Brad Keselowski, the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series champion, was seen using a cane as he prepared to compete in the Daytona 500 this week in Daytona, Florida. Despite breaking his leg during a ski trip in December and undergoing surgery, Keselowski is set to make his comeback at the season-opening race after missing the earlier Clash exhibition event.
Qualifying and Recovery Details During Daytona Speedweeks
Keselowski, driver of the No. 6 car, appeared with a cane during media sessions and on pit road for qualifying, where he secured the 18th position out of 45 cars. The upcoming duel races scheduled for Thursday evening will determine the full starting lineup for Sunday’s 500-mile Daytona 500 race.
The Concord native Corey LaJoie filled in for Keselowski at the Clash on February 3, but with Speedweeks underway, Keselowski is back behind the wheel despite still feeling the effects of his injury.
Injury Impact and Keselowski’s Perspective on Racing with Limited Mobility
The injury sustained in late December was a broken femur, an injury that typically requires a six-month recovery period. Keselowski believes he is progressing faster than expected but acknowledged the severity compared to a previous broken ankle he raced through during his championship season.
Speaking about racing with the injury, Keselowski said,
“When I’m in the car I feel — I know I’ve got an injury, don’t get me wrong — but I feel the best in the car,”
adding,
“The seat’s molded to me really well and you get a little adrenaline flowing.”
The Cane’s Unique Design and Keselowski’s Humor Amid Challenges
The distinctive cane Keselowski used featured a Castrol sponsor sticker, drawing a parallel to his race car. Embracing the unexpected accessory, he joked,
“When it became obvious that I was going to have to have this at Daytona, I basically said, ‘Well let’s just own it,’”
followed by,
“Next thing I knew, they were putting decals on it.”
Looking Ahead to the Daytona 500 and Keselowski’s Chances
Keselowski aims to claim his first Daytona 500 victory despite the recent setback, making his return one of the storylines heading into what many consider NASCAR’s crown jewel event. The green flag is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, at 3:13 p.m. EST, with pre-race coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Fox and live race coverage starting at 2:30 p.m.
The presence of Keselowski on the track with his cane draws attention to both his determination and the physical challenge he faces as part of his recovery, making this season start especially significant for him and RFK Racing.
RFK Racing Statement on Brad Keselowski Injury: pic.twitter.com/veACGdLpf5
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) December 19, 2025
BK’s owning the cane this weekend 🩼 pic.twitter.com/ZZh4MXFGBy
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 11, 2026
Hey @keselowski how's that RFK Racing Castrol Ford walking cane handling today #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/88pXMG7PHv
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) February 11, 2026
