So near, yet so far away. Brad Keselowski will be experiencing precisely that after coming just short of winning at his home track. Although no driver born in Michigan has ever won a Cup Series race at MIS, the co-owner of RFK Racing has far too frequently been close to shattering that record. Keselowski has made 27 appearances at Michigan International Speedway, finishing in the top five nine times and in second place three times. Is it a matter of misfortune or am I just not quick enough?
Even though he was unable to challenge eventual winner Tyler Reddick, Keselowski will find comfort in the fact that his fifth-place finish was his best performance in the last eight races in a race that was split over two days due to rain.
Brad Keselowski laments a lost chance
Brad Keselowski was looking to increase his record at his home track of Darlington Raceway, where he had already won a race this season. Before rain interrupted the race and forced a postponement of the FireKeepers Casino 400, the 40-year-old had started it in 15th place and had placed eighth at the end of Stage 1. The co-owner of RFK Racing moved up to sixth place before the end of the second stage with the hopes of making a late push to take the lead. Although he did get a spot by placing fifth, the outcome may have been significantly improved had the circumstances been different.
Poll of the Day: First of Four
Which part of Brad Keselowski’s Michigan race was the most dramatic?
His almost fatal collision
The last lap competition
His placing in the top five
The strategy for the pit stop
Possess an intriguing viewpoint?
Participate in Discussion
Do you believe Kyle Busch’s aggressive strategies will enable him to qualify for the postseason?
Certainly
Not at all
It’s a risk.
Time will tell.
Possess an intriguing viewpoint?
Participate in Discussion
Do you believe that Michael Jordan made the right decision by joining NASCAR?
Certainly
Not at all
Time will tell.
It’s merely a pastime.
Possess an intriguing viewpoint?
Participate in Discussion
Who is to blame for the Michigan showdown’s poor crowd control?
Officials from NASCAR
Organizers of the event
individuals in charge of security
weather circumstances
Possess an intriguing viewpoint?
Participate in Discussion
“Yeah, we were having some issues, and unfortunate that we’ll have to go back and work on whatever that was and try to get better,” Brad Keselowski said to Frontstretch following the race. The No. 6 Ford Mustang driver was questioned about his thoughts on RFK Racing’s showing at Michigan. He said, “Yeah, you know, we start off the race, kind of like a 10th to 15th place car.” After making a few tweaks, the team was able to move up to the fifth-place car and proceeded to hover there, giving us the opportunity to grab one.
Reuters via USA Today
When Brad Keselowski grabbed third place on the restart during the first overtime, it was a pivotal moment in the race. Keselowski was pursuing the leaders when they were going head-to-head in the race, looking to take advantage of any errors that might be made. But Ross Chastain’s turn made them pause, and that extra overtime was what happened in the end.
When the race restarted in double overtime, Brad Keselowski was in the second row. Nevertheless, mechanical difficulties at the green flag caused the Rochester Hills native to lose momentum and tumble to fifth position. With two circuits to go, William Byron, the race leader at the moment, and the person directly in front of Keselowski were also affected by the collision. The Hendrick Motorsports driver surrendered the lead to Tyler Reddick, who won his second race of the season, without his assistance with drafting. Kyle Busch, meanwhile, criticized Keselowski’s maneuver at Michigan International Speedway on social media.
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