• Brad Keselowski started eighth in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. During the first 30-lap stage, Keselowski scored an 11th-place finish despite having his hands full with a Discount Tire Ford Fusion that struggled to turn in the corners. He pitted during the caution between segments for four tires and air pressure adjustments. Speedy pit work by his pit crew moved him up to eighth-place for the start of Stage 2, a 20-lap run.
  • Keselowski finished the next segment again in 11th-position. He said his car was really good in Turns 1 and 2, but way too tight on entry into Turn 3 and struggled to turn off Turn 4. Crew chief Paul Wolfe called for right-side tires during the segment break. The move gave Keselowski the lead when the third stage went green on lap 51. The move was designed to give Keselowski clean air for the restart to aid his car’s handling and gain track position for later in the race.
  • The handling of the car didn’t improve and Keselowski slid back through the pack during the Stage 3, another 20-lap segment. He was running 10th when Wolfe decided to pit for four tires and adjustments during a caution on lap 70. Keselowski lined up 14th when the race went green on lap 74.
  • Unfortunately, Keselowski wouldn’t complete another lap. On the restart, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. clipped Martin Truex Jr. in a four-wide battle in Turn 3 for position in the middle of the pack, triggering a multi-car accident that ended Keselowski’s night. The wreck came on a two-lap overtime period to end the third stage because stages are not allowed to end under caution. He was credited with a 20th-place finish in the final rundown.

“We stayed out on two tires and were able to hold up close to the front. Track position was super important. We got a great restart and were passing cars. I just barely didn’t get through there. The 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) got me and tore the radiator out of the Discount Tire Ford. We will go on to normal racing next week for the 600. You definitely seem to draft more which has its highs and lows. Track position, power and drag are super important.”

ALL-STAR RACE

MAY 19, 2018 . CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
CAR: NO. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD FUSION

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