Dueces Wild - Keselowski Rebounds From Penalty To Win In Vegas
Driver Brad Keselowski waves the American Flag from the window of his #2 Team Penske Ford after clinching his first win of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Las Vegas was lucky for some drivers and unlucky for others. Some gambled with 2 tire or 4 tire strategies, whether or not to pit or stay out, and if they should roll the dice on calls that may not play out in their favor. And the track did not disappoint with it's share of turmoil. After a 25 minute rain and wind delay, sandstorms, and thick as pea soup clouds, mother nature finally gave the drivers sun and blue skies. NASCAR called for a competition caution at lap 30 because of the rain the night before.
Several drivers had issues on pit road, including speeding penalties for AJ Almendinger, Austin Dillon, Greg Biffle, Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr - most of those just during one set of green flag pit stops. Alot of drivers were upset that their spotters or crew chiefs did not do a better job talking them into their pit boxes, since the wind problems during the race made it near impossible to keep the pit stall markers out for the drivers to see. Keselowski was nabbed for a speeding penalty when he was exiting the pits, but overcame that to pick up the victory. Kurt Busch, who had the lead and started on the pole, lead 32 laps until he got nabbed for going 50.1 in a 45 mph zone - NASCAR allows 5mph +/-, so that means he was nabbed for 0.1 over. Talk about ridiculous.
The 78 of Martin Truex had to come back in at lap 98 after the caution to fix an issue with the left rear. The crew didn't get all the lug nuts on tight when the jack man dropped the car, which is the drivers cue to go. He restarted 21st. Austin Dillon was not all too happy with the last minute call to put on 4 tires instead of 2. Dillon's crew chief Slugger Labbee had to tell the driver "It's a team effort. Get your head in the game. Focus". Dillon rallied back to a top 5 finish.
With 53 laps to go the 7 car of Regan Smith spins out and collects the 42 of Kyle Larson; Larson could not see through the smoke caused by Smith trying to lock down the tires and hit the wall, both cars finished outside the top 20. Kyle Busch took the lead with 44 laps to go, the 21 of Ryan Blaney got into the 20 car of Matt Kenseth, taking out Carl Edwards in the process. Kenseth got the worst of the bargain relegated to a 37th place finish.
Keselowski talks post race about passing his teammates for the win and how the wind was not as much of a factor as he thought it would be, and keeping up with Johnson.
Click Here for the full results of the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
