{"id":21451,"date":"2018-09-01T17:45:18","date_gmt":"2018-09-01T22:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=21451"},"modified":"2018-09-02T10:22:15","modified_gmt":"2018-09-02T15:22:15","slug":"opportunistic-brad-keselowski-gets-first-nascar-xfinity-win-at-darlington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/01\/opportunistic-brad-keselowski-gets-first-nascar-xfinity-win-at-darlington\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunistic Brad Keselowski gets first NASCAR Xfinity win at Darlington"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Snap On Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2018 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer , NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

DARLINGTON, S.C. \u2013 Brad Keselowski<\/strong> took the lead in Saturday\u2019s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200<\/strong> at Darlington Raceway<\/strong> when the two cars in front of him tangled off Turn 2.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Snap On Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2018 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

That was all the driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford needed to collect his first NASCAR Xfinity Series<\/a> victory at the Track Too Tough to Tame.<\/p>\n

From a restart on Lap 91, Keselowski chased pole winner and race leader Ross Chastain, who won the first and second stages in his maiden run in the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. On Lap 104, Keselowski pulled ahead in Turn 3 but brushed the outside wall as Chastain regained the top spot with a crossover move to the inside.<\/p>\n

Keselowski\u2019s bobble allowed Harvick to pass for second, but on Lap 111, Harvick and Chastain collided off Turn 2 and handed the top spot to Keselowski, who held it the rest of the way.<\/p>\n

With his third victory in five starts this season and the 39th<\/sup> of his career, Keselowski knocked a significant item off his bucket list. Darlington and Sonoma had been the only two active NASCAR tracks where Keselowski had raced without a national touring series win.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Snap On Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2018 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI really wanted to run this race for that reason,\u201d said Keselowski, who beat runner-up Cole Custer to the finish line by .738 seconds. \u201cI just haven\u2019t been that great here at the (Monster Energy NASCAR) Cup level, and I\u2019m trying to get better.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is such a huge confidence boost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Had Chastain and Harvick not wrecked together, the ending might have been quite different.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could keep up with Ross, but I couldn\u2019t pass him\u2014he was so fast,\u201d Keselowski said. \u201cTried to make the move and brushed the wall, and he got back by me, and then they had the wreck off of (Turn) 2, and I was able to take advantage of the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Up until Lap 111, Chastain had a dream race going in his first trip in an Xfinity car capable of battling for the lead. Harvick made a move to Chastain\u2019s inside through Turns 1 and 2. Unwilling to give up the top spot, Chastain stayed in the gas within inches of the right side of Harvick\u2019s No. 98 Ford.<\/p>\n

Harvick\u2019s car drifted up into Chastain\u2019s No. 42 Chevrolet, which bounced off the outside wall at the exit from Turn 2. Chastain then clipped the rear of Harvick\u2019s Ford and sent it spinning. Harvick expressed his displeasure by parking in Chastain\u2019s pit stall before exiting the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to stay as low as I could, and he just rode on my door,\u201d Harvick explained later. \u201cThat\u2019s just a really inexperienced racer and a really bad move there and got the air and got on beside me and just kept going up the race track. I couldn\u2019t do anything with the wheel.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Snap On Ford, affixes the winner?s decal to his car in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2018 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019ve got a really inexperienced guy in a really fast car and made a really bad move, and then wrecked me down the back straightaway and hooked me to the right. That\u2019s probably the reason that he\u2019ll never get to drive many of them again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chastain hadn\u2019t seen a replay of the incident when he gave his assessment after finishing the race in 25th<\/sup>, two laps down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got to race with these guys, and I feel like I was holding my own with \u2018em,\u201d Chastain said. \u201cI was really happy to be out there racing with \u2018em\u2026 I was just trying to race. I\u2019ll have to see the film, and if I made a mistake, it\u2019s on me. I was the leader there, and I was just trying to race.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin and Elliott Sadler completed the top five. Justin Allgaier finished seventh and retained the series lead by 16 points over Sadler in second and 17 over Custer in third. Christopher Bell fell out early after spinning in Turn 3 and colliding with Daniel Hemric\u2019s Chevrolet and dropped to fourth in the standings.<\/p>\n

