BRAD KESELOWSKI

Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. are the favorites as they battle for position to make NASCAR’s playoffs.

Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway could be a “wild card” race, according to Rochester Hills driver Brad Keselowski – which could be just what Michigan’s two drivers need. Keselowski qualified 33rd for Sunday’s MIS race, Jones qualified 10th. Keselowski predicts MIS will “be a tough race” for his team. “I would say every race track right now on the circuit is fighting for their lives to keep their spot on the schedule. “I don’t think NASCAR will ever abandon the market.

Betting Market Best bets for FireKeepers Casino 400 Winner prediction Kyle Larson (+700) Top-10 prediction Brad Keselowski (+350)Click this link to fade or follow our experts’ best bet for the FireKeepers Casino 400 this Sunday. NASCAR 2022 schedule and standingsSunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway will mark the first NASCAR Cup Series race in August. We expect Larson to kick into a new gear as we near the playoffs, making him our best bet to win the FireKeepers Casino 400. Michigan International Speedway is his home track and Keselowski has always been a threat when racing there, even though he hasn’t been able to break through. How to bet on NASCAR at BetMGMAre you looking for a sportsbook to bet on Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway?

There’s no shortage of storylines, as the NASCAR circuit rolls into Michigan International Speedway this weekend. MLive reporters Steve Kaminski and Taylor DesOrmeau tackle 12 burning questions on the minds of NASCAR fans before the Aug. 7 FireKeepers Casino 400 at MIS. Who’s a good longshot pick for the Michigan race? But then again, the racing surface at Michigan is much better shape than one at the California-based track. Brad Keselowski adjusts hit helmet before the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

It all seemed so promising at the start of the NASCAR season for Ford and its teams, particularly Jack Roush's rebranded organization with new driver/owner Brad Keselowski.

Christopher Bell crashed the NASCAR playoffs, winning Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to become the 14th Cup Series winner this season.

NASCAR is bringing its top series to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis for the first time this weekend.

NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 was many things.

Denny Hamlin held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch in overtime to win the longest — and perhaps wildest — Coca-Cola 600 in history.

Kyle Busch stalked away from his battered car in controversial fashion last weekend at Darlington, his once-promising run in NASCAR's throwback race having ended in frustration after Brad Keselowski's blown front tire sent him spinning. It didn't take long for Busch's week to get a whole lot better. Two days later, Busch and his wife, Samantha, welcomed their baby daughter to the world after years spent dealing with infertility.

Joey Logano bumped leader William Byron from behind and into the wall on the next to last lap to win at Darlington Raceway on Sunday.

Christopher Bell won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway by turning the fastest lap as the final driver to qualify.

Kyle Busch slipped past the spinning cars of Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe to steal his first Cup win of the season Sunday night on slick, wet, dirt-covered Bristol Motor Speedway.

There is a problem with NASCAR and its sport-transforming new racecar.

There is a problem with NASCAR and its sport-transforming new racecar. NASCAR then buried Brad Keselowski and his team with season-crippling penalties to apparently make it crystal clear the series is serious about its Next Gen car. What we don't know: What the No. 6 team has been accused of doing or where it was trying to gain an advantage.

Brad Keselowski was optimistic he can overcome a knee-buckling penalty that potentially ended any championship chances a mere five races into his first season as a Cup team owner. NASCAR this week said an inspection at its North Carolina facility uncovered an illegal modification to the No. 6 Ford — a major infraction under tightened rules for the new Next Gen racecar. The Next Gen is primarily a spec car comprised of vendor-supplied parts and NASCAR will not permit any tinkering.

NASCAR issued steep penalties against Brad Keselowski and his new race team on Thursday for illegally modifying a supplied part on the Next Gen car. Keselowski was docked 100 driver points and the No. 6 Ford team docked 100 owner points. The penalty plunged the 2012 NASCAR champion from 16th in the current standings to 35th — behind every other full-time driver in the field.

