With a bit of good fortune on his side, Brad Keselowski broke his 110-race winless streak on May 12 at Darlington Raceway. This win also marks the first victory of the NASCAR season for Ford and the new Dark Horse Mustang..
The triumph also signifies the first win for Keselowski with his RFK Racing team. It's the initial win by a team co-owner and driver since 2016, when Tony Stewart triumphed with Stewart Haas Racing.
Calling an end of a race like that is so exciting. Them boys were going for it and we all won because of it. But in the end, it was awesome to see @keselowski win in a car that has his name listed as the owner. đź’Ş
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) May 13, 2024
Things were looking positive for Roush Fenway Keselowski as the race neared its end. Chris Buescher was leading the race, while Keselowski was following pole-sitter Tyler Reddick..
On Lap 284, Reddick attempted to take the lead, which resulted in a failed maneuver. Buescher and Reddick collided, hit the wall, and both had to pit due to flat tires.
For Keselowski, this was bittersweet as he once again took the lead. Brad led for 37 laps, including the crucial one that secured his 36th career win in the Cup series.
“What an incredible day,” Keselowski exclaimed after leaving the car. “It’s Darlington, so whether it’s your first or last win, this track is truly special. The history of NASCAR, the tough competition, and the battle at the end with my teammate and Tyler Reddick – we gave it our all, and it was absolutely amazing.”
Ford had been the runner-up six times this season, but they simply couldn’t clinch a win. It took the 40-year-old Keselowski to secure the first victory for the blue oval this year.
Keselowski turned things around after a tough start to the season, with two 33rd-place finishes at Daytona and Atlanta. He secured 4th place at Phoenix, 3rd at Bristol, and then achieved two consecutive second-place finishes at Texas and Talladega.
The win at Darlington validates that RFK Racing is back.
Chris Buescher vs Tyler Reddick
It was a disappointing conclusion to a promising day for Buescher and Reddick. They finished 30th and 32nd, despite being two of the top cars on the track. Reddick made a risky move that was bound to fail, but he took the chance. The consequences were more severe for Buescher, who, unlike Reddick, has not won this season.
“That move is something you know won’t succeed,” Buescher shared with TV reporters at pit road. “I’m really upset about it right now. We had a real chance at another win. I’m proud of our speed. Huge congratulations to Brad and the No. 6 team on their win. That’s great, but I really wanted it for our team here.”
While it may not console Buescher, Reddick apologized multiple times for the maneuver. “I made a very aggressive move and was hoping I would clear him. When I realized I wouldn’t, I tried to back off to avoid colliding with him, but, yeah, I wish I hadn’t done that.”
“I completely understand why he’s so upset,” Reddick added. “He did nothing wrong. Just trying to win the race, and to take myself out – that's one thing. I can accept that, but I'm disappointed with how it played out, and I also took him out of the race.”
Another Disappointment for Buescher
Today’s outcome would devastate most drivers, but experiencing this two weeks in a row is a particularly painful kind of sorrow. Just last week at Kansas, Buescher was very close to winning. However, he was defeated by Kyle Larson in a memorable photo finish. The tiny margin of 0.001 seconds made it the closest finish in NASCAR history. Coming close two weeks in a row is challenging, especially considering the wait that Buescher now has to endure. Although there will be a race next Sunday, it is only the All-Star race. Drivers will still be striving to win, but no points or playoff positions will be awarded..
Buescher will need to wait two full weeks before he gets another chance at redemption. If he manages to win the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, the past two races might all have been worth it.
Brad Keselowski put an end to a couple of winless streaks with his triumph at Darlington, while his teammate Chris Buescher was eliminated from the race.
