Kevin Harvick shows extreme concern for two NASCAR drivers ahead of Homestead

Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway is the sixth race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

It’s still early, yes, but several drivers who came into the campaign with high expectations have thus far fallen short. Kevin Harvick highlighted two struggling drivers during this week’s “Happy Hour” podcast: Brad Keselowski and Chase Briscoe.

“I’m really concerned about Brad Keselowski,” Harvick said. “They’re buried in the points, nothing real flashy about the speed side of things, don’t qualify good. … He definitely hasn’t flashed much as far as speed and being up in the front of the pack.”

Harvick added, “And I’m worried about the 19 car [Briscoe].”

Keselowski snapped a 110-race winless streak last season at Darlington, finally showing the speed that eluded him after his move to RFK Racing. But that speed went away as the season wore on, and it hasn’t returned to start the new calendar year. Keselowski is 30th in the points standings.

Keselowski has finished 26th or worse in three of five races this season, though he did rebound for a P11 result last Sunday at Las Vegas. The 2012 Cup Series champion is hoping to build off that.

“All in all, not a bad day for us. At times, we had great speed, especially at the end,” Keselowski said after the race. “This is the type of run we need to build off of.”

Several drivers struggling entering Homestead race

Replacing a driver like Martin Truex Jr. can prove to be difficult. So far, that’s been the case for Briscoe. Aside from his pole and fourth place finish at Daytona, Briscoe hasn’t qualified well and has mostly been a mid-pack driver.

While his season was saved after his 100 points were given back from a penalty he received at Daytona, it would certainly be in his best interest not to fall too far in the points standings. Right now, he sits 20th.

The good news? Briscoe has been fast this weekend at Homestead, qualifying fourth. Perhaps a run to turn things around is in store.