According to Motorsport.com, RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski reached a major career milestone during the NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway, leading his 10,000th career lap in his 621st start. Keselowski became just the 24th driver in Cup Series history to achieve the 10,000-lap milestone, joining a group where all but three drivers are series champions, according to the same outlet.
Brad Keselowski Joins Exclusive NASCAR Club at Gateway
Keselowski crossed the threshold at Gateway by leading 55 laps on his way to a 12th-place finish, according to Motorsport.com. The publication notes that the most recent driver to hit the 10,000-lap mark before Keselowski was Joey Logano at Richmond Raceway a month prior. Keselowski’s career-high for laps led in a single season remains 1,540, a mark he set during his 2014 championship campaign when he secured six race wins, as reported by Motorsport.com.
From Sensational Debut to Milestone Laps
According to Motorsport.com, Keselowski made his Cup debut in 2008 and led his very first career lap in dramatic fashion during the spring 2009 race at Talladega. In that event, a final-lap collision with Carl Edwards sent Edwards flipping through the air while Keselowski took his first career Cup win by leading only the final lap, per Motorsport.com reports. Since that rookie victory, Keselowski has accumulated 36 Cup race wins ahead of his milestone performance at Gateway.
Did You Know?
Out of the 24 drivers in NASCAR history to lead at least 10,000 laps, only three—Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, and Junior Johnson—never won a Cup Series championship, according to Motorsport.com records.
Historic Milestone Stands Among All-Time Greats
Richard Petty leads the all-time list compiled by Motorsport.com with 51,514 laps led between 1958 and 1992, followed by Cale Yarborough with 31,556 laps. Keselowski sits 24th on the exclusive leaderboard with 10,020 laps led, just behind Joey Logano at 10,103 laps and Kurt Busch at 10,292 laps, according to the Motorsport.com data table updated in September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drivers have led 10,000 laps in NASCAR?
According to Motorsport.com, 24 drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have reached the 10,000-lap milestone.
Who was the driver to reach 10,000 laps before Keselowski?
Joey Logano crossed the 10,000-lap threshold at Richmond Raceway one month prior to Keselowski’s milestone, according to Motorsport.com.
How many champions are in the 10,000-lap club?
All but three drivers in the 10,000-lap club have won a Cup Series championship, with Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, and Junior Johnson being the exceptions, per Motorsport.com.
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