NASCAR Cup Series: Brad Keselowski retiring after 2020?

In two words, absolutely not; Brad Keselowski delivered a swift blow to the baseless rumor that he may retire following the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, mocking the idea that “if it’s on the internet, it must be true”.

Entering the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, two of the three Team Penske drivers did not have contracts to compete in the 2021 season.

The only one who did was Joey Logano, who is signed through the 2023 season. Meanwhile, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney did not.

But Blaney, who joined the team on a multi-year deal ahead of the 2018 season, signed a multi-year contract extension last week, leaving Keselowski as the team’s only driver without a deal lined up past November of this year.

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Blaney’s signing was just the tip of the massive iceberg that promises to be this year’s Silly Season given how loaded the pending free agent class is, and that prompted all eyes to shift over to the 36-year-old Rochester Hills, Michigan native and the #2 Ford.

And with that comes the inevitability of the seemingly obligatory, given the day and age, outrageous rumors. One such outrageous rumor linked the 2012 champion to retirement once the 2020 season wraps up in November.

He delivered a swift blow to that “crazy rumor”, mocking the modern-day sarcastic concept that “if it’s on the internet, it must be true”.

Here is what he had to say, according to NASCAR.

"“I think I can win races and be competitive for another 10 years and that’s really what I want to do. I want to win races and win more championships. I’m certainly very committed to doing that. I don’t know where (the retirement rumors) came from, but if it’s on the internet, it must be true.”"

He later tweeted about it.

A similar baseless rumor emerged last September about Germain Racing’s Ty Dillon, who also shot it down immediately after it began to circulate.

Keselowski has been linked to potentially replacing retiring seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson at Hendrick Motorsports behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet next year, but so have several other drivers.

Keselowski did make his Cup Series debut for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 before going to compete in several races for the team in 2009, during which time he was a full-time driver for the Hendrick Motorsports-affiliated JR Motorsports team in the Xfinity Series.

Team owner Rick Hendrick stated around this time that he was interested in hiring him as a full-time driver. But a lack of space at his four-car team ended up playing spoiler to that potential deal, and he ended up with Roger Penske’s organization.

Keselowski went on to say that he and Team Penske have not yet begun to negotiate a potential future contract.

While he did not rule out leaving the team should another offer arise, he did state that he will not be “dialing out” looking for another ride, even though there are several good rides slated to be available, including rides at Stewart-Haas Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing.

He has driven for Team Penske throughout the entirety of his career as a full-time Cup Series driver, which began back in 2010. He has recorded 30 victories thus far, including 29 as a Team Penske driver. He secured his first win in 2009 driving for Phoenix Raceway at Talladega Superspeedway.

Will Brad Keselowski re-sign with Team Penske after the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season? If not, will he leave for Hendrick Motorsports? Regardless, forget about retirement.