BROOKLYN, Mich. – Brad Keselowski dominated the opening stage of Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400, leading 56 of the 60 laps for his fourth stage win of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Keselowski, who hails from fended off Ford stablemate Kevin Harvick the entire way, crossing the line just over a car length in front of Harvick before the caution-flag flew to end the segment.
Michigan men led every lap of the first stint, with Byron, Michigan’s Erik Jones pacing the four laps Keselowski did not lead during green-flag pit stops.
“It always feels good to be leading,” Keselowski said. “Having 60 laps on the board and getting those playoff points are key. Debris has been my biggest concern so far; I had some on my grille early in the race … but that’s really about it. It’s been smooth.”
Keselowski led the field to the initial start and shot out like a rocket in the early stages, opening up nearly a second lead before Harvick closed down on him near the halfway point of the stage.
A nervous moment as Keselowski was trying to lap Cole Whitt nearly wreaked havoc and saw Keselowski back up to Harvick, but the Michigan native was able to avert disaster and hold the lead until making his pit stop with 42 laps complete.
That handed the point to fellow home state native Jones, who maintained the top spot by staying out four laps longer before hitting pit road under green and returning the top spot to Keselowski.
From there, the Team Penske driver was able to hold serve, staying just under a second ahead of Harvick all the way to the stage break.
Three-time Michigan runner-up Chase Elliott was third at the green-checkered flag, followed by Furniture Row Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Erik Jones.
Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin completed the points-scoring drivers in the top 10.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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