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]]>BK earned the pole position for the second time this season and dominated Stage 1 of the Pure Michigan 400. He also finished second in Stage 2 and led a race-high 105 laps, making for an outstanding points day for the Miller 2 Crew, but Kes and Co. didn’t have the speed to contend with Martin Truex Jr. late in the race, finishing 17th.
“The team did a good job. We executed in qualifying and all of those things, and we really made the most out of everything we had today, it just didn’t come out our way,” Brad said. “It just didn’t come together there at the end, but it was nice to lead a bunch of laps. That was good and something I was really proud of.”
It was one of the most special Coors Light Pole Awards of Brad’s career—his first ever pole at MIS set the top speed for the 2017 season, leaving the team optimistic going into Sunday’s 400-miler, which featured an All-Team Penske front row.
Once the race started, BK sailed smoothly through Stage 1, as he cruised to his fourth Stage win of the season—awarding another valuable bonus Playoff point in the progress. Leading a majority of the second Stage as well, the Deuce came up a spot short to Martin Truex Jr.
At that point, Brad and crew chief Paul Wolfe knew they didn’t have the power to outrun the Furniture Row Toyotas driven by Truex and Erik Jones. And the Miller 2 Crew didn’t go to Michigan to finish third, so Wolfe elected to go to an off-sequence strategy, hoping the caution flags would fall in their favor.
Electing to visit pit road during a lap 140 caution, Brad was the highest running driver to visit pit road, as the rest of the leaders stayed out. Even with fresher tires and a full load of fuel, the lost track position was too much to overcome. A handful of late-race restarts from the inside line turned out to be an even larger setback, as it caused the No. 2 Ford to drop to P17 when the checkered flag flew.
“I just didn’t have enough to really run with the 77 and the 78. We tried a little strategy to kind of get something out of it, but the way it all played out I ended up getting the bottom lane on the restarts and getting absolutely swallowed,” BK recalled. “We tried. We put in as much effort as we could. We knew we didn’t have as much as those two, but we gave it 100 percent effort and I was really proud of my team for that.”
Disappointed that he’ll have to wait another 10 months for a shot at a hometown win, Brad and the Miller Lite team can’t have their heads down for too long. Next up on the Monster Energy Cup Series tour is another of BK’s marquee tracks: Bristol Motor Speedway. A two-time winner at the concrete half-mile, Brad wants to add a third tally to the chart. The Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race from BMS airs live on NBC on Saturday, August 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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]]>“If we could win Michigan, it would be one of the biggest wins of my career — if not the biggest,” the driver said.
Even though Brad hasn’t yet pulled through for that milestone victory, he’s done all but it. A runner-up result and a trio of third-place efforts solidify the Rochester Hills, Mich. native as a serious threat to the competition at the fastest track in NASCAR.
In his 16 MIS starts, not only has BK been around at the finish each time, but he’s finished all but two of them on the lead lap. The two exempted races, both in 2010, saw the Penske driver a total of four laps down. A track like Michigan is known for demanding every ounce of strength from the motor, the Goodyear Eagles, and the grip a driver can grasp the wheel—but completing 3,138 of 3,142 total laps run is a definite shot in the arm to the team.
His Michigan Cup debut came in the second 2009 race, with the 24th-place result to only be overshadowed by his win in XFINITY competition the day prior.
“Oh my God, I won at home! I’m speechless. I can’t believe it. I’m usually terrible here and to win here is a major accomplishment. It’s so cool to win in front of my hometown fans,” Brad said in the Winner’s Circle following his first of two second-tier Michigan feats.
The next year, he backed it up and proved the last-lap pass to win was no fluke. Even without a clutch, his No. 22 Discount Tire machine sailed the Michigan native into Victory Lane for the second straight year.
Brad hopes to put on a great race, not only because the track is home to him, but it’s also home to his team owner, The Captain, Roger Penske. With his Penske Corporation headquartered right outside of Detroit, Penske’s passion for motorsports in Michigan stretches deep. Not only was The Captain responsible for bringing IndyCars back to Detroit’s Belle Isle, but in 1972 he purchased the Michigan International Speedway—something his driver recognizes.
“Roger used to own Michigan International Speedway, and it’s a track that he holds dear to his heart,” BK said. “It’s my home track. All these things are lining up.”