With two races left before the cutoff for the Xfinity Playoffs, Matt Tifft (eighth Saturday), Brandon Jones (12th<\/sup>) and Ryan Truex (13th<\/sup>) locked themselves into Playoff berths on points.<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Brad Keselowski – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DR_NXS_Keselowski_Wilson_090118.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole Custer – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DR_NXS_Custer_090118.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ross Chastain – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DR_NXS_Chastain_090118.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200<\/b><\/p>\n

Darlington Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

Darlington, South Carolina<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 1, 2018<\/b><\/p>\n

               1. (9) Brad Keselowski(i), Ford, 147.<\/p>\n

               2. (6) Cole Custer, Ford, 147.<\/p>\n

               3. (3) Tyler Reddick #, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               4. (5) Denny Hamlin(i), Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               5. (8) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               6. (38) Chase Elliott(i), Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               7. (10) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               8. (16) Matt Tifft, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               9. (12) Ty Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               10. (15) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               11. (4) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               12. (39) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               13. (14) Ryan Reed, Ford, 147.<\/p>\n

               14. (21) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               15. (13) Ryan Truex, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               16. (17) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               17. (23) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               18. (24) Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               19. (18) Alex Labbe #, Chevrolet, 146.<\/p>\n

               20. (20) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 146.<\/p>\n

               21. (19) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 146.<\/p>\n

               22. (25) Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, 146.<\/p>\n

               23. (29) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 146.<\/p>\n

               24. (32) Cody Ware(i), Chevrolet, 145.<\/p>\n

               25. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 145.<\/p>\n

               26. (30) Bayley Currey(i), Toyota, 135.<\/p>\n

               27. (35) Mike Harmon, Chevrolet, 131.<\/p>\n

               28. (40) Josh Bilicki #, Toyota, 128.<\/p>\n

               29. (7) Kevin Harvick(i), Ford, Accident, 111.<\/p>\n

               30. (22) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, Electrical, 99.<\/p>\n

               31. (31) Spencer Boyd #, Chevrolet, 95.<\/p>\n

               32. (37) Chad Finchum #, Chevrolet, 90.<\/p>\n

               33. (34) Carl Long, Dodge, Brakes, 67.<\/p>\n

               34. (2) Christopher Bell #, Toyota, Accident, 65.<\/p>\n

               35. (27) Timmy Hill, Toyota, Vibration, 54.<\/p>\n

               36. (28) David Starr, Chevrolet, Engine, 40.<\/p>\n

               37. (26) Vinnie Miller #, Chevrolet, Suspension, 32.<\/p>\n

               38. (33) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, Handling, 24.<\/p>\n

               39. (36) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, Transmission, 13.<\/p>\n

               40. (11) Austin Cindric #, Ford, Accident, 2.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  111.179 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 48 Mins, 22 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.738 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  6 for 30 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  10 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   R. Chastain 1-48; J. Yeley 49; R. Chastain 50-52; K. Harvick(i) 53-70; R. Chastain 71-93; J. Yeley 94-95; R. Chastain 96-110; B. Keselowski(i) 111-112; R. Chastain 113; T. Martins 114; B. Keselowski(i) 115-147.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  R. Chastain 5 times for 90 laps; B. Keselowski(i) 2 times for 35 laps; K. Harvick(i) 1 time for 18 laps; J. Yeley 2 times for 3 laps; T. Martins 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 42,20,98,9,7,21,1,22,18,23<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 42,22,98,7,9,18,00,1,23,21<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer , NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. \u2013 Brad Keselowski took the lead in Saturday\u2019s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway when the two cars in front of him tangled off Turn 2. That was all the driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford needed to collect his first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":21461,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[79,651,16,181],"class_list":["post-21451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-brad-keselowski","tag-darlington-raceway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/image1-3.jpeg?fit=640%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-5zZ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21451"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21466,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21451\/revisions\/21466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}