Brad Keselowski has found a new way to win on the NASCAR track.
Begin complaining about having the stomach flu three days before a race and on the day of the race. When the rest of the field buy into the complaint, jump into your car and outdrive the competition to victory lane!
That worked for Brad at Atlanta last weekend as he won the first race run under the new NASCAR power package that is designed to keep the cars closer together as they race. That is supposed to increase the excitement for the fans. Maybe I’ll noticed it next week when NASCAR moves to Las Vegas. I didn’t notice it last weekend as I fell asleep with 35 laps left and Martin Truex leading and missed Keselowski’s move to the front.
The one thing I did notice was the lack of wrecks during the race. I attribute that to the lack of speed as the average speed of the race hovered around 180 miles an hour which I attribute to the new power package.
Racing at around 180 miles per hour with the stomach flu is not something I would recommend even for Brad Keselowski. Stomach flu tends to weaken a person. Some people get light-headed and pass out with stomach flu. Can you imagine passing out going 180 miles an hour on an oval track with 39 other cars around you? That might cause some excitement for you!
His ailment didn’t dull his sarcastic attitude any as he was asked if he felt healthy enough to drive at the driver’s meeting before the race he retorted: “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Keselowski and Joey Logano race for team owner Roger Penske, who has won more Indy-car races as an owner than NASCAR races but Keselowski and Logano are threatening to change that. Logano won the NASCAR cup championship last season and with his win Sunday is already locked into the 2019 playoffs!
Penske has to be pleased.
Truex finished second and Kurt Busch third for owner Chip Gansassi with Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer rounding out the top five for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Familiar names, to be sure, but none of the young bucks like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson (who led 142 laps but was undone by a speeding penalty on pit road, or Kesolowski’s Panske teammate Ryan Blaney (who led 41 laps until a poor pit stop ruined his race) were factors in the race.
Toyota led the field in the season-opening Daytona 500, posting the top three finishers, but in Atlanta Ford rebounded with the Mustang taking top honors.
It’s good to see Mustang running well as it has been a good car for a long time now.
The NASCAR season is just in its third week and the new power package promises to add a little luster to the sport as the season progresses. Las Vegas may prove to be the most exciting race so far this season.
Stay tuned!