William Byron has managed to hold off the freight train behind him, taking the checkered flag for his third NASCAR Cup victory at Atlnta Motor Speedway.

Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson held off Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez in a tense finish Sunday to win at Fontana for the second time.

This was the first career Cup victory for the 23-year-old Cindric, who was promoted from the Xfinity Series.

IMAGESPassersby gather at the site of an Iranian fighter jet crash in a residential area of the northwestern city of Tabriz. The jet smashed into a school, killing two crew members and a passerby, according to authorities.

The streets of Ottawa are quiet for the first time in almost a month after a massive police operation ended a drawn-out siege by protesters opposing Covid health rules.

Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to President Biden, joined "CBS Mornings" on Monday to discuss the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

CBS2's Andrea Grymes reports from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

Austin Cindric drove his brand new NASCAR ride to victory in the Daytona 500 on team owner Roger Penske’s 85th birthday.

Denny Hamlin crashed out of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, ending his bid for a fourth victory in NASCAR’s premier event.

Austin Hill won the Xfinity Series opener at Daytona when the field was frozen because of a spectacular crash that stripped Myatt Snider’s damaged car to a carcass.

The NASCAR season opens with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, where more than 120,000 spectators are expected to watch reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson lead the field to green.

Brad Keselowski took Jack Roush to victory lane for the first time since 2017 as their rebranded team showed it's ready for the Daytona 500.

Brad Keselowski has won his first race as owner of his team.

Joey Logano won the exhibition Busch Light Clash on Sunday on the temporary quarter-mile track built inside Memorial Coliseum.

The addition of Brad Keselowski as part of the ownership group at Roush Fenway Racing means a rebranding of the team, which will be known as RFK Racing going forward. Keselowski bought into the ownership group this summer and the team unveiled its new name and logos Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a day before Keselowski will drive his No. 6 Ford as part of a NASCAR test of the Next Gen car.

Alex Bowman was the only driver celebrating after NASCAR set its championship four — and he's not even racing for the title.

Alex Bowman spun Denny Hamlin out of the lead at Martinsville Speedway and then won in overtime as the field for NASCAR's championship race was set Sunday.

Brad Keselowski is in the final two races of his NASCAR career with Team Penske and would love nothing more than to close his 12-year run with another Cup championship.

Kyle Larson drove to his ninth victory of the season and most meaningful to date in his new job with Hendrick Motorsports.

A conversation on driver code and on-track etiquette is raging in NASCAR, and with it comes debate about the expectations of non-playoff drivers.

It had been more than seven years since Joey Logano was knocked out of a race with an engine failure. The Roush Yates engines had been so reliable that an issue with the powerplant was the least of Team Penske's concerns.

Kyle Larson is the first driver in NASCAR's championship four.

The third round of NASCAR's playoffs are getting started in Texas.

Ryan Blaney has wanted a leadership role at Team Penske.

That gives him two wins in these playoffs, one more than regular season points leader Kyle Larson. Watch NASCAR on FuboTV (7-day free trial)Michigan’s Brad Keselowski won the first race of the season at Talladega, and will need another good performance Sunday to stay alive in the postseason. Coming in, he sits eighth, just four points ahead of William Byron, and seven ahead of Kevin Harvick. What: YellaWood 500Who: NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (Round of 12)When: Sunday, October 3Time: 2:00 p.m. ETWhere: Talladega Superspeedway (Talladega, Ala.)Channel: NBCStream: FuboTV (7-day free trial), Sling, DirecTV StreamCheck out the NASCAR standings and results here

Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Byron had a shot coming to the finish line, though, darting toward the infield grass but coming 0.077 seconds shy. It was the closest MIS finish in NASCAR history since electronic scoring began in 1993. Edsel Ford II – the great-grandson of Henry Ford – wished Blaney good luck before the race, Blaney said. Ford told him they needed to get one more Michigan win for Blaney’s crew chief Todd Gordon – who’s retiring after 2021. 21 Ford Kyle Busch, No.

