Brad Keselowski’s triumphant return to victory in NASCAR after three years was filled with numerous memorable moments, making it challenging for him to pinpoint the most significant one.
Martin Truex Jr. achieved his 36th career victory, with his second win at the esteemed Darlington Raceway. Known for being a challenging track for drivers, Truex Jr. holds this achievement in high regard. Making the moment even more special, his young daughters, Scarlett (who will be turning 9 later this month) and Autumn (aged 4), joined him on the podium to celebrate.
In 2022, Brad Keselowski experienced his first race as a co-owner at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing after leaving the Penske organization.
Brad Keselowski expressed his excitement, stating that there are numerous things to look forward to. He couldn’t pinpoint which one was the most significant, but his smile indicated his genuine enthusiasm.
In an exciting finish, the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway saw a thrilling battle for first place with nine laps remaining. As leaders Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick fought for the top spot, it was the perfect opportunity for someone to seize the moment. And that someone was able to capitalize on the situation, as he skillfully maneuvered his way to the front. With determination and precision, he held on to secure his first NASCAR victory in three years.
“Everyone put in an incredible effort,” Keselowski exclaimed as he crossed the finish line.
Brad Keselowski secured a satisfying victory after his employee at RFK, Chris Buescher, initially seemed poised to win. Buescher had overtaken Keselowski and Tyler Reddick with 29 laps remaining, but unfortunately, he collided with Reddick, causing both drivers to lose ground. This turn of events ultimately opened the door for Keselowski to seize the triumphant win.
“What a crazy day,” he exclaimed. “The battle I had with my teammate and Tyler Reddick was intense. We both gave it our all.”
He couldn’t be more pleased with his decision and the path RFK is taking.
“I believe it’s clear that I have my own unique approach,” Keselowski stated confidently.
Ty Gibbs finished in second place, with Josh Berry coming in third and Denny Hamlin taking fourth. Chase Briscoe secured fifth place, followed by William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Justin Haley, and Michael McDowell.
Buescher experienced yet another close call as he was narrowly defeated by Kyle Larson at Kansas, marking the closest finish in NASCAR history, with a mere 0.001 seconds separating them.
Buescher dropped to 30th place, while Reddick fell to 32nd.
Chris Buescher expressed his frustration with two consecutive missed opportunities to win races. He acknowledged that he will always replay in his mind what he could have done differently in the first race at Kansas. In the second race, he emphasized the need for someone else to show more maturity in order to avoid similar disappointments.
Larson had secured a position in the prestigious top 10, but unfortunately, his chances took a tumble when he unexpectedly spun out with only 40 laps remaining. Regrettably, he was unable to recover and rejoin the race.
BAD DAY
During lap 128 of the race, a single mistake had far-reaching consequences for two NASCAR champions. Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., and Byron found themselves racing three-wide when Byron made contact with Truex. This caused Truex to collide with Blaney, ultimately sending him into the wall at turn two.
“I’m pretty upset because he took up more of the race track than I anticipated, and he gets off without any consequences,” expressed Blaney, who ultimately finished in 36th place, landing him in last.”
Martin Truex Jr., the reigning champion of the 2017 series, experienced a setback as he fell out of the top 10 and ultimately crossed the finish line in 25th place.
ODDS AND ENDS
Berry’s third-place finish was his best since replacing retired Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 car. Erik Jones, a two-time Darlington champion, finished 19th in his first race back since sustaining a compression fracture in a lower vertebra during a wreck at Talladega last month. Jones missed events at Dover and Kansas. Fans picked Larson’s No. 5 paint scheme, which pays homage to Hall of Famer Terry Labonte’s title-winning vehicle from 1996, as the finest throwback. The season takes a week off from points racing at the All-Star Race in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.