If his desperation for a Michigan win hasn’t become apparent yet, it should be as he will do what it takes to claim a checkered flag. Solidly locked in the championship deciding Playoffs with a pair of victories thus far, the 33-year-old driver has nothing to lose by going for his third win of the season.
“Michigan will always be my home track, and that puts it at a whole other level compared to other tracks of wanting to win in front of your family and friends in the place you recognize as home,” he said.
Running well at MIS in recent years, and performing well the last few races is all it takes to push the 2 Crew to deliver another win. Tune into the Pure Michigan 400 from Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 13th at 3 p.m. ET, live on NBC Sports Network.
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“The team did a good job. We executed in qualifying and all of those things, and we really made the most out of everything we had today, it just didn’t come together there at the end, but it was nice to lead a bunch of laps. That was good and something I was really proud of, but I just didn’t have enough to really run with the 77 and the 78. We tried a little strategy to kind of get something out of it, but the way it all played out I ended up getting the bottom lane on the restarts and getting absolutely swallowed. We tried. We put in as much effort as we could. We knew we didn’t have as much as those two, but we gave it 100 percent effort and I was really proud of my team for that.”
– @KESELOWSKI
RACE SNAPSHOT
START
1st
FINISH
17th
LAPS LED
105
POINTS EARNED
39
+ THE MILLER 2 CREW DIDN’T HAVE A GREAT FINISH AT MICHIGAN, BUT THEY HAD AN OUTSTANDING POINTS DAY, WINNING STAGE 1 AND FINISHING 2ND IN STAGE 2.
+ AFTER WINNING HIS FIRST MIS POLE, BK LED A RACE-HIGH 105 LAPS, WHICH ALSO CAME AS A CAREER-HIGH AT HIS HOME TRACK.
+ BRAD’S 39 POINTS VAULTED HIM PAST DENNY HAMLIN TO 5TH IN THE MENCS STANDINGS. HE EARNED ONE PLAYOFF POINT AS WELL AND IS TIED FOR 4TH WITH 14.
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]]>The post Brad, MIS Partner for Unique Fan Experiences appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.
]]>The 2012 NASCAR Champion worked with the track to create a pair of memorable experiences for fans. Keselowski considers Michigan International Speedway his hometown track and he is excited to form this partnership. Fans can purchase these experiences at www.mispeedway.com/bradk.
“I’m proud to partner with my home track to offer packages for the upcoming race weekend, while also raising money for my Checkered Flag Foundation,” Keselowski said. “We appreciate MIS offering us this opportunity and look forward to seeing everyone in August!”
Tickets start at $110 in the first package and includes a ticket to both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 on August 13 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LTi Printing 200 on August. 12. Guests will get an exclusive access to a Keselowski Q&A session after the LTi Printing 200. A special $15 donation will be made to Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation with each package purchased.
In the second package, tickets start at $170 and includes a ticket to both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 on August 13 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LTi Printing 200 on August 12. In addition, fans will get a pit and paddock pass to get a behind the scenes view before the races. Guests will get exclusive access to a Keselowski Q&A session after the LTi Printing 200. A special $20 donation will be made to Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation with each package purchased.
“We are excited to partner with Michigan’s own in Brad Keselowski to create these two experiences,” MIS President Rick Brenner said. “Fans will be able to watch two action filled races during the weekend, ask Brad questions and make a donation to a great cause.”
On Sunday, fans can cheer on Michigan’s own as he races the best drivers to win the Pure Michigan 400. Keselowski might not be racing on Saturday in the LTi Printing 200, but fans can still follow a pair of trucks. As a team owner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Keselowski will be closely monitoring the progress of Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric.
In addition to the Q&A with Keselowski, fans who purchase either package will enjoy a Saturday post-race concert after the LTi Printing 200. And the concert is FREE with a Sunday admission ticket, MISCAMPING.com Infield or MISCAMPING.com APEX wristband. ACM-nominated LOCASH and International Country Stars Thompson Square will perform. Tim Dugger will get the party started.
Tickets for a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race start at $35. Race fans who purchase early will have the best prices and the best seats. Children 12 and under are free on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, tickets for children 12 and under start at $15. Children 12 and under can attend three days of NASCAR action for just $15, ensuring families a weekend of fun at affordable prices.
