Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Race: Food City Dirt Race
Date: March 29, 2021
No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 20th
Stage 1: 21st
Stage 2: 16th
Finish: 11th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 253/253
Laps Led: 0
Point Standings (behind first): 5th (-95)
Notes:
Brad Keselowski scored an 11th-place finish in the Food City Dirt Race on Monday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Keselowski ran a remarkably clean race and was rewarded with a respectable finish. He remains fifth in NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, 95 points behind the leader Denny Hamlin.
The driver of the Discount Tire Ford took a conservative approach in Stage 1. He was able to stay out of trouble and took care of his tires, which gave many drivers trouble throughout the day. He was credited with a 21st-place finish when the stage ended on lap 100. The Discount Tire Ford Mustang needed to turn better in the center of the corners and crew chief Jeremy Bullins made track bar and air pressure adjustments. Keselowski restarted 21st when the race went green.
Keselowski turned in a solid performance throughout Stage 2. He worked his way to 17th-place when the second competition caution on lap 150 brought the leaders to pit road. Bullins made another round of chassis and air pressure adjustments during the stop. On lap 154 Keselowski narrowly missed an incident involving teammate Ryan Blaney and others dodging cars and finding a way through the dust. He survived two more restarts in the closing laps of the segment to claim a 16th-place finish when Stage 2 ended on lap 200. Team were given addition time work on cars while track officials watered down the racing surface for the final 50-lap sprint to the finish.
From there Keselowski steadily worked his way through traffic. He was holding firm to 12th position when the final caution on lap 247 pushed the race into NASCAR Overtime. Keselowski used the final two laps to pick off one more position, claiming an 11th-place finish at the checkered flag.
Quote: “We had a solid day with our Discount Tire Ford. I learned a lot for when we come back here next time. I’m happy for Joey and his team.”
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
