When a NASCAR Cup Series driver suffers a femur fracture during a family ski trip in the offseason, the situation calls for a creative approach to recovery. Brad Keselowski, known for his business acumen, has chosen to utilize a cane adorned with his sponsors’ logos.
“I can’t claim it was entirely my idea, but I thought it was a clever one,” Keselowski remarked on Wednesday during Media Day for the Daytona 500.
The mishap occurred on December 18, necessitating a titanium rod to be inserted into his right thigh, which is still in the process of healing. His injury caused him to miss the Cookout Clash last week, although that event is a non-points exhibition race.
“I’m eight weeks into my recovery, and I can honestly say that for the first three to five weeks, I was uncertain if I would ever walk again, let alone get back behind the wheel,” Keselowski explained. “Those were certainly some tough moments for me. I was determined to put in the effort and accept whatever outcome would follow.”
He reflected on the challenges, saying, “There were definitely times when I thought, ‘Wow, this is not going to be easy.’ Around the four to five-week mark, I began to notice significant improvements, but I still had no idea how I would feel once I got back in the car. Until you hit the track at nearly 190 miles per hour, it’s hard to gauge how the body will respond.”
Medical professionals have given the 2012 champion the green light to race in the Daytona 500, and he feels relatively at ease while driving at full speed.
“I’m aware of my injury when I’m in the car, but I actually feel my best when I’m driving,” he stated. “The seat is molded perfectly to my body, and the adrenaline helps a lot, making me feel quite comfortable.”
However, the most challenging aspect remains getting in and out of the vehicle. “You really have to maneuver your leg and hips, and there’s a lot of strain on areas that aren’t quite ready yet, so I have to be very deliberate in my movements,” he added.
Keselowski has a history of bouncing back from serious injuries. He famously won at Pocono in 2011, just four days after fracturing his left ankle in a high-speed crash at Road America. Yet, he admits that this latest injury is far more severe.
“This is significantly worse,” Keselowski noted. “Breaking my ankle was painful, but within a couple of weeks, I was moving around again. This injury is much more serious, unfortunately. It’s difficult to convey to those who haven’t fractured their femur just how severe it is. It’s not like breaking a leg below the knee. Your femur is the largest bone in your body, and it has vital structures running through it that need to heal properly. You can’t just cast it or anything like that; you simply have to endure it.”
He anticipates a complete recovery will take about six months. Although he believes racing in Daytona and Atlanta is feasible, he expressed concern about the road course at Circuit of the Americas next month, which might necessitate a relief driver.
“COTA is definitely a worry for me,” said Keselowski. “I’ve got two and a half weeks before that race. If I had to compete in the full race today, I’m not entirely confident I could manage it, but I plan to spend the next two weeks focused on rehabilitation to improve my condition.”
Should the need arise, road racing expert Joey Hand is prepared to step in as his substitute driver.
In the immediate aftermath of his injury, Keselowski’s pain was so intense that he contemplated amputation. “When I was lying on the ground, completely unable to move after breaking my leg, my thoughts were racing, and I recalled the Civil War soldiers who would cut off their limbs. I understood why they did it; the agony was unbearable,” he shared. “It was by far the most excruciating pain I’ve ever experienced. I can see why they would resort to using a hacksaw; at that moment, I thought, ‘Maybe that would actually relieve the pain.’”
Ultimately, he chose not to amputate his leg. Despite missing the pre-season Clash, he is determined to maintain his impressive streak of 546 consecutive starts dating back to 2010.
“I’ve never missed a points race in my Cup Series career,” Keselowski stated. “I’ve been ineligible for the Clash a few times, including the year after I clinched the championship, so I don’t have a strong attachment to that race. However, it’s still a race, and when there’s an opportunity to compete, you want to be a part of it.”
He added with a chuckle, “There were definitely moments when I felt really disappointed about not being there, especially when it started raining and sleeting during the halfway break. That was not one of those moments.”
More than anything, he regretted not being present to witness his teammate, Ryan Preece, secure his first Cup Series victory.
“Seeing Ryan win was incredible, and I wish I could have celebrated that moment with him,” he remarked. “You could see how excited he was and how much it meant to him, and I hope to have that chance in a points race soon.”