Fans can also take advantage of any of our special offers. You can get a free round of golf from Treetops, free food or have a special meet and greet with Jimmie Johnson. Call 800-354-1010 or visit www.mispeedway.com to purchase today!
Spend your weekend at Michigan International Speedway in any of the MISCAMPING.com campgrounds. The speedway has numerous options available and is sure to have the perfect spot for any camper. Guest can find information on all the campgrounds at www.mispeedway.com. Limited campsites remain in the MISCAMPING.com Infield Campground starting at $200.
Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is NASCAR’s fastest racetrack. It has been the love of NASCAR racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike for nearly 50 years.
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]]>After six straight Top 10 finishes and 11 consecutive finishes of 13th or better at his home track, Kes crossed 16th on a challenging day. But while the FireKeepers Casino 400 didn’t go the way of the Miller 2 Crew, it did leave Brad and Co. hungry to work their way back to winning ways.
“I don’t know. We just weren’t really where we needed to be with the Miller Lite Ford,” BK said.
After advancing to the final round of Coors Light Pole qualifying and logging a 12th place starting position, Kes was able to drive his Deuce into the Top 10 prior to the lap 25 competition caution. Crew chief Paul Wolfe decided it was best to replace all four Goodyear Eagles, while making some much-needed handling adjustments. However, the decision lost the team ground to those who elected to take two tires, and BK lined up for a P18 restart.
Once the green flag came back out, the Miller Lite Ford swung from loose to tight. Paired with dirty air, Kes was only able to jump up to 14th at the end of the first stage on lap 60. He pitted for another set of rubber under the Stage 1 caution, and the adjustments sent Brad in the right direction as he was able to rise to 10th at the end of the caution-free second stage, earning one bonus point in the process.
In the final 80-lap dash to the checkers, Wolfe tried some strategy and adjustment swings, but nothing seemed to alleviate the ailing machine. They pitted twice in the final 50 laps for tires and handling changes, but the car’s speed wore away during green flag runs. After dodging a lap 190 wreck on the backstretch, the 2 Crew settled in for a 16th place finish, forced to look ahead to the next opportunity.
“We had a few bright spots but we couldn’t get it there at the end,” the Rochester Hills, Mich. native said. “Everyone has races like that. You just hope you don’t have many of them.”
Though it wasn’t Brad & Co.’s best MIS effort, they will head towards a track at which they have unfinished business: Sonoma Raceway. Self-claimed as one of his worst circuits on the Monster Energy Cup schedule, BK is certainly looking for success in the Californian twists and turns. He has just one career Top 10 finish at Sonoma.
The Toyota/Save Mart 350 from Sonoma airs live on Sunday, June 25 at 3 p.m. ET, live on FOX Sports 1.
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]]>However, until recently, visits to MIS always brought about stress for the Rochester Hills native. But now entering his 16th Cup start at the track, the wiser BK is driving freer than ever, ready to show the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion’s strength once again in this weekend’s FireKeepers Casino 400.
“You know, earlier in my career it used to feel a ton of pressure,” BK said of driving at MIS. “But as of late, I don’t seem to feel quite as pressured by it. I think maybe that’s just changes in my life or changes in the status of my career as I’ve become more established. But now I just look at it and I think of how amazing it is to run well there, and I don’t seem to get stressed about if I don’t run well there. That’s been good. But I would say it certainly affects people in different ways. And in my case it’s affected me differently as I’ve grown older.”
Nonetheless, a home-track win would be one of the most significant triumphs to the Team Penske driver, as he has admitted in the past.
“If we could win Michigan, it would be one of the biggest wins of my career — if not the biggest,” BK said.
Even though Brad hasn’t yet pulled through for that milestone victory, he’s done everything but at his home track. Eleven straight finishes of 13th or better—including a runner-up result in 2012 and a trio of third-place efforts—solidify him as a serious threat to the competition at the fastest track in NASCAR.
In his 15 starts at the two-mile D-shaped oval, not only has BK been around at the finish each time, but he has ended 13 of those runs on the lead lap. The two exempted races, both in his 2010 rookie season, had the Penske driver a total of just four laps down. A track like Michigan is known for demanding every ounce of strength from the motor, the Goodyear Eagles, and a driver’s grip and endurance—so completing 2938 out of 2942 total laps run is a definite shot in the arm to the team.
