Debbie Powers
|
|
“Pass-through”: NOT the kind of pass Keselowski was looking to make in Bristol
+ This week's latest: Giving Back and Toyota Owners 400
April 7-13, 2019
The No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang came home in 18th place last Sunday after a late-race penalty cost Brad Keselowski any chance of winning the Food City 500.
Keselowski started in 12th place and was running in 4th as Stage 1 neared closing. Pitting on lap 120 during the 3rd caution of the race, his quick Discount Tire crew got him back out fast for the restart with 2 laps remaining in the stage, and he finished 4th on Lap 125.
Choosing not to pit during the stage caution, Keselowski powered his No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang into the lead on lap 130.
Keselowski led 15 laps before settling into second behind teammate Joey Logano.
Pitting under caution on lap 215, the driver took four tires and restarted second when the race went green, drifting back to 4th place when Stage 2 concluded on lap 250, citing the need for longer runs to help his car’s performance.
Pitting twice during the stage caution, once for four tires and once for left, front loose lug nuts, Keselowski was 18th in the lineup for the lap 261 restart.
Finally getting the long run so badly needed, Keselowski powered through traffic and charged his way through traffic and into the top ten by lap 329. He was in 7th place when the eighth caution flew on lap 376. The Team Penske 2 crew gave the driver four tires on lap 378, and Keselowski pulled out in 7th position when the race restarted on lap 382.
On lap 414, another caution flag flew, and Crew Chief Paul Wolfe elected to go with 2 right-side tires when pit lane opened, maneuvering Keselowski into 4th position on the restart at lap 422. “Patiently” running behind Kyle Busch for 23 laps, Keselowski grabbed the lead on lap 445, holding on to it until his teammate Logano took it away on lap 470.
One last round of stops came on lap 481, during the eleventh, and final, caution of the race, and Wolfe again opted for right-side tires only, which appeared to put Keselowski back in the restart lineup in 5th position. However, NASCAR officials ruled Keselowski lined up incorrectly and issued a pass-through penalty on lap 486. Ten laps from the conclusion of the race, Keselowski served that penalty on lap 490, costing him a lap to the leaders, and forcing the team to settle for an 18th-place finish.
Not all was lost though, as the Discount Tire Ford driver gained one point in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, and now sits in fifth place, 90 points behind the leader, heading in to Richmond this week.
Keselowski was obviously not happy about NASCAR’s ruling and after the race stated, “Nobody could figure out the lineup. There wasn't enough communication and it was just a tough deal.”
Keselowski met with NASCAR officials following the conclusion of the Food City 500 and later posted he understood the decision better after that meeting.
The latest:
Giving Back
Keselowski wasn’t idle in between Bristol and Richmond either. On Thursday, the driver met with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster at the Governor’s mansion in Columbia, SC to celebrate his Bojangles Southern 500 win at Darlington Raceway last fall. During the visit, Kerry Tharp, President of the raceway, presented Brad with a $2000.00 check for his Checkered Flag Foundation! The Foundation, based out of Statesville, NC, was established in 2010, to honor and assist those who have sacrificed greatly for our country. You can check out their great work at checkeredflagfoundation.org.
This month, as part of their giving back, Keselowski and the Foundation are supporting military kids as part of “Month of the Military Child,” and the No.2 Team Penske Ford will carry Keselowski’s name in purple above his door for all April races; recognizing that not only service members, but their families sacrifice as well. Keselowski will also have two special guests in Richmond: children whose father currently serves in the U.S.Coastguard. You can follow The Checkered Flag Foundation on Instagram to see all of the surprises and experiences the children receive during the day.
Ever on the lookout for opportunities to help his foundation, Keselowski also introduced an opportunity for fans to send a video message to someone special with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation. Check it out at www.cameo.com/bradkeselowski.
Toyota Owners 400
Keselowski starts the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond in 12th position, driving the No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Mustang for Team Penske. The driver led 383 laps when he won in 2014, averaging a 1.04 running position.
In one of this writer’s favorite paint schemes, reminding me of “Bumblebee” in Transformers movies, can Keselowski take the “sting” out of Bristol’s disappointing finish and bring home a win in Richmond? Watch and see if he “transforms” a 12th-place starting position on the “D-shape” asphalt short track into an American flag victory lap.
