The NASCAR Cup Series is headed to Sonoma Raceway this weekend for its second consecutive road course and its third in five weeks. Evidently, some of the biggest names in racing aren’t happy with how the schedule is being created.
Brad Keselowski voiced his frustration on X over NASCAR moving from two road course races per season to six. He’s particularly unhappy about it because there’s a very real possibility of seven road course races in 2026.
“NASCAR was successfully built as a primarily oval racing series. IMSA was built as the primary road course series in North America. IMSA will always do road racing better than NASCAR and that’s ok. Yes, TOO Many Road courses in NASCAR”
Brad Keselowski on the number of road course races in the NASCAR Cup Series
Related: Carson Hocevar tells Dale Earnhardt Jr about having no friends among fellow NASCAR drivers
Some might point to Keselowski’s struggles on the road course as the primary reason for his frustration. According to DriverAverages.com, Keselowski ranks 29th in average finishing position (21.4), 15th in top-20 finishes (12), and 30th in laps led (three) in 20 road course races in the Next Gen era.
However, Keselowski rightfully pointed out that he benefits from more road course races as a co-owner of RFK Racing. That’s because Chris Buescher leads NASCAR in average finishing position on road courses (9.3), and Ryan Preece also performs better than average on road courses. That matters because earning a spot in the playoffs guarantees a driver finishes in the top 16 in the final standings, which means millions of dollars more for his team.
Related: NASCAR schedule 2025, see when the next road course race is
Keselowski isn’t the only one unhappy with the number of road course races on the schedule this year. On this week’s episode of the Dale Jr Download, Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he doesn’t like the number of road courses right now. However, he isn’t going to complain about it since changes aren’t happening.
“Well, I feel that way, but I’m not complaining about it because I don’t get to choose. I mean, if I had my way, our asses would be raicng South Boston and all kinds of fun little race tracks. But it ain’t happening. So, I don’t sit on social media and b***h about it and say, ‘We need to go to South Boston.’”
Dale Earnhardt Jr on the number of road course races now in NASCAR
To his point, there are ongoing talks about a Cup Series race on the streets of San Diego, California, in 2026. If that becomes official and NASCAR also commits to Mexico City and the Chicago Street Race, there would be seven road course races next season.
Related: NASCAR standings for Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series
