#3 Best Duel Moment – Brian Keselowski Makes the 2011 Daytona 500

Brian Keselowski's car awaits the start of the 2011 Daytona 500 Photo - Kyle Magda
Brian Keselowski’s car awaits the start of the 2011 Daytona 500
Photo – Kyle Magda

Brian Keselowski was a long shot to make it into the 2011 Daytona 500.

He and his No. 92 team posted the slowest qualifying speed on pole day and the team had a lot of work ahead of them. Keselowski started 24th in the second Gatorade Duel, the last position in the field.  His brother Brad was competing in the same duel.

Brian ran in the back for most of the race.

A popular way of racing during 2011 Speedweeks was the new tandem draft, when two cars would hook up and push each other around the track.

With 21 laps remaining, Brad got a bump from Todd Bodine and sent the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge spinning. This forced Brad to come to pit road to fix some damage and start in the back on the ensuing restart. He happened to find his brother and the two stormed their way to the front.

With Brad’s help, Brian made the Daytona 500 by securing the second transfer spot with a fifth-place finish. After failing to make a race in three tries in 2010, Brian Keselowski finally made his Sprint Cup Series début in the 2011 Daytona 500.

A few days after the Duels, Brian received funding from Discount Tire, who came on as a sponsor for the No. 92 Dodge.

Brian started 12th in the Daytona 500, but the “Big One” took him out on lap 28, relegating him to a 41st place finish.

2011 Gatorade Duel #2 Top Ten

#31 Jeff Burton (won by. 005 seconds)

#33 Clint Bowyer

#15 Michael Waltrip (got first transfer spot)

#18 Kyle Busch

#92 Brian Keselowski (grabbed second transfer spot)

#1 Jamie McMurray

#2 Brad Keselowski (helped his brother make the Daytona 500)

#11 Denny Hamlin

#56 Martin Truex Jr.

#99 Carl Edwards (finished second in the 2011 Daytona 500)

Ben Rhodes, NASCAR Next Driver Visits Hall of Fame and More

Ben Rhodes is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 8:55pm ET.  Fans can call 347-996-5176 during the LIVE broadcast to interact with Ben Rhodes and our Fan4Racing panel. 

Enjoying a visit to NASCAR’s Hall of Fame, Ben Rhodes shares a few moments with his Turner Scott Motorsports teammate, Cameron Hayley.

At New Smyrna Speedway, on February 16, 2014, in the K&N Pro Series East season opener, Ben Rhodes finished an impressive 4th-place!

And below is Ben Rhodes pre- and post-race video from New Smyrna Speedway on Sunday, February 16, 2014.

#4 Best Duel Moment – Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne Win by a Nose

Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Speedweeks 2010 was the last racing with the wing on the Sprint Cup cars at Daytona. Although a new spoilers didn’t happen until March, NASCAR decided to part ways with the old wing in hopes of better racing with the Car of Tomorrow. Continue reading →

Daniel Suárez Edges Cameron Hayley at New Smyrna

Daniel Suárez  wins the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener on Sunday at New Smyrna Speedway  Photo - Getty Images
Daniel Suárez wins the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener on Sunday at New Smyrna Speedway
Photo – Getty Images

Daniel Suárez is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 9:15pm ET.  Fans can call 347-996-5176 during the LIVE broadcast to interact with Daniel Suárez and our Fan4Racing panel. 

Second Career K&N East Win For D4D, NASCAR Next Driver

Offseason did nothing to slow Daniel Suárez’s momentum.

The Monterrey, Mexico, driver held off Cameron Hayley in a door-to-door battle of NASCAR’s rising stars to win the New Smyrna 150 presented by JEGS Sunday night at New Smyrna Speedway. The race was the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener and the inaugural visit to the banked half-mile. Continue reading →