Catch the excitement on FOX when the green flag waves @ 7:30 pm (ET) on Saturday. You can also find the race on MRN and Sirius XM, CH 90.
Follow and chat with me: @DebbiePowers11
SHOP HERE for 2019 NASCAR gear!!
+ This week's latest: Giving Back and Toyota Owners 400
April 7-13, 2019
The No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang came home in 18th place last Sunday after a late-race penalty cost Brad Keselowski any chance of winning the Food City 500.
Keselowski started in 12th place and was running in 4th as Stage 1 neared closing. Pitting on lap 120 during the 3rd caution of the race, his quick Discount Tire crew got him back out fast for the restart with 2 laps remaining in the stage, and he finished 4th on Lap 125.
Choosing not to pit during the stage caution, Keselowski powered his No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang into the lead on lap 130.
Keselowski led 15 laps before settling into second behind teammate Joey Logano.
Pitting under caution on lap 215, the driver took four tires and restarted second when the race went green, drifting back to 4th place when Stage 2 concluded on lap 250, citing the need for longer runs to help his car’s performance.
Pitting twice during the stage caution, once for four tires and once for left, front loose lug nuts, Keselowski was 18th in the lineup for the lap 261 restart.
Finally getting the long run so badly needed, Keselowski powered through traffic and charged his way through traffic and into the top ten by lap 329. He was in 7th place when the eighth caution flew on lap 376. The Team Penske 2 crew gave the driver four tires on lap 378, and Keselowski pulled out in 7th position when the race restarted on lap 382.
On lap 414, another caution flag flew, and Crew Chief Paul Wolfe elected to go with 2 right-side tires when pit lane opened, maneuvering Keselowski into 4th position on the restart at lap 422. “Patiently” running behind Kyle Busch for 23 laps, Keselowski grabbed the lead on lap 445, holding on to it until his teammate Logano took it away on lap 470.
One last round of stops came on lap 481, during the eleventh, and final, caution of the race, and Wolfe again opted for right-side tires only, which appeared to put Keselowski back in the restart lineup in 5th position. However, NASCAR officials ruled Keselowski lined up incorrectly and issued a pass-through penalty on lap 486. Ten laps from the conclusion of the race, Keselowski served that penalty on lap 490, costing him a lap to the leaders, and forcing the team to settle for an 18th-place finish.
Not all was lost though, as the Discount Tire Ford driver gained one point in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, and now sits in fifth place, 90 points behind the leader, heading in to Richmond this week.
Keselowski was obviously not happy about NASCAR’s ruling and after the race stated, “Nobody could figure out the lineup. There wasn't enough communication and it was just a tough deal.”
Keselowski met with NASCAR officials following the conclusion of the Food City 500 and later posted he understood the decision better after that meeting.
The latest:
Giving Back
Keselowski wasn’t idle in between Bristol and Richmond either. On Thursday, the driver met with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster at the Governor’s mansion in Columbia, SC to celebrate his Bojangles Southern 500 win at Darlington Raceway last fall. During the visit, Kerry Tharp, President of the raceway, presented Brad with a $2000.00 check for his Checkered Flag Foundation! The Foundation, based out of Statesville, NC, was established in 2010, to honor and assist those who have sacrificed greatly for our country. You can check out their great work at checkeredflagfoundation.org.
This month, as part of their giving back, Keselowski and the Foundation are supporting military kids as part of “Month of the Military Child,” and the No.2 Team Penske Ford will carry Keselowski’s name in purple above his door for all April races; recognizing that not only service members, but their families sacrifice as well. Keselowski will also have two special guests in Richmond: children whose father currently serves in the U.S.Coastguard. You can follow The Checkered Flag Foundation on Instagram to see all of the surprises and experiences the children receive during the day.
Ever on the lookout for opportunities to help his foundation, Keselowski also introduced an opportunity for fans to send a video message to someone special with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation. Check it out at www.cameo.com/bradkeselowski.
Toyota Owners 400
Keselowski starts the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond in 12th position, driving the No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Mustang for Team Penske. The driver led 383 laps when he won in 2014, averaging a 1.04 running position.
