Keselowski says races in May key for playoffs
For Brad Keselowski, the month of May sends “a signal throughout the industry” that the a new part of the ever-so-long NASCAR season has begun — the part that is really
“about refining who you are.”
That’s why Kansas Speedway matters so much.
“For us, I look at Kansas, at Darlington and Charlotte — those are big races for us,” Keselowski, driver of the No. 6 car and partowner for RFK Racing, told reporters earlier this week. “Two of the three are future playoff races. And we need to come out of there with solid runs.
“We’re in that contender-to-relevant category in all of them.”
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Kansas Speedway on Sunday at 3 p.m. Fans can watch the race on FS1 and can follow it on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Kansas has been a good racetrack for a bunch of drivers in the Cup Series now. Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have all won three times. Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch each have two wins apiece.
Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace are all one-time winners there — with Wallace winning most recently in the fall of 2022.
Can Keselowski conquer this place again? What’s more important, he said, is settling into a good groove right about now.
“I feel like we’re entering the second third of the season here,” Keselowski added. “And this summer stretch is of course a really important stretch just to have a little bit of momentum getting into the playoffs. And if you’re not in the playoffs, you really need to solidify yourself with wins, or good runs.”
Here are three other story lines to watch out for:
Austin Dillon penalty. The driver of the No. 3 car won’t have any of his points restored after the National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld NASCAR’s ruling earlier this week. Among the damage: A loss of 60 driver and owner points, as well as the loss of five playoff points to the driver and owner. This appeals process marked the first time the panel provided an explanation to its ruling since NASCAR changed a few rules to promote more transparency in the appeals process.
Legacy Motor Club seeking — and needing — a change. The race team owned by Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson
(whose brand ambassador is all-time great Richard Petty) announced that it will partner with Toyota for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. (The team will finish out the year with its current manufacturer, Chevrolet.) This could be big for Noah Gragson and Erik Jones — both of whom had promising 2022 seasons but have not lived up to the hype that either expected for 2023. Gragson sits 32nd in points right now, and Jones is 24th.
Betting odds heading into Kansas. Kyle Larson is the favorite to win it at 11-2 odds. William Byron (7-1), Hamlin (7-1) and Truex Jr. (8-1 odds and last week’s winner at Dover) are right behind him.