By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor
FORT WORTH, Texas — Brad Keselowski is a Sprint Cup Series champion, and he is one of the best drivers in the sport today. He is also usually one of the most outspoken drivers when it comes to doctors deciding whether drivers will be able to race.
After Matt DiBenedetto was not cleared to race in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 after a crash in Saturday’s Xfinity Series event, Keselowski took to Twitter to question NASCAR’s concussion protocol. Keselowski’s lashing out all began when DiBenedetto tweeted that he was feeling 100-percent ready to race, but that he was being held out due to the concussion protocol.
@mattdracing @dustinlong sorry to read this. Glad you are ok. If you feel fine I do t understand why being held out
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) November 6, 2016
From there, Keselowski received backlash from fans and media members and he took on all challengers on the topic.
@bobpockrass so you’re ok with no burden of proof ruining someone’s career, “just in case?”
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) November 6, 2016
A real system that doesn’t rely on simply a track worker or nurses feedback to a DR. Especially when it conflicts with the driver. https://t.co/gD4EYcRGwk
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) November 6, 2016
No one wants to see what @DaleJr is going through happen to anyone. But what’s the line? Are you ok with potential false diagnosis? https://t.co/t1uiwRfzqC
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) November 6, 2016
DiBenedetto will not race this week, regardless of how Keselowski feels. But it is obvious that Keselowski probably isn’t super chummy with doctors.
Back in 2012, Keselowski questioned doctor’s involvement in the sport, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed two races while recovering from a concussion sustained in a tire test in Kansas and re-aggravated in a crash at Talladega a few weeks later.
Keselowski also brought resistance when NASCAR announced a brand-new baseline concussion test for drivers, which started in the 2014 season.
“Doctors don’t understand our sport. They never have and never will,” Keselowski said at the time.
Keselowski was vocal earlier this year when Team Penske’s IndyCar driver Will Power was held out of the season opening race for what was thought to be a concussion. After a re-evaluation, IndyCar stated that there was no proof that Power had ever sustained a concussion.