In one of this writer’s favorite paint schemes, reminding me of “Bumblebee” in Transformers movies, can Keselowski take the “sting” out of Bristol’s disappointing finish and bring home a win in Richmond? Watch and see if he “transforms” a 12th-place starting position on the “D-shape” asphalt short track into an American flag victory lap.
Catch the excitement on FOX when the green flag waves @ 7:30 pm (ET) on Saturday. You can also find the race on MRN and Sirius XM, CH 90.
Follow and chat with me: @DebbiePowers11
SHOP HERE for 2019 NASCAR gear!!
'Bumblebee'? Image: Dawn Charest, used with permission
Sidelined by an Accident
Keselowski ends up 35th in My Bariatrics 300 Xfinity race at Texas Motor Speedway
March 30, 2019
Brad Keselowski started Saturday’s Xfinity race 10th in the PIRTEK Ford Mustang for Team Penske, where he ran well throughout the 1st Stage, despite being loose. When Stage 1 concluded on Lap 45, he was in 8th place. On Lap 48, he had a fast pit stop and the PIRTEK pit crew got him back out on the track in 4th position when the race went green again on Lap 53.
Holding his own as they ran three-wide, Keselowski was running fifth when he and Justin Allgaier made contact, sending him back to 12th in the running order.
In the laps following the restart after the third caution, Keselowski found his day coming apart when Justin Haley bumped him from behind on Lap 66 and sent his No. 12 PIRTEK Ford Mustang up the banking and into the outside wall.
Keselowski commented, “It was a frustrating day. The team said the damage on our PIRTEK Mustang was too much to continue. With all these short restarts there are a handful of cars that seem to have a lot of real quick, short run speed, and we just kept getting run over by them. I thought we would have been really good for the last stage when the long run comes, but we didn’t make it that far.”
Keselowski completed 68 of the total 200 laps of the race.
Tomorrow finds the driver of the Miller Lite No. 2 Ford Mustang starting in 12th position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX. The 334 lap, 501-mile race is scheduled for 2 pm Central time.
Will a little track time running Xfinity give Keselowski an edge? Tune in on FOX to find out! Live coverage begins 3 pm ET.
Follow and chat with me: @DebbiePowers11
SHOP HERE for 2019 NASCAR gear!!
Keselowski ends up 35th in My Bariatrics 300 Xfinity race at Texas Motor Speedway
March 30, 2019
Brad Keselowski started Saturday’s Xfinity race 10th in the PIRTEK Ford Mustang for Team Penske, where he ran well throughout the 1st Stage, despite being loose. When Stage 1 concluded on Lap 45, he was in 8th place. On Lap 48, he had a fast pit stop and the PIRTEK pit crew got him back out on the track in 4th position when the race went green again on Lap 53.
Holding his own as they ran three-wide, Keselowski was running fifth when he and Justin Allgaier made contact, sending him back to 12th in the running order.
In the laps following the restart after the third caution, Keselowski found his day coming apart when Justin Haley bumped him from behind on Lap 66 and sent his No. 12 PIRTEK Ford Mustang up the banking and into the outside wall.
Keselowski commented, “It was a frustrating day. The team said the damage on our PIRTEK Mustang was too much to continue. With all these short restarts there are a handful of cars that seem to have a lot of real quick, short run speed, and we just kept getting run over by them. I thought we would have been really good for the last stage when the long run comes, but we didn’t make it that far.”
Keselowski completed 68 of the total 200 laps of the race.
Tomorrow finds the driver of the Miller Lite No. 2 Ford Mustang starting in 12th position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX. The 334 lap, 501-mile race is scheduled for 2 pm Central time.
Will a little track time running Xfinity give Keselowski an edge? Tune in on FOX to find out! Live coverage begins 3 pm ET.
Follow and chat with me: @DebbiePowers11
SHOP HERE for 2019 NASCAR gear!!
“Tick, tock, the No.2 has 2 grandfather clocks.”
Keselowski Dominates Martinsville
March 24, 2019
Starting 3rd in the STP 500 on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, Brad Keselowski grabbed the lead from teammate Joey Logano on lap 6, and never looked back!
Keselowski led the next 319 laps, won Stages 1 and 2, and only gave up the lead on lap 325 when Chase Elliott managed to pass him.
On lap 373, running second, Keselowski's REESE/Draw-Tite 2 crew did excellent pit work after a sixth caution slowed laps and allowed pit stops for leaders one lap later, giving Keselowski the lead, one he never relinquished!
