How NASCAR star gutted out racing on broken leg. 5 things about Dover race

Keselowski credits the surgeon on call at Appalachian State University with saving his leg − and his racing career.

"(During the surgery), I had to have rods put in and all that kind of stuff," Keselowski said. "They had to cut through a number of nerves and tendons and muscles. So outside the pain of breaking your leg, it’s a long recovery just regrowing nerves and muscles and tendons.

"I know it doesn’t happen overnight."

Keselowski is still recovering. He admitted that he feels the after-effects more at tracks such as Dover, where the high-banked, concrete oval forces drivers to lock in for the entire race.

"This will be a tough race," Keselowski said. "Tracks that are rough, or really slamming down on the seat, are real challenging for me. Thankfully, I’m in a recovery period where I think I can tough that out ... Mostly, I feel it when I get out of the car. Just being tired, and the dehydration cycles you naturally get as a race-car driver are not the friend of healing those bones."

A victory at the All-Star race, which comes with $1 million in prize money, can certainly help those healing bones.

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Slow start for Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson, the reigning Cup Series champion, just passed the one-year anniversary since his last victory. That came on May 11, 2025 at Kansas Speedway.

Larson was close for a while, getting six top-10 finishes in a span of seven races before finishing 40th, 34th and 23rd in his last three races.

"I think this year has been different just because we have a new body for the Chevrolets," Larson said. "So there has been a learning process throughout the beginning of the season. Each and every week, we’re still learning more and more about the car, and just trying to narrow in on the balance that it needs.

"I think that’s some of where our performance inconsistencies have come from. Hopefully, we can keep ourselves in the hunt here in the regular-season points, and not start too far behind once we get to The Chase."

Larson is in great position to do that. He's currently eighth in the points standings. The top 16 make NASCAR's playoff field held over the final 10 races of the season.

That's why Larson said he views the All-Star race at Dover as a great opportunity, even though it's not a points race and won't count in the standings. Larson has won the All-Star race three times, pocketing the $1 million in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

"Any time you hit the race track, it helps," Larson said. "Any race weekend, any test, it doesn’t matter – points race, non-points race. We don’t get much track time these days. So any time you can hit the track, it’s a very valuable moment to learn about your car and setup."

Dover looking for some 'date equity'

Last year, Dover's race was held in late July during the traditional beach season. So naturally, Dover president and general manager Mike Tatoian turned the outside of the track into a beach theme, with sand, lawn chairs and so on.

That is returning this year. But the track is also adding a two-acre All-Star Village as its new entertainment hub. The hours are from May 15 from noon-5 p.m., and continuing May 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and May 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To Tatoian, it's all about adapting, something Dover has had to do over the past seven years. That's because since 2019, the Dover race has been all over the calendar.

In 2020, due to COVID-19, both the originally-scheduled spring and fall races were combined into a weekend in late August. The next year, NASCAR took away one of Dover's races. The Dover race has since been held in mid-May, early May, late April, July and mid-May again this year.

Tatoian would prefer having it the same weekend every year. He also knows that's not up to him.

"From a track promoter's perspective, date equity is really important," Tatoian said. "And so, when you think about it, when is the Masters (golf) tournament? When is the Kentucky Derby? When is the Coca-Cola 600?"

"NASCAR has been so aggressive with their schedule that sometimes that just can't happen. So whenever we are, whatever we get, we'll make it the best we can."

Race weekend at Dover Motor Speedway

The EcoSave 200 NASCAR Craftsman Trucks race begins at 5 p.m. on May 15. The BetRivers 200 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race begins at 4 p.m. on May 16. And the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star race begins at 1 p.m. on May 17.

How much is parking at Dover Motor Speedway?

Dover Motor Speedway is located at 1131 N. Dupont Hwy. (Route 13 North). During race weekend, look for the signs along the highway directing traffic to the parking areas, including on Leipsic Road.

Parking is free on May 15 and 16 and starts at $20 (cash only) on May 17.

For more information on race tickets or camping, see the website DoverMotorSpeedway.com or call 1-800-441-RACE.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 5 things about NASCAR All-Star race, like Brad Keselowski's broken leg