No. 2 Wurth Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 4th
Stage 1: 7th
Stage 2: 16th
Finish: 1st
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 271/271
Laps Led: 12
Driver Point Standings (behind first): 5th (-57)
Notes:
- Brad Keselowski grabbed the lead from Alex Bowman with 11 laps to go and survived a NASCAR overtime finish to win the Digital Ally 400 Saturday night at Kansas Speedway. Keselowski claimed his 30th career win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and his second victory at Kansas. He collected his third win of the 2019 season and moved up to fifth-place in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings, 57 points behind leader Joey Logano.
- The driver of the No. 2 Wurth Ford started fourth and finished the 80-lap segment in seventh position despite wrestling a No. 2 Mustang that was too loose. In fact, Keselowski make contact with the outside wall midway through the Stage 1, forcing the team to pull the right-side fenders out during the stage caution on lap 83. He restarted in 12th position when the race went green on lap 86.
- The Wurth Ford Mustang was loose during the Stage 2. Keselowski moved into the lead during a cycle of green flag pit stops on lap 143 and pitted one lap later for four tires and a chassis adjustment. He was credited with a 16th-place finish when segment concluded on lap 160. During the stage caution, Keselowski pitted for four tires and more adjustments on lap 163 and restarted 16th when the race went green on lap 167.
- The changes by crew chief Paul Wolfe began to work early in final stage. Keselowski steadily worked his way through the field, climbing up to sixth position. He pitted under green on lap 217, but moments later the fifth caution waved, pinning him a lap down. He took the wave around back onto the lead lap and restarted in 11th position on lap 227. Keselowski was up to ninth at the time of the sixth caution on lap 241 and pitted one lap later for four tires and restarted ninth on lap 244.
- The driver of the No. 2 Wurth Ford Mustang used the chaotic restart to his advantage, slicing through traffic to run second behind Bowman by lap 249. He ran closely behind Bowman for the next 12 laps before making the pass for the lead on lap 261.
- The seventh and final caution slowed the race on lap 264, pushing finish of the race into NASCAR overtime (the original distance of the race was 267 laps). Keselowski got a good restart on lap 269 and scampered away Bowman and Erik Jones, crossing the finish lane .205 seconds ahead of Bowman.
Quotes: “We were just too loose early and then in the traffic I brushed the wall a little bit. With about 100 to go Paul Wolfe and the team made some adjustments and the Wurth Ford responded. I felt we were a top-3 or top-5 car but then the yellow came out right as we came to pit road and I thought we would have to claw to get a top-10. A couple opportunities presented themselves and we were fighting for the lead. Alex Bowman ran an incredible race. We just had a little fresher tires and I was able to catch the traffic just right to make the move on him and from there we were able to get the win.”
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