Entering the final stretch, the other top-five drivers had one more chance to try to catch Keselowski as the caution flag flew on lap 447 and one final round of pit stops came on lap 448. But, flawless in their execution, the No. 2 team kept their driver in the lead, with Keselowski steadily inching away from Elliott over the stretch run to the checkered flag, with a 2-car length lead (officially measured at .594 seconds).
Every single pit stop in the 500-lap STP 500 on Sunday afternoon, six in all, found the No. 2 REESE/Draw-Tite crew performing with pure precision, sending Keselowski back out in the lead every time!
Keselowski gained 60 stage points when he brought the REESE/Draw-Tite Ford Mustang in first in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and now sits 5th in driver point standings, (-37). He led the most laps led in a Cup race since Kyle Petty led 484 at Rockingham in October 1992. The race also had the fewest lead changes in a Martinsville Cup race since the Old Dominion 500 in 1967!
Keselowski earned the American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award, and he ran the fastest lap of the race. This is Keselowski's second win of the 2019 season, his second win in 19 races at Martinsville, and his fourth top-five finish in six races this season.
In a post-win statement, Keselowski said "The Draw-Tite Ford Mustang was really strong. It's just a great day for our team, awesome execution on pit road and big credit to Doug Yates and all the engine guys. Today was just one of those days you dream of as a race car driver. Chase Elliott was really strong. He passed me with about 200 to go and I watched him and studied him and knew what I had to do to hold him off and we were able to pull it off that last run."
Now where to put that clock?
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. tweeted “@Keselowski only won by a few car lengths, but he dominated @MartinsvilleSwy today. Dominating a short track like that is one of the most impressive performances you’ll see in today’s @NASCAR. “ Nice praise from your former boss Keselowski!
Keselowski Dominates Martinsville
March 24, 2019
Starting 3rd in the STP 500 on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, Brad Keselowski grabbed the lead from teammate Joey Logano on lap 6, and never looked back!
Keselowski led the next 319 laps, won Stages 1 and 2, and only gave up the lead on lap 325 when Chase Elliott managed to pass him.
On lap 373, running second, Keselowski's REESE/Draw-Tite 2 crew did excellent pit work after a sixth caution slowed laps and allowed pit stops for leaders one lap later, giving Keselowski the lead, one he never relinquished!
Entering the final stretch, the other top-five drivers had one more chance to try to catch Keselowski as the caution flag flew on lap 447 and one final round of pit stops came on lap 448. But, flawless in their execution, the No. 2 team kept their driver in the lead, with Keselowski steadily inching away from Elliott over the stretch run to the checkered flag, with a 2-car length lead (officially measured at .594 seconds).
Every single pit stop in the 500-lap STP 500 on Sunday afternoon, six in all, found the No. 2 REESE/Draw-Tite crew performing with pure precision, sending Keselowski back out in the lead every time!
Keselowski gained 60 stage points when he brought the REESE/Draw-Tite Ford Mustang in first in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and now sits 5th in driver point standings, (-37). He led the most laps led in a Cup race since Kyle Petty led 484 at Rockingham in October 1992. The race also had the fewest lead changes in a Martinsville Cup race since the Old Dominion 500 in 1967!
Keselowski earned the American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award, and he ran the fastest lap of the race. This is Keselowski's second win of the 2019 season, his second win in 19 races at Martinsville, and his fourth top-five finish in six races this season.
In a post-win statement, Keselowski said "The Draw-Tite Ford Mustang was really strong. It's just a great day for our team, awesome execution on pit road and big credit to Doug Yates and all the engine guys. Today was just one of those days you dream of as a race car driver. Chase Elliott was really strong. He passed me with about 200 to go and I watched him and studied him and knew what I had to do to hold him off and we were able to pull it off that last run."
Now where to put that clock?
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. tweeted “@Keselowski only won by a few car lengths, but he dominated @MartinsvilleSwy today. Dominating a short track like that is one of the most impressive performances you’ll see in today’s @NASCAR. “ Nice praise from your former boss Keselowski!
Driver intros - Brad Keselowski Image: Cathleen Cooper, Ladies of Speed
|
That was quite some burnout!! Image: Tiffany Faw, Ladies of Speed
|
