number I never really even dreamed of to be honest with you. I never thought that big. Just tried to do my thing and do the best I could and it kind of snuck up on me. It’s always a lot of fun when the cars are fast and things are clicking.”
Keselowski comes into Martinsville ranked ninth in the championship with three top-10 finishes already, including a third place in the Daytona 500 and a season-best runner-up effort at Darlington, S.C. last weekend. More encouraging for Keselowski is that the entire three-car effort is off to a positive start with Chris Buescher ranked seventh in the standings and Ryan Preece 12th.
“Ultimately to be judged as successful in this sport you have to win and be a contender to win regularly,’’ Keselowski sad. “I’m hopeful we can push through with some kind of stellar performance early in the season and kind of serve ourselves in that way. We were close last week.
“This weekend would be another one of those opportunities I feel real good about,’’ he continued. “Not trying to discredit Ryan [Preece] from winning the Clash but we need to win the points paying races and be in contention to that on a regular basis. We are not where I want us to be but we’re inching closer to that goal and I’m thrilled to see that growth. It never comes fast enough but there has been a lot of progress.’’
- When Everything Else Fails Joey Logano Turns to Martinsville - March 28, 2026
- NASCAR’s New Points System Has Drivers Thinking Like Accountants - March 28, 2026
- Brad Keselowski’s 600th Start isn’t a Farewell it’s a Warning - March 28, 2026