BK 2014 Top 10: No. 4

Brad Keselowski’s 2014 campaign was one to remember in all three NASCAR series. So over the course of the offseason, we’re going to countdown the Top 10 best moments from one of the most successful seasons in BK’s racing career.

Down at No. 4 is Brad’s first victory and first sweep of the season, a crucial win that penciled his name on the Chase for the Sprint Cup roster.

No. 4: March 8-9, 2014

KES DOUBLES DOWN IN VEGAS

Each driver approached the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit knowing that wins were valued above everything — the new Chase for the Sprint Cup format, which placed an increased emphasis on winning races, made sure of that. And after winning just one race and falling short of the Chase during the 2013 season, a disappointing follow-up to his 2012 championship season, Brad Keselowski had victory on his mind from the outset of the 2014 campaign.

It didn’t come easily, as BK came tantalizingly close to, but fell short of, wins in the first two weeks of the season at Daytona and Phoenix.

But as the NASCAR season headed to Las Vegas for the third weekend of the season, Brad put all of his chips on the table and won everything in sight.

First Brad dominated the Nationwide Series event, the Boyd Gaming 300, leading 144 of 200 laps in the Discount Double Deuce on the way to his first NNS victory of the young season and the 28th of his career. Then BK doubled down with a last-lap pass of a fuel-failing Dale Earnhardt Jr. to claim victory in the Kobalt 400 and all but lock up his spot in the 2014 Chase for the Championship.

NNS JACKPOT

It’s been the same old story for a number of years in the Nationwide series: Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch battling furiously for victory whenever the two run a race in NASCAR’s second series. 

It came to fruition again in the third NNS race of the 2014 season, and like always, the battle provided plenty of entertainment as an appetizer for Cup Sunday.

Busch is the winningest driver in NNS history and always comes prepared to claim victory in the Nationwide Series, evidenced by his win one week earlier at Phoenix. But in Week 3, it was BK—who finished the season at No. 5 on the all-time series wins list—that tallied the win in Sin City.

“It looked like Kyle and I were pretty equal,” Brad said. “Kyle was coming hard at the end. I tried to get through the lapped traffic and keep the distance between us.”

But of course, it wasn’t easy for Kes. In addition to fending off Busch through traffic late, he overcame a pit road mishap and a bad battery in his No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang to notch the Boyd Gaming 300 win.

“We found every way we could to make it hard,” Kes said. “I didn’t feel that good about the car in practice, but when they dropped the green (flag) it was an amazing car.”

Brad finished second at Daytona and third at Phoenix to start the NNS slate off strong for the Double Deuce team, but in Vegas, he led nearly 3/4 of the race, including the final 38 laps, to notch a perfect driver 150.0 rating and a win.

In addition to the electrical issues facing the No. 22, Brad overshot his pit stall during the race’s third caution at lap 148, forcing him to restart fifth for the final stage of the race.

After another quick caution, Busch restarted first with Brad in second at lap 162, and Kes rocketed to the lead from the inside line. When BK reached lapped traffic, KB caught up and made it interesting—but Brad sliced through the congestion and claimed the win by a 0.34-second margin.

“That’s all we had,” Busch said. “(Brad had) probably the best car — he was really good.”

GOOD CUP LUCK

After the Nationwide win, and with two third-place Cup results in his back pocket, Brad took a wealth of confidence with him to the table for the Kobalt 400.

And when the afternoon was over at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, Brad had doubled down for the first weekend sweep of his career, and the first sweep at Vegas since Jeff Burton did it in 2000.

But most importantly, the win all but locked Brad into the Chase and took a major weight off his shoulders after he missed the postseason in 2013.

“I’m proud to get the Miller Lite Ford in Victory Lane,” Brad told Fox Sports’ Krista Voda as he wiped Miller Lite from his face in Victory Lane after the race. “That’s a big deal. We’re very happy and locked into the Chase early, so I don’t have to hear that crap all year about not being in the Chase.”

Brad’s No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion was strong all weekend, but a win in Las Vegas wouldn’t have been complete without a little luck. It looked like Kes was going to have to settle for second, as he trailed Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the white flag.

But during that final lap, Dale Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet ran short on fuel, allowing Brad to fly by on the high side and take the checkered flag.

Kes and No. 2 crew chief Paul Wolfe had set themselves up with a strong strategy throughout the afternoon. That process started during the race’s third caution at lap 156, when Wolfe kept the White Lite on the track while others headed down pit road.

“We were on a little different strategy from time to time with everybody, but the things that have made the No. 2 team successful over the last few years is being aggressive.” Wolfe said. “We’re going to be aggressive this year. That’s what we did today, and it paid off for a big win for us.”

This allowed Brad to run out front, grab clean air and really see what his Miller machine was made of. Then, at lap 222, Wolfe and Co. made another fuel stop that proved to be the winning move.

Kes drove on from there with a full tank, while Junior, Carl Edwards and others made their gamble by staying out.

He restarted seventh, and with just 20 laps to go bested Edwards for second.

From that position, he was able to keep applying pressure to the No. 88, which was light on fuel.

BK kept the White Lite right on the 88’s bumper, and when it sputtered in Turn 2 of the final lap, the No. 2 roared by on the high side and cruised to victory. After the win, Brad commented on the No. 88 team’s decision to risk running out of fuel for a shot at victory.

“The chance that Dale and Stevie

[Letarte, crew chief of the No. 88 team] took with the 88 car was way out there, and it was a good risky move on their part because they had nothing to lose because of this format,” Brad said.

That new format was the key. Winning, and preventing other competitors from winning, was the best possible option. And after notching a win himself, Brad looked forward to making similar decision, and hopefully piling up victories as the season went along.

“I think that shows some of the opportunities that come up and how they can be stress-free days,” Kes said. “I’m looking forward to being able to take those same opportunities because, believe me, I’m not scared to take them, and I know Paul’s not, so look out. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”