“I would say it’s a weekend that is circled every year on our calendar and one where we’ve had a lot of success but haven’t been able to break through for that first win,” Brad said. “So I feel like with the season we’re having this year, we have a great opportunity of checking that box off.”
His Michigan Cup debut came in the second race of the 2009 season there, with a 24th-place result that was overshadowed by his win in XFINITY competition the day prior.
“Oh my God, I won at home! I’m speechless. I can’t believe it. I’m usually terrible here and to win here is a major accomplishment. It’s so cool to win in front of my hometown fans,” Brad said in the Winner’s Circle in 2009 following his first of two Michigan NXS victories.
Brad hopes to put on a great race, not only because the track is home for him, but it’s also home to his team owner, The Captain, Roger Penske. With his Penske Corporation headquartered right outside of Detroit, Penske’s passion for motorsports in Michigan stretches deep. Not only was The Captain responsible for bringing IndyCar back to Detroit’s Belle Isle, but in 1972, he purchased Michigan International Speedway—something the driver of his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford recognizes.
“Roger used to own Michigan International Speedway and it’s a track that he holds dear to his heart. It’s my home track. All these things are lining up.”
All those factors lining up mean that BK will do what it takes to claim a checkered flag on Sunday. His status of essentially being locked into the NASCAR playoffs, with a pair of 2017 victories already under his belt, will allow him to take some risks and he plans to do just that with nothing to lose going for his third win of the season.
“Michigan will always be my home track, and that puts it at a whole other level compared to other tracks of wanting to win in front of your family and friends in the place you recognize as home,” he said.
And coming off a Top 5 finish last week at Pocono Raceway, BK is confident that he can put the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion in Victory Lane for the first time at his home track this weekend.
Tune into the FireKeepers Casino 400 from Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 18 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 to see if the Rochester Hills native can bring it home.
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“I don’t know. We just weren’t really where we needed to be with the Miller Lite Ford. We had a few bright spots but we couldn’t get it there at the end. Everyone has races like that. You just hope you don’t have many of them.”
– @KESELOWSKI
RACE SNAPSHOT
START
12th
FINISH
16th
LAPS LED
2
POINTS EARNED
22
+ AFTER 11 STRAIGHT FINISHES OF 13TH OR BETTER AT MICHIGAN, THE 2 CREW FINALLY HAD AN OFF DAY IN BK’S HOME STATE.
+ THE NO. 2 MILLER LITE FORD FUSION WAS MIRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK ALL DAY, UNABLE TO GAIN AND HOLD TRACK POSITION.
+ BK WILL MOVE ON TO HIS MOST DIFFICULT TRACK IN THE CUP CIRCUT: THE WINDING ROAD COURSE AT SONOMA RACEWAY.
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]]>BK finished third, leading 14 laps in the Pure Michigan 400, and he was surrounded by youth up front. The rest of the Top 4 had an average age of 22: Larson age 24, Chase Elliott at age 20 in second and 22-year-old Ryan Blaney in fourth.
“On the long runs, I thought we really had top speed. But on the short runs, we didn’t have anything for the 42 and 24. Those guys were just really flying there, and they deserved to duke it out for the win,” Brad said. “I look forward to racing Kyle and Chase and Ryan Blaney and all of those guys for years to come, and hopefully there will be exciting finishes like this one was.”
Kes qualified 18th, making it an uphill battle all day long for the Rochester Hills, Mich. native at his home track. The White Lite was scored in position 15 when the first caution flag of the day, a competition yellow, flew at lap 20.
Another quick caution came at lap 27 when Kyle Busch spun out. The defending NSCS champion finished in P18, one lap down. Kes briefly fell back to 17th on the ensuing restart, but about halfway through that run, spotter Joey Meier proclaimed on the radio that the Miller Lite Ford had woken up. Sure enough, just a few laps later, it had sliced all the way to the top 12.
A 91-lap green-flag run wore on, and Paul Wolfe and Kes follwed a unique, aggressive gameplan at Michigan. Brad moved into the lead at lap 67 after the rest of the field came through for green-flag pit stops. He spent four laps up front to set the 2 Crew on a long-pit strategy all afternoon.
With the sun shining, the White Lite looked stronger and stronger as the day went on. Brad again long-pitted just past the halfway point. He retook the lead at lap 109 and held it for nine laps before coming in at lap 117.
