Simply put, Brad Keselowski dominated on Sunday at Martinsville.
BK led a career-best 446 laps and took both Stage victories on the way to his second win Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win of the season in the STP 500.
The entire 2 Crew putting on an absolute clinic with Brad ceding the lead just one time, Paul Wolfe calling the shots from above and his pit crew executing six perfect pit stops, each one getting the No. 2 Reese/Draw-Tite Ford Mustang off pit road with the lead.
“The Draw-Tite Ford Mustang was really strong,” Brad said. “It’s just a great day for our team, awesome execution on pit road and big credit to Doug Yates and all the engine guys. Today was just one of those days you dream of as a race car driver.”
Brad started from P3 after a strong qualifying effort, but it didn’t take long for him to make a move past his teammate, polesitter Joey Logano, for the lead.
NEW LEADER: Brad Keselowski gives a nudge to Joey Logano and takes the top spot #STP500
— PRN (@PRNlive) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1109881470909190144
From there it was just flat out dominance for the Deuce. Brad led from Lap 6 to Lap 324, that run alone setting a personal record for laps led in a race. His previous best was 312 laps led at Texas in 2015. During that 318-lap span BK also took both stage wins, his first two of those this season, boosting his playoff points in the process.
.@keselowski wins the race off of pit road at @MartinsvilleSwy.
Leaderboard: https://t.co/E31gmPYmyd pic.twitter.com/mhgJcVwpKb
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1109887576641433601
Chase is chasing Brad for the lead in Martinsville. pic.twitter.com/t2MRToJZit
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 24, 2019
.@keselowski holds off @chaseelliott for the #NASCARPlayoffs point! pic.twitter.com/QA9PzPT0YZ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
Brad Keselowski holds off Chase Elliott to claim Stage 1 in Martinsville! pic.twitter.com/ET85Oay3Bx
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 24, 2019
STAGE WINNER: @keselowski hangs on for the Stage 1 win at @MartinsvilleSwy!
Leaderboard: https://t.co/E31gmPGLGF pic.twitter.com/3Sqf6Keg81
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
Keselowski getting info on Elliott being strong when able to arc, Blaney strong on the curves.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 24, 2019
Once again, the race off of pit road belongs to @keselowski!
Stage 2 is coming up on @FS1 and the @FOXSports app: https://t.co/oWWAusOO8X pic.twitter.com/5QZONsnc9B
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
The sights. The sounds. The Paperclip. Crank it up! pic.twitter.com/dpK4EaW288
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 24, 2019
The duo controlling the show in Stage 2.@keselowski | @chaseelliott pic.twitter.com/Oc55qcMvym
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Team_Penske/status/1109906678739275777
STAGE WINNER: @keselowski gets it done once again in Stage 2!
Leaderboard: https://t.co/E31gmPGLGF pic.twitter.com/Y4BdT4KmbQ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
The gap between first and second.@keselowski | @chaseelliott pic.twitter.com/LSvKFQUxs9
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Team_Penske/status/1109908090491727872
.@keselowski wins the race off of pit road once again.
Meanwhile, @ClintBowyer picks up a penalty as he's too fast entering pit road. pic.twitter.com/0304czMoxL
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
To do so, BK had to hold off many furious runs by Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car. Elliott pressured Brad for the lead on several occasions before finally taking it from him on Lap 324, just five laps after the fifth of the day’s seven restarts.
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1109914109892423680
Elliott held the lead until Lap 373 when Brad won the race off pit road thanks to a dynamite stop by the 2 Crew.
“Chase Elliott was really strong,” Brad said. “He was certainly faster on that short run, and when he passed me I learned just enough. The pit crew got me back in front of him on the next-to-last pit stop, and I seemed to kind of apply the lessons.”
From there it was time for Brad and the 2 Crew to finish off the victory.
.@keselowski wins the race off of pit road once again.
For @ClintBowyer, it's another speeding penalty on pit road. pic.twitter.com/gtbMmutDog
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
Time for the money stop! pic.twitter.com/L4TjYwH0EO
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
Another quick stop for @keselowski in pit road for four tires and a slight track bar adjustment on lap 448.
For the sixth time today, the No. 2 @DrawTiteHitches Ford makes it off of pit road first. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/5m5FGBx5sS
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1109926107757703168
Hold on tight. This finish is going to be wild!
35 laps to go on @FS1 from @MartinsvilleSwy! pic.twitter.com/muh7VFefIh
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
TEN. LAPS. REMAIN.
Can @keselowski close out an all-time @MartinsvilleSwy performance? pic.twitter.com/0udPRxV7g4
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
Retweet to congratulate @keselowski on winning today at @MartinsvilleSwy! pic.twitter.com/iJIkWqH5KQ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
The stats from Brad’s dominant day at Martinsville are just as impressive. His 446 laps led were the fifth most by a Cup driver ever at Martinsville and the most since 1970 (Richard Petty, 480). He also led the most laps by a cup driver anywhere since 1992 (Kyle Petty, 484, Rockingham).
The win was not only Brad’s second of the season, but the second of his career at Martinsville, earning him a second grandfather clock. His 29th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win moves him past Carl Edwards on the all-time list.
https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/1109932876089327616
When you lead the most laps in modern history at @MartinsvilleSwy, you burn it down like this.@keselowski | @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/AEbVhPLvyy
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1109933132361302016
https://twitter.com/Team_Penske/status/1109931148690554881
He led 446 of 500 laps. Brad Keselowski claims a DOMINATING victory in Martinsville. pic.twitter.com/4Z4EBBBUEU
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Team_Penske/status/1109931688149307393
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1109940583878086662
https://twitter.com/Team_Penske/status/1109936256702693377
DW and Jeff Gordon have never seen a dominating Martinsville performance like Brad Keselowski's. 446 of 500 laps. pic.twitter.com/KMXpxrGfLG
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 24, 2019
Family over everything. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/hl6S8IRSsC
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) March 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Team_Penske/status/1109939583280693249
On a scale of 1-10, rate Brad's MULTIPLE burnouts from Martinsville.
(Spoiler: The last one is amazing!) pic.twitter.com/rOWxhVClJp
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 24, 2019
Listen in as @keselowski answers questions following today’s win at @MartinsvilleSwy! https://t.co/cTeA0IGRE7
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2019
With his win, Brad remains fifth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings, but he now has 12 playoff points, second only to points leader Kyle Busch in the series.
The MENCS heads southwest to Texas Motor Speedway this week for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. Though his previous career-best for laps led occurred at Texas a few years back, Brad has never won there in the Cup Series, so he’ll head in hoping to check another track off his short list. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 is scheduled for a 3pm ET start on Sunday and can be seen on FOX and heard on PRN.
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