NASCAR: Keselowski wins at Kentucky
Keselowski started from the pole and led the first 78 laps of the race. For much of the night, his closest competition came from Logano, who three times beat Keselowski back onto the track after pit stops.
Aric Almirola’s wreck on Lap 214 brought out a caution just after several teams began green-flag pit stops. Kyle Busch, one of those who had stopped, held the race lead on the restart on Lap 220. Keselowski, among those who had to pit, lined up sixth.
Busch did his best to hold off Keselowski’s advance, but Keselowski moved back out front on Lap 248 and led the rest of the way.
“We had good speed, so I was real proud of that effort,” said Busch, who finished second. “I got so loose there at the end – the loosest I’d gotten all day and the loosest I’d been in traffic all day, too.
“I just couldn’t hold on and couldn’t keep it where I wanted it, and was sliding all over the place and just trying not to wreck basically.”
Ryan Newman finished third — his best finish of the season. Matt Kenseth rebounded from a flat tire and pit-road speeding penalty to finish fourth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fifth.
Points leader Jeff Gordon ended up sixth and holds a 24-point advantage over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
Regardless of the performance thus far, neither Keselowski nor crew chief Paul Wolfe plan to rest on what they’ve accomplished this season.
“We’re about halfway through the season now, and I feel like Team Penske has done a great job at responding to the rule changes,” Wolfe said.
“But there’s still a lot to be learned or gained with this package, so it’s important for us to continue to work hard and keep building off of this momentum as we get ready to run for another championship.” Keselowski agrees. “This harkens back some memories of 2012, which I’m very fond of,” he said. “Last year was a very humbling year for us, so I think I probably appreciate it even more.
“I appreciate the opportunity to have races like this and opportunities to run for a championship.”