That stop earned him two spots up to ninth, and then a quick caution followed at lap 118. Kes jumped to sixth on the following restart, and by lap 135, he had passed Blaney and Denny Hamlin up to fourth place. And once again, when the rest of the competitors went in, Brad kept moving forward, leading one more lap before pitting for just two tires and cycling out to third.
“We used a bit of fuel strategy. Nothing extreme. We just had a really good long-run car, so I thought, ‘Why pit?'” Brad said. “We stayed out on those long runs and kept gaining spots. We went from 18th to fourth or fifth there, which is really good. That’s what you need to do at this level.”
One final caution flag flew when Michael Annett cut a tire, setting up a thrilling restart with nine laps to go. Elliott, Larson and Brad all stayed out, while the rest of the field changed tires on pit road. But even with fresh rubber behind them, it was a three-way battle for the lead. Elliott and Larson both spun their tires, prompting Brad to push Larson into the top spot while taking second for himself.
“At the end there, I gave Kyle a push, it looked like Chase spun his tires a little but and then next thing you know, we’re off to the races,” BK recalled. “I got up to second and I thought, “Oh man I’m going to run at Kyle for the win.” But I just wasn’t as fast as Chase—he was able to get buy me and then Kyle was able to drive away.”
As Brad explained, the No. 2 just didn’t have the speed to catch Larson, and Elliott passed him back to third. Meanwhile, Larson drove away for a comfortable first career victory.
“We both spun our tires really bad. The 2 car, he pushed me really good,” said an overwhelmed Larson in Victory Lane. “He probably could’ve pulled underneath me and gone by, but he stayed with me and got me the lead, so thanks to him. Had a lot of fun.”
BK congratulated Larson in Victory Lane moments after the race winner recalled the No. 2’s role in the finish. Brad left MIS with mixed emotions: happy for Larson to have captured his first win, disappointed to again fall just short of a hometown win, and proud that the Miller Lite Ford showed Top 3 speed with just two races remaining until the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
“I think we were a third-place car most of the day…we kind of finished where we deserved,” Brad said. “All-in-all a really strong day for the Miller Lite team—a lot to be proud of and heck of an effort. It seems like every time we come here, I want to win so bad and we just end up running third or fourth every time. Which is really good in the Sprint Cup Series, its just not the win we’re looking for. So good and bad, I guess.”
Brad was one of 13 drivers to lead laps in the Pure Michigan 400 and Larson led the most at just 41—both testaments to the qualify of driving at Michigan International Speedway. Afterward, Kes talked about the second run of the experimental extra-low downforce package and saw it as a success, and a stepping stone toward what’s to come.
“I think this package is really strong. I like it a lot, personally,” Brad said. “It’s not entirely my decision, and it’s not perfect, that’s for sure. There’s a lot of stuff to still work on. But I think it’s a small improvement in showcasing driver talent in order to be able to win races. I thought the guys who drove up front absolutely drove their butts off. I saw Kyle and I saw Chase and everyone was sideways and sometimes smoking their tires through the corner, and I think that’s what this racing was built on. That’s a good direction to go toward. I’ve been a big fan of this package all along, and I hope to see it move forward, along with a some other projects that this sport is working on to continue to improve the quality of racing for our fans and for our sport.”
The third-place finish at Michigan pushed Brad 78 points ahead of Kyle Busch on the Chase Grid. Kes trails points leader Kevin Harvick, who finished fifth one week after grabbing his second win of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Brad’s 15th start at the 2.0-mile Brooklyn, Mich. Track brought his sixth straight Top 10. BK still owns a best finish of second at his home track, but he now owns five finishes of fourth or better. He has now led laps in seven of his last eight starts.
The Cup Series now moves forward to one of the biggest events of the year: The Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. In a throwback Miller paint scheme, Brad will shoot for his first win in the historic race.
He had his career-best finish at Darlington just last year, where he brought the throwback Miller High Life Ford home in second place after winning the Coors Light Pole and leading 196 laps. He’ll look to add one more position to his result on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on NBC.
HEMRIC 3RD, REDDICK 19TH IN CAREERS FOR VETERANS 200
It was a tale of two truckers at Michigan International Speedway. Brad Keselowski Racing saw a third-place finish from Daniel Hemric and a 19th-place finish by Tyler Reddick in the Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by The Cooper Standard Foundation and The Checkered Flag Foundation.
