RACE RECAPS- KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

RACE RECAPS

Quaker State 400

Kentucky Speedway – Sparta, Kentucky

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

Age: 32

Team: No. 2 – Miller Lite Ford

Owner: Team Penske

Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER -- “We almost didn’t, but I’ve got to give credit to my guys, the Roush Yates Engine shop, and everybody at Ford.  We knew the fuel mileage.  We went out and we set a really fast pace there on that restart and was just using fuel, and then it became obvious that you were gonna have to save fuel at the end, but I already used so much.  It’s a testament to our guys to have the fuel mileage that we did to be able to get back what I burnt early in the run and get the Miller Lite Ford in Victory Lane.  It’s number four this year.  Gosh, that’s great.  Usually these repaves are kind of my Achilles heel, but to get a win here at Kentucky.  I know it’s been a good track for us in the past, but this isn’t the same Kentucky, I can tell you that.  These cars were tough to drive today, but a good tough.  This was a hard-fought battle and I’m really proud of everybody on the 2 crew to get win number four and take that first place.”

-       Brad Keselowski

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·         Brad Keselowski won the 6^th Annual Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night. For Keselowski, it was his 21^st win in 251 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.  It is his fourth victory of 2016, the third-most wins in a season for Keselowski (6 in 2014, 5 in 2012).

·         Keselowski becomes the first driver to win four races in the Sprint Cup Series this year. It is Keselowski’s 12^th top-10 and eighth top-5 finish through 18 races this season.

·         This is Keselowski’s second consecutive win in as many weeks, also winning the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway last weekend.

·         It is Keselowski’s third victory and fifth top-10 finish in six races at Kentucky Speedway.

·         Carl Edwards (second) posted his third top-10 finish in six races at Kentucky Speedway. It is his 12^th top-10 finish in 2016.

·         Ryan Newman (third) had his best showing of the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season. It is his third top-10 finish in six races at Kentucky Speedway.

·         Kurt Busch finished fourth at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, giving him his 15 top-10 and six top-5 finish this season.

·         Tony Stewart (fifth) posted his fourth top-10 and second top-5 showing through 10 starts this season.

·         Jeffrey Earnhardt (28^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

·         Kevin Harvick (599) leads the 2016 Sprint Cup points standing by 4 points over Brad Keselowski (595).  The following are the top five drivers in points through the first 18 races:

Driver                                           Wins               Points
1.    Kevin Harvick                               1                      599
2.    Brad Keselowski                          4                      595
3.    Kurt Busch                                    1                      583
4.    Carl Edwards                                2                      566
5.    Joey Logano                                 1                      533

·         Ten drivers have qualified for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which includes Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., all of who have taken checkered flags this year. Tony Stewart, who won at Sonoma on June 26, would also qualify so long as he finishes in the top-30 in points after the season’s 26 regular season races. Stewart currently sits in the 30^th spot with 248 points, 31 points ahead of Brian Scott (217), who is in 31^st, and seven points in front of Regan Smith (210 points, 32^nd).  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         In eight career Sprint Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Keselowski has recorded three top-10 finishes and two top 5s.  He celebrated the Sprint Cup Series title following the 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Starting this year, the XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. Below is a race recap from this weekend’s XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series races at Kentucky Speedway:

·         Kyle Busch won the 16^th Annual Alsco 300 XFINITY Series race at Kentucky Speedway Friday night. It is his 81^st victory in 320 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.

·         It is Busch’s fifth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2016. It is also Busch’s second victory and seventh top-10 finish in nine races at Kentucky Speedway.

·         Daniel Suarez leads the XFINITY Series points standings by nine points over Elliott Sadler.

·         William Byron won the 6^th Annual Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway Thursday night. It is his fourth victory in 12 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.

·         It is Byron’s fourth victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2016. It is also Byron’s first victory and first top-10 finish in two races at Kentucky Speedway.

·         Byron's victory was the 51st for Kyle Busch Motorsports. KBM passed Roush Fenway Racing for the Camping World Truck Series record.

·         William Byron leads the Camping World Truck Series points standings by 13 points over Matt Crafton.