Ryan Blaney took the lead from William Byron on a late restart and bobbed and weaved his way across the final seven laps to win at Michigan International Speedway.

Whenever he decides to quit racing, he’ll take on more responsibilities as a NASCAR team owner. Roger Penske wanted Keselowski back next year, but was unwilling to offer partial ownership and a bigger leadership role in the company. The Midwestern, hard-working attitudes of Penske and Roush are familiar for Keselowski. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Getty ImagesKeselowski calls 2022 a “reset” for race teams. I’m not going to quit until we win,” Keselowski said.

NASCAR drivers got their first laps on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course in practice — and it opened to mixed reviews.

Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, building a big lead in the final stage and keeping Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott at bay over the final laps.

Chase Elliott is going for a three-peat at Watkins Glen International.

Jimmie Johnson returns to IndyCar on Sunday to tackle the street course in Nashville.

Brad Keselowski is ready to begin the "next evolution" of his racing career.

Brad Keselowski’s 2022 NASCAR Cup Series plans have been out of the bag for about two months. He has won 34 of his 35 career Cup races with Penske. Penske announced last week that Austin Cindric will replace Keselowski in the No. In all, Roush has 137 Cup victories dating back to 1989. “I’m truly excited about this partnership with Brad,” Roush said.

Roush Fenway Racing is adding NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski as a new partner.

Matt DiBenedetto could be out of NASCAR Cup Series options for 2022 after losing his ride with Wood Brothers Racing.

The long breakup between Roger Penske and Brad Keselowski was finalized Thursday when Austin Cindric was named driver of the flagship No. 2, replacing the driver who won Team Penske its first Cup championship.

Rochester Hills’ Brad Keselowski still hasn’t said what his NASCAR Cup Series plans are for 2022. However, Team Penske confirmed Thursday morning that Keselowski will not be back next season. Team Penske announced Thursday morning that Keselowski will be out of the No. He has been racing for Roger Penske full-time since 2010 and has won 34 of his 35 Cup races with Penske. Cindric races for Team Penske in Xfinity and is the defending series champion.

Austin Cindric will replace Brad Keselowski in Team Penske’s flagship No. 2 Ford next season.

Kurt Busch passed brother Kyle with 24 laps left and won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday to complete a sibling weekend sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are looking for redemption at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kurt Busch has welcomed the uncertainty of this season as he chases a playoff berth while pondering his future in NASCAR.

Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series veteran Brad Keselowski of Rochester Hills has yet to confirm his 2022 racing plans. However, multiple reports quickly spread across social media Friday that the 37-year-old Keselowski has accepted a driver-ownership role at Roush Fenway Racing. Keselowski has won 34 of his 35 career Cup races with Penske, along with the 2012 series championship. Keselowski will be joining a struggling Roush organization that has won two Cup races since 2015. Keselowski operated Brad Keselowski Racing from 2007-through-2017, winning 11 races.

William Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott paced the first ever Cup Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway in yet another display of how dominant Hendrick Motorsports is right now.

Everybody knew Kyle Larson was going to win races once he started driving Rick Hendrick's cars.

Kyle Larson was back in the NASCAR All-Star race, and won another $1 million by winning it again.

Hendrick Motorsports’ quest to pass Petty Enterprises as the all-time winningest NASCAR Cup Series race team got off to a good start when Kyle Larson captured the pole for the Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR Cup Series team owner Roger Penske stated in March that contract talks between him and driver Brad Keselowski ‘we’re moving in the right direction.’Two months later, it appears that Keselowski might be headed for the door. It states that Keselowski, who is in the final year of his contract with Penske, would drive the No. 6 Ford Mustang and receive an ownership stake in the team. It did not specify how much ownership stake Keselowski would receive. Keselowski is in his 12th full season with Penske, winning 34 of his 35 career victories with the NASCAR Hall of Fame owner.