Hemric was running 15th early on in the day when crew chief Chad Kendrick made perhaps the call of the race. He brought the No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford F-150 onto pit road just moments before the caution clock expired at lap 32. After a two-tire change, the No. 19 crew sent their truck out in the lead.
“We kept making our Draw-Tite Ford F-150 better and better every time we visited pit road,” Hemric said. “My crew chief Chad Kendrick made a great call to short pit before the first caution clock, and that really set the tone for our aggressive strategy.”
Daniel led just two laps as he fought a loose truck on the two-mile track. He was in position late for a chaotic final restart. It was a spectacular four-way battle for the lead, and the No. 19 crossed in third. Hemric is second in overall points behind William Byron and seventh on the Chase Grid. He’s comfortably 54 points ahead of ninth place, but he still wants that elusive win.
“We took a truck that wasn’t quite as fast as we wanted it to be and we brought it home third,” Hemric said. “Our Chase hopes are alive and we’re doing everything we can to be in the final eight, but a win is the only way to guarantee us a spot.”
Reddick is also in need of a win after a lap-71 wreck ended his day at MIS. He fought a loose No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford all afternoon and moved from 17th all the way to second place. But a wreck with 31 laps to go stole his shot at the win.
“I thought our guys did a great job putting our Cooper Standard Careers For Veterans Ford F-150 in position to win,” Tyler said. “It was getting late in the race and we needed to make that move or we would have been further back and might not have had a shot at winning. We were coming off of Turn 4 and I saw a small hole and the spot was clear. I pulled up in line but the guy behind me didn’t lift. Earlier in the race when someone did that to me I did the same thing, so I completely understand.”
The rough P19 finish has Reddick at No. 11 on the Grid, 51 points behind eighth-place Timothy Peters. Two races, separated by an off weekend, remain for Tyler to win his way into the eight-man Chase field.
The Camping World Truck Series heads north to Canada next week. Austin Cindric will pilot the No. 2 Ford for Team BKR in the Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 2.
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]]>Recalling some of his earliest memories at the track, the Michigander can’t help but feel nostalgic when he competes at the two-mile Brooklyn, Mich. track.
“I think some of my fondest memories were just pulling in the gate and seeing the overwhelming infield at Michigan International Speedway — just full of campers and full of people,” Brad recalled.
While Brad hasn’t delivered that breakthrough Michigan win in Sprint Cup Series competition yet, he’s come close many times. In 14 starts, he’s completed all but four possible laps, and finished in the Top 10 in half of those starts – including the last five consecutive.
His Michigan Cup debut came in the second 2009 race, with the 24th place result to only be overshadowed by his win in XFINITY competition the day prior. And in the winner’s circle at that race, an impassioned BK showed just how much the home track win meant.
“Oh my God, I won at home! I’m speechless. I can’t believe it. I’m usually terrible here and to win here is a major accomplishment. It’s so cool to win in front of my hometown fans,” Brad said.
But to make a reappearance to Victory Lane on Sunday, Team Penske will have to continue on their low downforce package success. The new, extra-low downforce package has been used twice this year, the first one at MIS in June, won by teammate Joey Logano. Once the second package race rolled around in Kentucky, BK took his Deuce to Victory Lane, proving that his race team adapted to the challenge.
Brad hopes to put on a great race, not only because the track is home to him, but it’s also home to his team owner, The Captain, Roger Penske. With his Penske Corporation headquartered right outside of Detroit, Penske’s passion for motorsports in Michigan stretches deep. Not only was The Captain responsible for bringing IndyCars back to Detroit’s Belle Isle, but in 1972 he purchased Michigan International Speedway—something that isn’t lost on the driver of his No. 2 Ford.
“Roger used to own Michigan International Speedway and it’s a track that he holds dear to his heart,” he said. “It’s my home track. It’s the 50th year for Team Penske. All these things are lining up.”
For the third straight season, Kes has the opportunity to showcase a cause near and dear to his heart: ensuring that our veterans have a place in the workforce. Through a joint effort between Team Penske sponsor MillerCoors, and personal sponsor Cooper Standard, the Careers For Veterans initiative will grace the rear fenders this weekend.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to bring national attention to the Careers For Veterans program and it wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of our longtime partner MillerCoors,” Brad said. “There have been some big moments for me this season and hopefully we can add a few more this weekend at my home track in Michigan.”
