By: Cathy Brown
Twitter: @TheCathyBrown@PitOutsideBox
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With a new car number, a new crew chief and co-owner of his race team Brad Keselowski started the 64th annual Daytona 500 third.
Keselowski has never won the Daytona 500, his highest finish was third while racing for his former team, Team Penske.
The No. 6 led the first lap and would lead until lap eight when Kyle Busch put his car out front, a short-lived lead – one lap later Keselowski was back on point.
On lap 39, the No. 6 was on pit road when most of the Ford Performance cars pitted, the caution flag was in the air for Kaz Grala and Chase Briscoe getting together, and this relegated Keselowski back to eighth.
The first big incident took place in the closing laps of Stage No. 1, it involved Denny Hamlin, Harrison Burton, William Byron, Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain. Ky. Busch had minor damage but was able to continue and with the first segment ending under caution the No. 6 crossed the stripe second.
Coming into the pits for the end of stage, Keselowski got his car back on track eighth for the stage of the second segment. He (Keselowski) worked his way up to fifth when he pitted with 22 laps to go in Stage No. 2.
Racing to the end of the stage, Keselowski had the lead until two to go, when Austin Cindric passed him, this left room for Martin Truex Jr and Bubba Wallace to get passed him as well. When the second segment was over, Keselowski crossed the stripe fourth.
Bringing his car to pit road, his crew was on fire, busting out a great stop and getting Keselowski back on point for the start of the final segment. No sooner did the final segment begin when the fifth caution came out for a wreck involving Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Tyler Reddick.
With 20 laps to go his team radioed him “Are you ready?” Keselowski replied, “way ready, let’s go.”
With 10 laps to go another big wreck saw Noah Gragson, Kyle Larson, Todd Gilliland, Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick get collected and this brought out the red flag.
The race was back green with six laps to go and was right back under caution when Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Chris Buescher wrecked, this now set the race up for a green, white, checkered finish.
On the restart, Keselowski got a huge push from Briscoe, but this split the field and the No. 6 was shuffled back and when the checkered flag flew Keselowski had to settle for a ninth place finish, he led 67 laps (more than anyone else) and unfortunately will have to wait until next year to win his first Daytona 500.
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