Keselowski Stretches Fuel to Win at Kentucky

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Brad Keselowski won the Quaker State 400 from Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, stretching his fuel to last the final run.

Photo courtesy Brian Ohigashi/Getty Images

Keselowski led 75 laps on Saturday night, winning his second-straight race.  Keselowski stretched his fuel over the final run, and said his team did a good job calculating his fuel mileage.

“It became obvious that you were going to have to save fuel at the end, but I’d already used so much,” Keselowski said.  “It was a testament to our guys to have the fuel mileage we did to be able to get back what we burnt up at the beginning of the run.”

Keselowski won on a newly-repaved Kentucky Speedway, which also saw a smaller rear spoiler to reduce downforce.  Keselowski said the cars were tough to drive.

“These cars were tough to drive today,” Keselowski said.  “They were a good tough, and it was a hard-fought battle.”

“Usually these repaves are my Achilles heel.  I know it’s been a good track for us in the past, but this isn’t the same Kentucky.”

Keselowski also said that his team is just getting hot as the summer moves on.

“This is our best stretch, and we’re really proud of that.  We’ve just got to follow the course.”

Carl Edwards finished second to Keselowski.  Edwards caught and almost passed Keselowski on the final lap, but said Keselowski was perfect at the end.

“I’ve got to give credit where credit is due, Brad played that perfectly,” Edwards said.  “He baited me in there…and then he just went.”

Unofficial results:

1. Brad Keselowski

2. Carl Edwards

3. Ryan Newman

4. Kurt Busch

5. Tony Stewart

6. Greg Biffle

7. Jamie McMurray

8. Matt Kenseth

9. Kevin Harvick

10. Martin Truex Jr.

11. Trevor Bayne

12. Kyle Busch

13. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

14. Kasey Kahne

15. Denny Hamlin

16. Austin Dillon

17. Danica Patrick

18. Paul Menard

19. Kyle Larson

20. Aric Almirola

21. Cole Whitt

22. David Ragan

23. Clint Bowyer

24. Josh Wise

25. Ty Dillon

26. Michael Annett

27. Reed Sorenson

28. Jeffrey Earnhardt

29. Landon Cassill

30. Casey Mears

31. Chase Elliott

32. Jimmie Johnson

33. Brian Scott

34. Regan Smith

35. Ryan Blaney

36. AJ Allmendinger

37. Chris Buescher

38. Matt DiBenedetto

39. Joey Logano

40. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Photo courtesy Matt Sullivan/Getty Images