Another Win for Brad Keselowski at Bristol

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Another win for Brad Keselowski in the NASCAR Cup Series for the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The victory came in the closing laps.
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – MAY 31: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, cross the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020, in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Another win for Brad Keselowski in the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

For the first time this season, the NASCAR Cup Series went to work on the short track of Bristol Motor Speedway. Food City presented the Supermarket Heroes 500 on the high banks of Bristol, a track giving NASCAR fans action-packed races for years. Yesterday’s race surely continued that trend.

The First Stage

Brad Keselowski kicked off the race in the pole position and was able to lead the field through two cautions, including a competition caution in the first stage. During the restart, after the competition caution, Ryan Blaney pushed into the lead and was closely followed by Chase Elliott. Elliott did not let Blaney slip away, as he was able to make a pass for the lead late in the stage. Chase Elliott was able to win the first stage of the race.

The Second Stage

Ryan Blaney won the race off pit road during the stage break. Blaney went on to lead the first fifty laps in the second stage but, Brad Keselowski eventually took over the lead.

Keselowski continued to increase his lead, while Blaney kept a stronghold of his second-place position. With fifty laps left in the stage, Blaney spun to bring out the caution. While Blaney was trying to gain control of his car, Ty Dillon came around the turn with no opening to evade him. Dillon then hit the front of Blaney’s car, causing substantial damage to both their cars and ending their day.

Brad Keselowski continued to hold the lead after the caution. Late in the stage, as Chase Elliott was working on Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson nudged Ricky Stenhouse Jr as he slowed his car for Matt Kenseth, who lost momentum. The bump sent Stenhouse Jr spinning and collecting multiple drivers. The race went under a red flag to clean up the mess.

Chase Elliott was able to make the pass on Brad Keselowski right before the caution came out. Elliott took his lead on the restart and never looked back. Chase Elliott won the second stage of the race.

The Third Stage and Another Win for Brad Keselowski

Chase Elliott won the race off pit road once again, but the top eleven stayed out to gain track advantage. It was Brad Keselowski who reclaimed the lead on the restart of the final stage.

After another caution, this time for Chris Buescher making contact with the wall, Kyle Busch made a pass on Keselowski for the lead. Kyle Busch took control of the final stage of the race, leading for the vast majority. Denny Hamlin, however, made the pass on Busch with 148 laps left in the race.

With Hamlin leading, the leaders began running into lapped traffic. This allowed Chase Elliott to come back into the mix. Elliott passed Busch for second place and began applying heavy pressure to Hamlin. Denny Hamlin actually spun exiting one of the corners. The caution came out with Chase Elliott leading and only eight laps remaining.

Joey Logano took the lead from Elliott on the restart. With four laps left, Elliott dove beneath Logano in turn two, however, he could not make his move stick. Elliott moved up the track collecting Logano and taking the two drivers out of contention. Their misfortune allowed Brad Keselowski to slip by and take over the lead. Keselowski went on to win the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Supermarket Heroes 500 Results NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings

Brad Keselowski is one of the best when it comes to being in the right place at the right time. When Elliott and Logano slipped up into the wall, Keselowski squeezed by for the race lead. Brad Keselowski came down pit road with eight laps to go during the caution for Denny Hamlin. Since a lot of drivers stayed out, Keselowski restarted in the eighth position. He was able to quickly charge through the field and be in the right place to take the lead and the win.

In Summary

Lately, Chase Elliott has seen some dramatic circumstances. And it was more of the same at Bristol in a face-to-face conversation with Joey Logano after the race. It’s the second time in as many weeks, Elliott has actively engaged over an incident with another competitor. In both cases, venting his frustration displays his passion to win. Although Elliott’s move seems aggressive, it was the right move to make late in the race. It is short-track racing after all.