Kyle Busch thought he had a third-place car Sunday. His crew chief, Ben Beshore, though it was good enough for second.

Kyle Busch celebrated his 36th birthday Sunday by winning a two-lap sprint to the finish at Kansas Speedway.

It’s a NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday as racers descend on the Kansas Speedway. The race will air on FS1 and fans can stream it on a few different platforms, including fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Kevin Harvick hold the record for most driver wins at the Kansas Speedway, with three apiece. Here’s how to watch:What: Buschy McBusch Race 400, a NASCAR Cup SeriesWhen: Sunday, May 2, 2021Where: Kansas Speedway -- Kansas City, KSTime: 3:00 p.m. ETTV: FS1Live stream: fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TVHere is the lineup for Sunday’s race.

Brad Keselowski made it nine different winners through the first 10 races of the NASCAR Cup Series season last week at Talladega.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Brad Keselowski has a ways to go before he matches Dale Earnhardt for most career victories at Talladega Superspeedway. The late Earnhardt won 10 Cup races at Talladega, more than any driver in the division’s history. Keselowski is one of only four active drivers with multiple Talladega wins. Sunday’s victory was the first of the season for Keselowski, and it has qualified him for the playoffs. The win also was the 35th career victory for Keselowski, who won his first Cup race at Talladega in 2009.

Brad Keselowski made exactly the right final move this time, winning again at Talladega Superspeedway and demonstrating a painful lesson well learned.

Brad Keselowski did it exactly right this time and finally got that last-lap victory, winning in overtime Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Colton Herta has rebounded from a first-lap crash in the IndyCar season opener to win the pole on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg.

Roger Penske doesn’t want a repeat of the Daytona 500, when teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski took each other out racing for the win on the final lap.

Alex Bowman passed Denny Hamlin on a restart with 10 laps to go and drove away at Richmond Raceway for his third career victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Across auto racing in the U.S., approaches vary among the drivers when it comes to vaccination against the coronavirus.

Martin Truex Jr. won a stirring, laps-long duel for the lead with teammate Denny Hamlin in the delayed NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday night.

FILE - Roger Penske looks over the track from the grandstand at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this Thursday, July 2, 2020, file photo. There will be fans at this year's Indianapolis 500, Penske said Monday, March 22, 2021, but how many remains a moving target based on pandemic restrictions. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer, File)A fully vaccinated Roger Penske is hard at work at Indianapolis Motor Speedway preparing for a full season of racing that will include spectators at his showcase event. There will be fans at this year's Indianapolis 500, Penske said Monday, but how many remains a moving target based on COVID-19 restrictions. Penske noted Monday that the positivity rate for COVID-19 for Marion County, where Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located, was 3.1%.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Joey Logano has won a few times at Phoenix Raceway and knows a good restart when he feels one. Truex blew past Logano on the final restart and pulled away for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 28th overall. Logano — who led 143 laps — won the second stage after leading the final 35 laps during a long stretch of green-flag racing. But he couldn't hold back Truex, who won his ninth race with JGR. Hamlin was fast early in the race, leading for 31 laps until the competition caution midway through the first stage.

Larson wasn't sure he'd race in NASCAR again until Rick Hendrick took a chance on a him. Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson raced to his first NASCAR victory since he was reinstated from a nearly yearlong suspension. He was hired by Hendrick Motorsports when NASCAR said the suspension would lift at the start of this year. KEEP IT COOLLast year's spring race in Phoenix was a hot one, with temperatures pushing close to 90 degrees. ... Jason Biggs, host of “Cherries Wild” on NASCAR broadcast partner Fox, is the grand marshal.

