Brad Keselowski breaks his 3-year NASCAR win drought with victory at Darlington Raceway

Brad Keselowski’s triumphant return to victory in NASCAR after a three-year hiatus brought forth an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. When asked to pinpoint the most meaningful aspect of this momentous win, Keselowski was at a loss for words.

He achieved his 36th career victory at Darlington Raceway, a track that he regards as the ultimate challenge for drivers. This special win was made even more meaningful as he celebrated it with his young family. His daughters, Scarlett, who will be turning 9 later this month, and Autumn, who is 4 years old, stood by his side on the podium.

In 2022, Brad Keselowski made his first appearance as a co-owner at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, marking a significant milestone since his departure from the Penske organization.

Brad Keselowski expressed his excitement, stating that there are numerous things to be thrilled about, making it difficult to pinpoint which one holds the most significance.

In an exhilarating finish, he seized the opportunity as Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick engaged in a fierce battle for the lead with just nine laps remaining. With sheer determination, he managed to secure the victory at the Goodyear 400 held at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, marking his triumphant return to the winner’s circle after a three-year hiatus.

“We put in an incredible effort,” Keselowski exclaimed as he crossed the finish line.

Keselowski’s employee at RFK, Buescher, seemed poised to secure the win as he overtook his boss and Reddick with 29 laps remaining. However, an unfortunate collision between Buescher and Reddick caused them to lose ground, ultimately paving the way for Keselowski to claim a well-deserved victory.

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“It was quite a day,” he exclaimed. “The battle between my teammate and Tyler Reddick was intense; we gave it our all out there on the track.”

Brad Keselowski understood the gamble he took by leaving Penske. He admitted that fans criticized him when Austin Cindric won the 2022 Daytona 500, as they believed Keselowski could have been the one celebrating victory. They also pointed out that Penske drivers Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney secured the last two NASCAR Cup Series championships.

He is absolutely thrilled with his decision and the trajectory that RFK is taking.

Brad Keselowski expressed his determination to forge his own path, stating, “I think you guys know, I’m going to do things my own way.”

Ty Gibbs finished in second place, with Josh Berry in third and Denny Hamlin in fourth. Chase Briscoe took fifth place, followed by William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Justin Haley, and Michael McDowell.

Buescher came agonizingly close to victory yet again, falling short by a mere 0.001 seconds to Kyle Larson at Kansas. This heart-stopping finish stands as the closest in NASCAR history.

Buescher dropped to the 30th position, while Reddick fell to 32nd.

Buescher approached Reddick as they both stepped out of their vehicles. Reddick took complete responsibility for the incident.

Chris Buescher expressed his frustration after two consecutive races where he had the opportunity to win. He acknowledged that one of those races, specifically at Kansas, will be replayed in his mind as he contemplates what he could have done differently. In the other race, Buescher emphasized the need for someone else to display more maturity.

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With only 40 laps remaining, Larson found himself in the top 10, but unfortunately, he spun out and was unable to rejoin the race.

BAD DAY

This Article Includes

On lap 128, an unfortunate incident dashed the hopes of two NASCAR champions. Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., and Byron found themselves in a three-wide situation when Byron made contact with Truex, causing him to collide with Blaney and sending him into the wall at turn two.

Blaney’s crew, who are responsible for the defending Cup Series champion, were unable to fix the damage, abruptly ending his day. Blaney pulled up alongside Byron to express his dissatisfaction with Byron’s maneuver.

Blaney expressed his frustration, stating, “He used a little bit more race track than I thought, so I have every right to be mad and he gets away scot-free.” Unfortunately, Blaney’s race ended in disappointment as he finished in last place, in 36th position.

Martin Truex Jr., who secured the NASCAR series championship in 2017, experienced a setback in the race as he slipped out of the top 10 and ultimately ended up finishing in 25th place.

ODDS AND ENDS

Berry achieved his best result so far by finishing in third place after taking over Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 car. Erik Jones, a two-time winner at Darlington, returned to racing after suffering a compression fracture in a lower vertebra during a crash at Talladega last month. Jones finished 19th in his comeback race, having missed the races at Dover and Kansas. The fans voted Larson’s No. 5 paint scheme, which paid tribute to Terry Labonte’s championship-winning car from 1996, as the best throwback. The series will take a break from points racing for the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro in North Carolina.

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