TALLADEGA, Ala. — Brad Keselowski made precisely the correct remaining transfer this time, profitable once more at Talladega Superspeedway and demonstrating a painful lesson properly realized.
Keselowski’s additional time victory made him the ninth driver to win by means of 10 NASCAR Cup races this season and avenged an embarrassing Group Penske gaffe within the season-opening Daytona 500. He and teammate Joey Logano triggered a last-lap crash, as Keselowski tried to cross Logano for the victory.
“Daytona, that is a giant one. Oh, man, it stings nonetheless,” Keselowski mentioned. “However it is a good one. We’ll take it. Beggars cannot be choosers. I definitely realized some classes from that race, and I attempted to use them, and all of it got here collectively there on the finish.
“Michael McDowell gave me a very good push, like he did at Daytona, and I used to be slightly bit smarter with how I dealt with it.”
Keselowski led only one lap, the final one, in a race that featured 35 lead adjustments amongst 27 drivers.
“The entire race I had a pair alternatives to take the lead, however I simply saved considering, ‘Man, maintain your automotive in a single piece,'” Keselowski mentioned.
Logano was concerned in an airborne wreck and known as on NASCAR to vary the “harmful” racing situations at Daytona and Talladega.
“On one hand, I’m mad about being within the crash, and on the opposite, I’m completely happy to be alive,” Logano mentioned. “On one other hand, I’m questioning when we’re going to cease, as a result of that is harmful doing what we’re doing. I received a roll bar in my head. That’s not OK.
“I’m one hit away from the identical scenario Ryan Newman simply went by means of. I simply do not feel like that’s acceptable.”
Newman escaped severe damage racing for the win on the ultimate lap of the 2020 Daytona 500.
Sunday’s victory, Keselowski’s sixth at Talladega, got here after staff proprietor Roger Penske pulled the three Group Penske drivers and affiliate Matt DiBenedetto onto a name this week to debate his expectations on how they need to race. Penske refused to simply accept one other Daytona catastrophe, when Logano or Keselowski ought to have gained the race — however as a substitute of working collectively, the 2 triggered a fiery crash that additionally collected a 3rd Penske automotive.
All three Penske drivers have now claimed spots within the 16-driver playoff discipline.
William Byron was second at Talladega, Daytona 500 winner McDowell was third and Kevin Harvick was a season-high fourth.
“I felt like I used to be in a great spot once more working with Brad and drug again off of him coming off of Flip four,” McDowell mentioned. “I assumed I might have the run however simply did not suck him down sufficient.”
DiBenedetto, who led 28 laps, completed fifth however gave away the win with a late lane change that allowed Keselowski to surge to the entrance.
Ford drivers took 4 of the highest 5 spots.
Kaz Grala completed a career-best sixth and was adopted by Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon in a trio of Chevrolets.
Ford drivers took spots 9 by means of 13, and the highest-finishing Toyota driver was Christopher Bell in 17th.
Keselowski tied Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon with six wins every at Talladega.
“I might have by no means dreamed I would tie Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. right here,” he mentioned. “That is one thing. These guys are actually legends.”
SIDELINED
Rick Ware Racing had initially deliberate to enter Jennifer Jo Cobb for her first profession Cup begin, however NASCAR final week dominated the veteran driver was not eligible.
Had she been cleared to compete, Cobb would have been the primary lady to race at NASCAR’s high stage since Danica Patrick in 2018.
NASCAR president Steve Phelps mentioned earlier than the race that the competitors division determined Cobb “didn’t have the expertise needed to be able to run within the Cup race.”
Cobb has 217 profession begins within the Truck Collection and 31 within the Xfinity Collection. She has one profession top-10 end.
UP NEXT
The sequence heads to Kansas Speedway, the place Denny Hamlin has gained the previous two races.
EN 
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