3 potential stand-ins for Brad Keselowski at Bowman Gray if his injury recovery tightens

After former NASCAR Cup Series champio Brad Keselowski’s recent leg surgery after sustaining an injury during a family ski trip, his status to participate in the upcoming preseason 2026 Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 1, is in serious doubt.

While RFK Racing driver/co-owner is focused on returning for the Daytona 500, the tight schedule makes the physical demands of short-track racing at Bowman Gray a risky proposition just six weeks post-op. If he decides to miss the preseason exhibition race to ensure he is 100% fit for the Daytona 500, then his team would likely consider these potential stand-ins:

Three potential candidates at Bowman Gray if Brad Keselowski's recovery tightens

#1 David Ragan

David Ragan could be top priority if Brad Keselowski chooses to rest. He is the safe pair of hands in the Ford camp. He previously raced at the 2024 Daytona 500 for RFK Racing in their Stage 60 entry and is intimately familiar with the team’s current Next Gen car setup. For a non-points-paying race where the goal is to keep the car clean and gather data, Ragan is the most logical choice.

#2 Corey Heim

Corey Heim could be another candidate, as he’s widely considered the top prospect in NASCAR and has experience as a standby driver for multiple Cup teams. While Heim is a Toyota development driver, Ford and RFK will look to go with the best available talent for one-off entries.

Heim’s aggressive but calculated short-track style (shown in the Truck Series) would thrive on the 0.250-mile track. It would also give RFK a look at a potential future star in their equipment.

#3 Tim Brown

If RFK Racing wants to lean into the history and atmosphere of Bowman Gray Stadium, there is no name more synonymous with the track than Tim Brown. A 12-time track champion with over 100 wins at the venue, Brown is a longtime competitor at the track and knows every inch of the 0.250-mile track.

Brown also made his NASCAR Cup Series debut with Rick Ware Racing (RWR) in the 2025 exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium, behind the wheel of the #15 Ford Mustang.

Putting Bowman Gray Stadium legend behind the wheel of Brad Keselowski’s #6 car would give the RFK a driver who understands the unique rhythm of “The Madhouse” better than anyone else in the field.

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Edited by Yash Soni