Las Vegas — Kyle Larson wasn't sure he'd ever race again in NASCAR, and if he could, he didn't know who would even hire him. It was Rick Hendrick who took the chance on a driver many believed was radioactive for sponsors. On Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson raced to his first NASCAR victory since he was reinstated from a nearly yearlong suspension. "Thanks Mr. H. for believing in me," Larson radioed to boss Rick Hendrick after crossing the finish line. Bubba Wallace, left, congratulates Kyle Larson after Larson won the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube NASCAR Cup Series race on March 7, 2021 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Give him good cars and Christopher Bell will win races. Michael McDowell was the surprise Daytona 500 winner and then Bell earned an earlier-than-expected first trip to victory lane. But there are only four Cup seats in the organization and they were full last season when it was time to move Bell to the big leagues. Kevin Harvick finished sixth and AJ Allmendinger, in his first Cup race since the 2018 season finale, finished seventh. It was the highest finish in three Cup races for Kaulig Racing, an Xfinity Series team formed in 2016 that wants to be full-time Cup next season.

Michael McDowell was glued to Brad Keselowski’s bumper, watching and waiting for his chance to win the Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. Kyle Larson was back after nearly a year in exile for using a racial slur, and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott was going for his first Daytona 500 win. And all the way at the back of the field, 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope made what he said would be his final NASCAR start. “I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad,” Keselowski said.

Michael McDowell pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the 63-year history of the Daytona 500 late Sunday. He became the 14th driver in NASCAR history to win his first race in the Daytona 500. — Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) February 15, 2021"I don't feel like I made a mistake, but I can't drive everybody else's car. Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports have won the Daytona 500! — Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 15, 2021Why is Michael McDowell in victory lane for the Daytona 500 seeming like a total afterthought?

Daytona Beach, Florida — Somebody had to make a move to win the Daytona 500, and maybe Michael McDowell would have pulled out of traffic to take his shot at a monster upset. It was the journeyman's first career NASCAR Cup Series win in his 14th season, notes CBS Sports. "Such a great way to get a first victory - a Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. "I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad," Keselowski said.

Daytona Beach, Florida — Somebody had to make a move to win the Daytona 500, and maybe Michael McDowell would have pulled out of traffic to take his shot at a monster upset. It was the journeyman's first career NASCAR Cup Series win in his 14th season, notes CBS Sports. "Such a great way to get a first victory - a Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. "I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad," Keselowski said.

Brad Keselowski was hoping for a late-race caution in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup championship race at Phoenix. Keselowski won the second stage over Elliott, but he lost four positions on the ensuing pit stop and restarted fifth. “I would have like to have one of those late-race yellows like we saw in the Truck race and the Xfinity race,” Keselowski said during his postrace interview on NBC. He was trying to win his second Cup championship and first since 2012. MOREMichigan’s Brad Keselowski gets shot at 2nd NASCAR championship in season finale

Those moves were a wake-up call — the economics that has changed the landscape of NASCAR’s two lower series have finally reached the Cup level. When the music stops, the Cup Series lineup will look radically different. It’s challenging.”SIGNED FOR 2021Alex Bowman at Hendrick Motorsports and Ryan Blaney at Penske inked extensions before the pandemic. The top prize is a seat at Hendrick Motorsports, which will replace the seven-time champion, Jimmie Johnson. Briscoe, who has seven Xfinity Series wins for SHR this season, wants a promotion; it is not clear what he will do if Bowyer is extended for another year.

His Hendrick Motorsports team bounced back with a competitive Chevrolet in the 600 that Elliott drove to the front late in the race. Theres no other choice.KESELOWSKI SHOWS HIS WORTHA Daytona 500 victory is the only crown jewel race Keselowski is missing on his resume. I hope to continue to compete at a very high level and be able to win races for a long time. Weve got a race win at a major on a team thats really just starting to click together. I hope it does because this is my 30th win at the Cup level with Team Penske.

They contacted suppliers and came up with designs for face shields the printers could make. The newest printer, about the size of an outdoor shed, can print three face shields every 2 hours. Brad Keselowski last year started Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing, which is equipped with a combination of 3D printers and CNC machining. NHRAs Don Schumacher Racing and its manufacturing arm have teamed with 3D printer Stratasys to produce headbands to be used with medical face shields. Jacuzzi is also working with a group at North Carolina State University that can guide hospitals to 3D printers producing PPEs.

