Heating Up in Texas

Remember a few weeks back whenever Kyle Busch intentionally wrecked Brad in the 22 while fighting for this owner’s championship?

Let’s just say, karma is taking care of him.

In the truck race on Friday, which Brad was also racing in in the number 19 Ford, Kyle’s engine expired after getting trash on the grill early in the race. While Brad was stuck a lap down the entire race after an early spin and not really a factor, he had the fast truck. The race was relatively clean and Brad never managed to get the lap back. Brad even admitted to “screwing up” in the truck race in his post race media after the Nationwide win. The important thing is both BKR trucks have shown awesome speed this season, and I look toward next year for that to improve even more. Tire wear in the Nationwide race was a major factor. A bad tire put Kyle Busch in the wall and several laps down. I don’t think Brad needs to do anything to retaliate.

The thing I love the most? Brad has been the highest finishing non-Chaser in four of the eight Chase races so far.

On Saturday, Brad Keselowski led the most laps en route to his first ever win at Texas Motor Speedway. Early on, it looked as though the car to beat may have gotten beaten when they took fuel only a pit stop. Keselowski proved the Discount Tire Dodge wouldn’t go down without a fight. It took some time, but toward the end, the 22 was the car to take it all. The major issue of the day was tire wear.

During the Nationwide race, you could tell just how much Brad was itching for the win. He wanted that cowboy hat for sure! After the race, when he walked into the media center with a regular sponsor hat, Brad commented that he knows his limitations on headwear. Texas has some of the coolest prizes that come along with the win. Not only the hardware, but a cowboy hat and a pair of six shooters. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Brad’s post race interview. He was candid about the truck race, and even commented on who he thought would win the 2013 Sprint Cup Series Championship: “Matt because he has the strongest pit crew on pit road.” I firmly believe that 22 will be in winner’s circle come time to award the Owner’s Title.

Sunday didn’t quite go as planned. The Blue Deuce was strong, as I thought it would be, especially after qualifying outside pole. Most of the day was spent in the top 5. It wasn’t until a misfire on pit road that Brad lost several spots and wasn’t quite able to recover back into the top 5, about where the car was meant to be. When questioned after the race, Brad said it was embarrassing the type of whooping Jimmie Johnson put on the field. Brad did lead some laps, but it was limited before Jimmie passed several cars and brought his 48 back out in front of the field. A top ten finish is good, especially with all of the stuff that’s gone down this season.

The thing I love the most? Brad has been the highest finishing non-Chaser in four of the eight Chase races so far. Several of those results, including the win, were top five finishes. I’m so proud of what the team has accomplished. As I said earlier when Brad missed the Chase: missing the playoffs is what the team needed in order to move forward and work on developing the cars so they could be more competitive for next year.

Keselowski is currently in a battle with Jamie McMurray for the 14th position in points—best of the non chasers. I believe he will get that 14th position in points after Homestead. I also believe he has as good a chance as anyone of winning one, if not both, of the next two races until the 2013 season is over.