Keselowski Wins at Atlanta as New Rules Package Debuts

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Brad Keselowski won the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 from the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

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Keselowski held off Martin Truex Jr. in the closing laps to pick up the victory.  It was the first race with NASCAR’s new rules package for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and Keselowski said it was special that his team was able to win the first one.

“With the first race with the new rules…to be able to win it is really special,” Keselowski said.  “I know everybody here is excited about that.”

With the victory, Keselowski passed Mark Donahue for the most wins for Team Penske.  Keselowski said it was an honor to be on top of a list with some of the most legendary drivers across all racing series.

“I think any win means a lot, but [60] is a big number,” Keselowski said.  “What a tremendous honor.”

Truex fell just short of passing Keselowski.  After the race, Truex said he was frustrated with the way Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was racing the leaders in the closing laps.

“The 17 [of Stenhouse] rode in front of us forever and ever just running the bottom,” Truex said.  “I told him I needed the bottom and these cars are just so bad in dirty air.”

“Once I got around him I drove up to Keselowski in two laps; just needed one more.”

Unofficial results:

1. Brad Keselowski

2. Martin Truex Jr.

3. Kurt Busch

4. Kevin Harvick

5. Clint Bowyer

6. Kyle Busch

7. Erik Jones

8. Aric Almirola

9. Chris Buescher

10. Daniel Suarez

11. Denny Hamlin

12. Kyle Larson

13. Ryan Newman

14. Paul Menard

15. Alex Bowman

16. David Ragan

17. William Byron

18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

19. Chase Elliott

20. Daniel Hemric

21. Austin Dillon

22. Ryan Blaney

23. Joey Logano

24. Jimmie Johnson

25. Ty Dillon

26. Matt DiBenedetto

27. Bubba Wallace

28. Matt Tifft

29. Corey LaJoie

30. Parker Kligerman

31. Ross Chastain

32. BJ McLoed

33. Cody Ware

34. Landon Cassill

35. Ryan Preece

36. Garrett Smithley

37. Michael McDowell

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Hamlin Wins Emotional Daytona 500

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon from the Daytona International Speedway after three late crashes took out most of the field.

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The victory was Hamlin’s second in NASCAR’s biggest event, and he had to hold off his teammate Kyle Busch to get to victory lane.  Hamlin pulled down in front of Busch after the final restart, and he was able to stay in the lead when Busch and Joey Logano started fighting for second.

Hamlin said he will enjoy this Daytona 500 win more than his first victory in 2016.

“I’m just going to enjoy it more,” Hamlin said.  “I think I was just so dumbfounded by everything that happened in the first one…this one lets me soak it in a little more.”

It was an emotional victory for the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization.  In the offseason, team founder Joe Gibbs’ son JD died following a brain illness.

Hamlin said the victory was more special to him because JD Gibbs discovered Hamlin and brought him to JGR.

“The whole family…they’ve done so much for me over the course of my career,” Hamlin said.  “This one’s for JD.  His legacy still lives on through Joe Gibbs Racing.”

Busch finished second to his teammate, once again failing to win NASCAR’s biggest event.

Busch said with so little cars running at the finish that he couldn’t have done anything differently.

“There wasn’t enough cars out there, really,” Busch said.  “With six cars running around at the end, I don’t know if anything would have been any different.”

“It’s awesome to see a JGR car in victory lane for Joe and JD…but it’s very bittersweet…for all the guys trying to get our Daytona 500 victory.”

Unofficial results:

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Kyle Busch

3. Erik Jones

4. Joey Logano

5. Michael McDowell

6. Ty Dillon

7. Kyle Larson

8. Ryan Preece

9. Jimmie Johnson

10. Ross Chastain

11. Alex Bowman

12. Brad Keselowski

13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

14. Ryan Newman

15. Parker Kligerman

16. Austin Dillon

17. Chase Elliott

18. Corey LaJoie

19. BJ McLeod

20. Clint Bowyer

21. William Byron

22. Jamie McMurray

23. Brendan Gaughan

24. Landon Cassill

25. Kurt Busch

26. Kevin Harvick

27. Tyler Reddick

28. Matt DiBenedetto

29. Paul Menard

30. David Ragan

31. Ryan Blaney

32. Aric Almirola

33. Daniel Suarez

34. Daniel Hemric

35. Martin Truex Jr.

36. Matt Tifft

37. Chris Buescher

38. Bubba Wallace

39. Cody Ware

40. Casey Mears

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Johnson Wins Season-Opening Clash at Daytona

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Jimmie Johnson won Sunday’s season-opening Advanced Auto Parts Clash from Daytona International Speedway after rain ended the race early.

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Rain threatened the race throughout the day, and caused the race to be red-flagged three times throughout the afternoon.

The final red flag followed a wreck that collected 17 of the 20 cars.  With rain imminent, Johnson got a run on Paul Menard and the two made contact.  Menard spun up the track and collected most of the field.

Johnson said he knew he had to make a move with the rain on the horizon. 

“Extremely excited to win,” Johnson said.  “It’s not a points race, but it’s a good start.”

Johnson won on a day that was dominated by Hendrick Motorsports.  Earlier in the day, William Byron and Alex Bowman swept the front row for Daytona 500 qualifying.  In the offseason, Byron was paired up with Johnson’s longtime crew chief Chad Knaus, while Johnson was paired with Kevin Meendering.

Johnson said the partnership was already off to a good start.

“This group of Ally team members…have been working so hard and we’re off to a good start,” Johnson said.

“Just really happy for a great day for Hendrick Motorsports…qualifying 3rd for the Daytona 500 then to win the Clash.  There’s been a lot of new things going on; extremely excited to win.”

Unofficial results:

1. Jimmie Johnson

2. Kurt Busch

3. Joey Logano

4. Ryan Blaney

5. Alex Bowman

6. Austin Dillon

7. Chase Elliott

8. Aric Almirola

9. Ryan Newman

10. Daniel Suarez

11. Jamie McMurray

12. Kevin Harvick

13. Paul Menard

14. Kyle Busch

15. Martin Truex Jr.

16. Clint Bowyer

17. Denny Hamlin

18. Brad Keselowski

19. Kyle Larson

20. Erik Jones

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