Newmans crash brought new eyes to the series and presented an opportunity to kick-start the story lines that will follow NASCAR into November. Most important was the action Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, which will host the championship finale for the first time. A new rules package introduced last season ruined the racing at short tracks and the snoozefest at Phoenix last year forced the issue for NASCAR. With a new venue set to host the championship race, NASCAR could not afford a lackluster affair. All three Penske drivers swapped crew chiefs and Logano got Paul Wolfe, who won a championship with Brad Keselowski.

In the first 48 hours, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Erik Jones, a pair of drivers with something to prove, grabbed the first two wins of the year. 48 next season, while Kyle Larson began his season as the top free agent in NASCAR without a single stress about his future. It came on his second day driving a Chevrolet Camaro and with his small new team at JTG-Daugherty Racing. to go to a whole brand new place, I think Id have been lost not having them there.Jones is in a similar situation as the least successful driver in the Joe Gibbs Racing juggernaut. Keselowski watched from the garage for at least four hours as his team tried to repair the No.

Brad Keselowski worked overtime to get his Ford ready for Daytona 500 qualifying. His team put the final touches on his car early Sunday morning, and Keselowski posted the 23rd-fastest speed in pole qualifying. BUBBA REMEMBERSBubba Wallace is honoring Kobe Bryant and the other helicopter crash victims as well as former Richard Petty Motorsports driver John Andretti on his Daytona 500 Chevrolet. Johnson, a noted fitness freak, ran the Daytona Beach Half Marathon hours before he qualified for the Daytona 500. Ill also have a little wine when Im over there.Johnson heads into his 19th and final full season in stock car racing but has refused to rule out racing another Daytona 500.

The first race of the NASCAR season was a demolition derby that turned Daytona International Speedway into a giant junkyard. Erik Jones won Sundays race that left a multi-million dollar trail of destruction and masked the fact the Clash was a made-for-TV exhibition race. Jones crossed the finish line in a Toyota with a crumpled hood after a huge push from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and defending Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. Ive got to give a huge thanks to Denny there he stuck with us there that whole last lap, Jones said. The Gibbs organization won 19 races last year, went 1-2-3 in the Daytona 500 and won the Cup Series title.

Team Penske won the championship last year in every series it competes except NASCAR. We just felt you cant have the same guy running your business forever, it gets time to change it, Penske told The Associated Press. But Wolfe will now be paired with Logano, Gordon goes to Blaney and Keselowski gets Jeremy Bullins from Blaney. Keselowski is entering his 11th season with the team, and 29 of his 30 Cup wins have come with Penske. Theres nothing sinister here, it was just time for change, Penske said.

The NASCAR playoffs are playing out with all the drama Brian France envisioned for the elimination-style playoff system he helped launch in 2004. Brian France, who stepped away as CEO of NASCAR following his August 2018 drunken-driving arrest, is not named in the new leadership structure. But it is no coincidence that business has been rolling since Brian France stepped down and his uncle steadied a seemingly sinking ship. The hard work is in keeping older fans, attracting new ones and marketing NASCAR, particularly its playoffs, as cant-miss-viewing. The title race has gone down to the finale in every year since Brian France created this system, and the champion has had to win at Homestead-Miami Speedway to cement the crown the last five years every year of the elimination format just as Brian France wanted.

If Hamlin had crossed a split-second quicker, the race would have been over and Keselowski safe. The entire field got through the first playoff restart cleanly, but Keselowski ran out of room deep in the pack and nudged Suarez, sending him into the wall. Hamlin got a good jump on the restart, and Elliott dived low and got in line. I just didnt have a very good car and didnt have a very good day on pit road. Logano edged Hamlin in the playoff race a year ago.