Brad enters the second and final MIS race of the season at No. 1 on he Chase Grid and as one of just two drivers, defending Cup champ Kyle Busch being the other, with four wins on the season. Already locked into the postseason, the 32-year-old has nothing to lose when he takes on Michigan’s D-Shaped oval this weekend, eyeing win No. 5.
“Michigan will always be my home track, and that puts it at a whole other level compared to other tracks of wanting to win in front of your family and friends in the place you recognize as home,” he said. “If we could win Michigan, it would be one of the biggest wins of my career — if not the biggest.”
Qualifying is set for 5 p.m. ET and will air on NBC Sports Network. The 2 Crew will have two more practice sessions at 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday to fine-tune the Miller Lite Ford.
Tune into the Pure Michigan 400 on Sunday, Aug. 28, to see if Brad can bring his first MIS trophy home for himself, Ford, and Roger Penske. The 400-mile race airs live on NBC Sports Network at 2 p.m. ET.
Team BKR Takes to Michigan
As if both Brad Keselowski Racing drivers didn’t want to win Michigan International Speedway enough, they have an extra incentive: team owner Brad Keselowski is part of the race sponsorship. The Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation is also cross promoted through BKR partner Cooper Standard, a nearby Michigan company.
Tyler Reddick takes the wheel of the Cooper Standard No. 29 machine, looking for his own breakthrough victory to put his name back in the Chase hat. After a couple rough weeks, pointing their way in the the title format is nearly out of the question, and they’ll need a win to make it in.
“The Careers For Veterans 200 is important to us because it’s a home race for both Cooper Standard and Ford,” Reddick says. “There are 3,000 Cooper Standard employees and guests that will be at the track on Saturday and that’s really cool. Even though the corners are wide at Michigan, it’s still pretty difficult to run the lower lane there due to the transition and banking. You’re still kind of limited to what’s the best lane. The draft is really important for the trucks. Our Cooper Standard Careers For Veterans Ford F-150 needs to not only have great speed but also drive good in traffic.”
His teammate Daniel Hemric pilots the No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford, another Michigan based partner. Hemric sits in a slightly better point situation than Reddick, but a win at MIS would surely solidify their Chase position—and Hemric is looking forward to doing it in front of a home crowd for his sponsors and Team BKR.
“Michigan is a very important race for our entire company,” he says. “We have an opportunity to visit Cequent Performance Products, Ford and so many other people who support our program. We really want to run well there for those guys. Going off of how I ran at Michigan last year and knowing how the truck needs to feel will play big into how we approach practice. The most important thing is making sure the truck is exactly where it needs to be in the race. You have to get your truck to where it’s not only fast, but it also drives good; that’s the key at Michigan. The guy who can stay in the gas the longest is probably going to be the best.”
Following Michigan, the Truckers only have two more events before the Chase commences. They’ll race at Mosport in Canada, and Chicagoland—both tracks where BKR has performed well at in the past. See if they can tackle Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 1 p.m. ET live on FOX Sports 1.
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“I think we were a third-place car most of the day…we kind of finished where we deserved. All-in-all a really strong day for the Miller Lite team—a lot to be proud of and heck of an effort. It seems like every time we come here, I want to win so bad and we just end up running third or fourth every time. Which is really good in the Sprint Cup Series, its just not the win we’re looking for. So good and bad, I guess.”
– @KESELOWSKI
RACE SNAPSHOT
START
18th
FINISH
3rd
LAPS LED
14
POINTS EARNED
39
+ WITH A TOUGH P18 STARTING SPOT, BRAD BATTLED FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE RACE, PUTTING HIMSELF IN CONTENTION FOR THE WIN LATE.
+ BRAD GRABBED SECOND ON THE FINAL RESTART BUT DIDN’T HAVE THE SHORT-RUN SPEED TO HOLD OF WINNER KYLE LARSON AND RUNNER-UP CHASE ELLIOTT.
+ WITH TWO RACES ‘TIL THE CHASE, BK REMAINS AT NO. 1 ON THE CHASE GRID, NOW 78 POINTS AHEAD OF 2ND-PLACE KYLE BUSCH. THE CUP SERIES HEADS TO DARLINGTON FOR THE SOUTHERN 500.
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