‘There was a question of if I was going to walk again’ - Keselowski ready to test injured leg at Daytona

Brad Keselowski walked into the garage at Daytona International Speedway ready to climb into his RFK Racing Ford Mustang for the first time Wednesday morning, but did so using a cane.

One that, of course, carried sponsor logos.

“I knew I was probably going to get picked on a little bit, so might as well, at some point, own it,” Keselowski said of the stickers. “I won’t say it was my idea, but it was a good one.”

Keselowski is clear for NASCAR competition after completing his medical evaluation test earlier this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is less than two months removed from breaking his right femur, which required surgery before beginning the rehabilitation process. The early morning practice session for the Daytona 500 was the first time Keselowski had been at speed in a race car, as he did not compete in the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium last week.

“I’m eight weeks in, and until about three to five weeks in, there was a question of if I was going to walk again, let alone drive a race car,” Keselowski said. “Those were the thoughts that were going through my mind. I was confident I was going to put the work in, and I was going to own whatever result there was. There were certainly a lot of moments where you’re like, ‘Ew, this isn’t a layup.’ 

“From about week four, week five (time), I made some pretty big steps. Quite literally. But again, didn’t know until I got in the car what it was going to be. Until you get in a race car going 190 miles an hour, you don’t know. You don’t know how it’s going to feel.”

David Ragan will be in Daytona on standby for Keselowski if he cannot race or needs to get out of the car. Corey LaJoie, who is the reserve driver for RFK Racing, is hoping to qualify for the race in a fourth car.

The first road-course race of the season at Circuit of the Americas is one Keselowski is already eyeing warily, describing it as a big concern. Thankfully, he has more time to keep rehabbing, because if the race were run today, he doesn’t think he’d be able to do it. Joey Hand will be on standby for him that weekend (March 1).

“When I’m in the car, I know I have an injury, don’t get me wrong, but I feel the best in the car,” said Keselowski. “The seat is molded to me really well, and you get a little adrenaline flowing. So, it felt pretty good.”

There isn't much RFK Racing can do to help Keselowski protect or keep his leg comfortable. Keselowski ran 10 laps in practice and felt fine.

“We put a little bit of soft padding in one section,” Keselowski said. “But ultimately, it kind of is what it is.” 

Thursday night, when Keselowski runs his qualifying race, will be another big test to see how things are looking for him in the Daytona 500. He feels good enough to get through the qualifying race at this point.

“It’ll be a tremendous indicator of what I’ll have for Sunday,” he said. “So, thankfully, the way this race week works, you get these little bits and doses, and each one is a little more intense, and we can get a good feel for it.”

There is a streak at stake for Keselowski to get to Sunday and at least start the Daytona 500. Having become a full-time Cup Series driver in 2010, Keselowski has never missed a points-paying race in his career. 

To date, Keselowski has made 593 career starts. But even more impressive is that he’s made 580 consecutive starts dating back to the end of the 2009 season.

“I’ve never missed a points race in my career; the Clash, I’ve been ineligible for a few times,” Keselowski said. “I was ineligible for it the year after I won the championship. So, I don’t have an affinity for that race as a whole, if that makes sense. But that said, it’s a race, and if there’s a race you want to be in it. 

“There were moments where I was super-disappointed not to be there. At the halfway break, when it started raining and sleeting that was not one of them. That said, seeing Ryan (Preece) win was really awesome, and I wish I could have been there to celebrate that with him. You can see how pumped he was; how much it meant to him. I’m hopeful I’ll get that opportunity in a points-paying race.”

Chase Briscoe, who was moving his way along the Daytona 500 media day obligations, stopped at Keselowski’s station as he was discussing his injury. Briscoe, who jokingly introduced himself as a media member of “ChaseBriscoe.com,” had a question of his own, wanting to know if Keselowski had a hacksaw ready for his cast if the doctor didn’t clear him.

“When I was lying on the ground,” Keselowski replied, “and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was, ‘Oh, my God. Think about the soldiers in the Civil War. They would just cut their leg off right here.’”

Did that really cross Keselowski’s mind?

“Yes,” he said. “And I understood why they would do it. It hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I’ve ever gone through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw and just (makes cutting noise). There was part of me that was like, ‘That might actually feel better.’”