LONG POND, Pa. — Just as he did in Stage 1, Brad Keselowski ran down the race leader late in the going at Pocono Raceway and made a successful pass, completing a sweep of the first two stages in Saturday’s Pocono Green 250.
This time, Keselowski tracked down Cole Custer — who stayed out at the end of Stage 1 on strategy — and made the pass in Turn 1 with 12 laps to go before the stage break, driving on to a 1.82 second margin over polesitter Kyle Benjamin at the green-checkered flag.
Racing resumed on lap 32 and did not slow again until the stage break, seeing Custer lead until lap 39, when he faded to third behind Keselowski and Benjamin.
Just as the stage was coming to an end, Paul Menard spun out in Turn 1 and hit the inside wall, after pitting before the pits closed and hoping to gain track position on strategy.
Defending Pocono winner Kyle Larson finished fourth in the stage, just ahead of Justin Allgaier.
Brennan Poole, Darrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Reed, Matt Tifft and Brendan Gaughan completed the top 10 and all scored stage points as a result of their efforts.
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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