Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski won Saturday’s NASCAR Cup playoff race at Richmond Raceway, earning him a spot in the second round of the playoffs.

“Man, this thing was awesome,” Keselowski told NBCSN post-race.

Driver No. 2 led 192 of the 400 lap race, including the final 48 laps.

Keselowski said post-race that he hopes this id the car they use for the championship race at Phoenix later this year.

“We knew this was gonna be a really big pit strategy race, but we had the speed, we had the strategy. This team today did it all,” Keselowski told NBCSN post-race.

Rounding out the top five were Martin Truex Jr. in second, Joey Logano in third, Austin Dillion in fourth and Chase Elliott in fifth.

Kyle Busch, who before the race started failed pre-race inspection twice, finished sixth.

Completing the top ten were Kevin Harvick in seventh, Aric Almirola in eighth, Alex Bowman in ninth and Clint Bowyer in tenth.

Clint Bowyer, who finished tenth currently holds the final transfer spot to the second round of the playoffs. He ahead of William Byron by three points and ahead of Cole Custer by eight points. Matt DiBenedetto is 25 points below the cutoff and Ryan Blaney is 27 points below the cutoff.

Denny Hamlin secured a spot in the second round of the playoffs with his 12th place finish.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday Sept. 19th at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. This race will cut the playoff field from 16 drivers to 12 drivers.

Brad Keselowski won Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 in overtime, beating out Chase Elliott to win his first victory in NASCAR’s longest race of the year.

“I feel like I’ve thrown this race away a handful of times,” Keselowski told Fox Sports post-race. “I thought we were going to loose it today. I know we’ve lost it the way Chase lost it the way Chase lost it and I’m so happy for the team. I wish my wife was here, I wish my daughters were here. It’s a major. It’s the Coke 600. That leaves one major for me. The Daytona 500. We’re checking them off.”

Keselwoski’s win on Sunday is the first win from Ford since 2002 in the Coke 600.

Jimmie Johnson, who originally finished second, failed post-race inspection and received a disqualification. The No. 48 failed the rear-end alignment in the oss station post-race.

Rounding out the top five were Chase Elliott in second, Ryan Blaney in third, Kyle Busch in fourth and Kevin Harvick in fifth.

Elliott who was leading with three laps to go pitted under caution and would restart 11th. This would give Keselowski the lead.

Chase Elliott on the fallout of pitting under the final caution: “those guys are going to do the opposite of whatever we do. That’s just part of it. You make decisions and live with them. It wasn’t the pit call. I think being on offense is fine.”

Denny Hamlin, who won Wednesday nights race at Darlington chances to make it back to back wins were dashed before the green flag waved. A piece of ballast fell off Hamlin’s car during the pace laps and would have to get it repaired on pit road before the start of the race. Hamlin started the race eight laps down and finished 29th.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday night in a 500 kilometer race at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1.

 

Stage 1 Winner: Alex Bowman

Stage 2 Winner: Alex Bowman

Stage 3 Winner: Joey Logano

Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

Indianapolis—

Let’s do this again the NASCAR Marathon continues at the Indianapolis motor Speedway.

Coming off what is likely the most exciting Xfinty race of the season.

A very emotional Justin Allgaier has won the Xfinity Series race that kicked off a NASCAR doubleheader at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

We are finally able to start the 25^th running of the Brickyard 400.

Twitter action from stage 1  

Early in 400 L10: @KyleLarsonRacin says the biggest issue so far is Turn 4. "I think I hit the wall a little on the short chute between 1 and 2."

#Brickyard400 L22: "That's all I got. I'm trying. Loose off ... but overall not too bad." - Brad @keselowski

#Brickyard400 L26: @keselowski told to follow the leaders to pit road if they stop before the Lap 30 caution.

#Lap32 Elliott goes for "right side only" on tires, gains significant track position.

#Brickyard400 L30: 2nd competition caution. Larson: 5th Kez: 9th Logano: 18th Harvick: 33rd (made his way back to 19th before pitting)

Green flag back out on lap 34. #Brickyard400 #NASCAR

Martin Truex JR lost a brake rotor his day at IMS ended early

Clint Bowyer wins Stage 1 of the Brickyard 400 followed by Kurt Busch

In Stage 2 big crash between David Starr and Bubba Wallace followed by another crash between Alex Bowman and AJ Allmendinger. This huge for Bowman with a playoff spot on the line. Heavy repairs were made to the RF and RR it cost Bowman 3 laps

Next caution JJ Yeley goes for a spin. Teammates Clint Boyer and Kevin Harvick lead field on the restart.

Stage 2 Twitter action

Through 80 (halfway): - Chase Elliott at 7th - Ryan Blaney at 3rd - Austin Dillon 23rd #Brickyard400

Heavy impact between @BubbaWallace and @starr_racing. #Brickyard400

#Brickyard400 L86: @KevinHarvick reporting a vibration. Spotter continues to tell him his gap to 2^nd

@WilliamByron is told he's got a penalty for an uncontrolled tire. He will restart at the tail end of the field. Was running top 10 prior. Lap 78. #NASCAR #Brickyard400

#Brickyard400 L92: @KyleLarsonRacin picks up a spot that lap and moves up to P4 with 8 to go in Stage 2.

@dariangrubb to @WilliamByron: "Really really REALLY slow blue 66 car coming up." Lap 90. #NASCAR #Brickyard400

 

Matt Kenseth WINS STAGE 2 followed by Chase Elliot.

Final Stage 3...a ton strategies are going to come into play to finish this race

Penalty for Kyle Busch and the Number 18 team hit with a commitment line Violation at the close of stage 2

1 more pit stop for most teams

To start Stage 3: @WilliamByron, @ClintBowyer, @dennyhamlin, @KevinHarvick, and @KyleLarsonRacin are the top 5. #NASCAR #Brickyard400 Lap 104.

