Brad Keselowski is set to compete at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend despite still recovering from a right femur fracture sustained during an off-season skiing accident in December. To ensure coverage in case he cannot race, Joey Hand has been named as the backup driver for the No. 6 Ford. This precaution underscores the challenges Keselowski faces as he returns to competition after his injury.
Keselowski’s Recovery and Early Season Performance
Keselowski suffered a broken right femur in a fall that occurred off the slopes during a mid-December skiing trip. The injury required significant recovery time but did not prevent him from starting the NASCAR Cup Series season at the Daytona 500 held at Daytona International Speedway. Although he missed the preseason Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium, Keselowski returned to finish fifth and 17th in the first two superspeedway events at Daytona and EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta Motor Speedway), respectively.
The races at these superspeedways provided a favorable start for the 42-year-old driver from Rochester Hills, Michigan, who now sits ninth in the point standings. However, upcoming road course events, including COTA’s demanding 17-turn, 2.4-mile layout in Austin, Texas, will test Keselowski’s readiness, especially given that he still walks with a cane.
Joey Hand’s Role as Backup for RFK Racing at COTA
Joey Hand, a Ford factory sports car driver, is on standby to substitute for Keselowski if necessary. Hand has participated in nine NASCAR national series races, eight of which were at the Cup level and all on road or street courses. Notably, he scored a fourth-place finish driving an RFK Racing Ford at the Chicago street race in 2024, his most recent Cup event. His latest NASCAR start was at Portland International Raceway with RSS Racing in 2025.
If Keselowski is forced to miss the 95-lap DuraMAX Grand Prix at COTA, NASCAR would likely grant him a playoff waiver. This waiver would maintain his eligibility to compete in the 16-driver playoff, preserving his chances for the postseason as long as he finishes in the top 16 in the regular-season standings.
Earlier in the season, Keselowski avoided the need for a substitute driver when David Ragan was ready to step in for the races at Daytona and Atlanta. The team and supporters are hopeful that Keselowski will be behind the wheel himself at COTA this Sunday.
Broadcast Information and Upcoming Race Coverage
Fox will provide live coverage of the DuraMAX Grand Prix from COTA beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 1. Fans can also access the race through a free trial of FuboTV, ensuring they don’t miss the first road course event of the 2026 NASCAR season.