Ryan Blayneywas running in top three but disaster on pit road will likely end his of a #BrickYard400 win.

#Brickyard400 L137: Leader @keselowski reports he just hit debris and wants crew to check splitter.

#Brickyard400 L140: @keselowski radio now speaking strategy code: "Page No. 3." He leads Johnson by 2.4 seconds

#Brickyard400 L141: @keselowski pitting this time

Debris on the Front Stretch brings out caution

@KurtBusch reports an ill-handling car. Asks how many cars are on the lead lap. When told 23 cars are on the lead lap, Kurt replies in the only way Kurt can, "expletive". #NASCAR #Brickyard400 Lap 145

1 to go at the line. Restart with 12 to go. Top 5: @dennyhamlin, @ClintBowyer, @jamiemcmurray, @KevinHarvick, and @erik_jones #NASCAR #Brickyard400

#Brickyard400: Hamlin already out to a nearly 1 second lead

Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray make contact, but Bowyer hangs on! #Brickyard400

Caution is out for @JEarnhardt1 and @landoncassill with 7 laps to go!

 

CHECKERED FLAG GOES TO BRAD KESELOWSKI AND THE FIRST BRICKYARD WIN FOR THE CAPTAIN!

Kyle Busch captured the regular-season points title. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, in the No. 18 Toyota, finished eighth.

The other drivers competing for the Cup title will be: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson, Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Jones, Aric Almirola and Ryan Newman.

Saturday's qualifying was rained out, so the starting grid was determined by points. Sunday's scheduled race also was washed out, forcing the race to be moved to a rare Monday start.

 

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INDIANAPOLIS-- In a race that saw attrition and strategy play out, Kasey Kahne was victorious at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Brickyard 400.

“The career is big, for sure; but the win and the history here. To win at this track is unreal. We used to always be really close. We lost to Jeff (Gordon) and we lost to Tony (Stewart); just some fast cars back then. Today’s strategy got us here. This Farmers Insurance Chevrolet was great once I got out front. I just had to get there,” Kahne stated. “I’m exhausted. But, an unbelievable win. The team just kept working. We had great pit stops. Farmers Insurance, Great Clips, and Chevrolet have been huge to us. To win at Indy is unbelievable. I wish my son, Tanner, was here.”

This is Kahne's first win since 2014. This is Kahne’s 18th career victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, his first of 2017.

After having a terrible car for the earlier part of the race, the Team Penske crew for Brad Keselowski was able to finish second at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We had a good, solid day. Anytime that you’re that close (to winning) you can certainly taste it. I had a taste of it in my mouth, I didn’t get to eat it,” said Keselowski.

After much attrition during the event, Ryan Newman was able to finish in the third position.

“Yeah, crazy at the end there.  It’s just the opposite of what you expect sometimes when you see a bunch of green flag runs when we get the caution flags they just breed more caution flags,” said Newman. “Guys are a little out of control, but good run for the Velveeta Chevrolet.  Proud of the guys.  Made some big improvements, but we’ve got some more work to do.”

Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Daniel Suarez, Matt DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top-10.

The race was stopped three times by the red flag. There were 14 cautions for 55 laps during the event. The time of race was three hours and 39 minutes. The average speed of 114.384 mph. The race ended in NASCAR Overtime at 167 laps.

Next up for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is a trip to Pocono Raceway for the Overton’s 400. The race will be broadcasted on NBCSN and Motor Racing Network at 3:00 p.m. ET.

 

SPARTA, Ky-- After crashing out early in the Quaker State 400, Brad Keselowski has strong and stern words.

 

Keselowski wrecked out of the race on lap 89. Keselowski lost control of his Ford trying to get to the bottom lane, collecting Jimmie Johnson, putting him out of the race as well.

 

“I just wrecked it. It stinks. I got loose into three. I was underneath the 14. I was trying to lay up and give room but just spun out as soon as I got anywhere near the corner. I wrecked myself and a bunch of other guys. It is part of it I guess, but not a part that you have to like,” Keselowski explained about the accident. “It is part of the deal when you race at these types of tracks where it is one groove with this car and the way it is designed. You have to find a way around it and I didn’t find a way around it.”

 

Keselowski and his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford did not have speed throughout the weekend.

 

“It is frustrating. We weren’t as fast as we wanted to be today. That is always frustrating. I am probably as much frustrated with myself as I am frustrated with the situation and frustrated with the sport that we can’t design a better car than this that you can race without having to do everything on the restart. That is all part of it I guess. It is where we are right now," Keselowski stated.

 

 

Keselowski praised Kentucky Speedway and Speedway Motorsports Inc. officials about listening to running the tire dragon in the middle groove. However, Keselowski stated that it was still a one groove racetrack.

 

“They made a good effort. It was better than nothing but there are limitations,” said Keselowski.

 

Keselowski contributed the one groove racetrack to the design of the Gen Six the series currently is running.

 

“The way this car is, it needs a lot more help than a Tire Dragon. It is a poorly designed race car and it makes racing on tracks like this very difficult to put on the show we want to put on for our fans. You do what you can to gouge and claw on the restarts and get everything you can get,” said Keselowski. “You have to put yourself in bad situations to do that and that is where we were. If you don’t make those moves on the restarts, then you run in the back. Or you have a bad day. The scenario that the car design, more than the track.”

 

After cooling off from the heat of the moment, Keselowski went to social media to clarify his comments:

 

I lost "Truth and Grace" after wrecking out today so I wrote a Follow up on my post wreck comments- pic.twitter.com/LmORJArdjp

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 9, 2017

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Keselowski is accredited with a 39th place finish.