The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford wants to join an elite club.
Here are his thoughts on the possibility – and desire – to win his first Daytona 500.
“It’s definitely the one big box I don’t have checked,” said Brad Keselowski. “I’ve got the championship. I’ve won every other major but Daytona. The only other person that can claim that actively right now is Kevin Harvick and I want to join that club. It’s a big club to be in – to have all the majors and to have a championship. I know I’m right there and I want to make it happen and feel like I’ve done a lot of the right things to make it happen. I haven’t been perfect, but it’s certainly part of the source of frustration, for sure.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Less than a month after Denny Hamlin celebrated his Daytona 500 crown in the sport’s most famous victory lane, Daytona International Speedway has announced major adjustments to the traditional 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening race week – changing up the course of the popular Busch Clash race and condensing the schedule of Daytona Speedweeks.
Editors Note: Here’s another new weekly feature ‘Winners and Losers’ at Fan4Racing Blog and Radio from our newest writer, Owen Stewart.
The 62nd installment of the Daytona 500 was, well, unique. First, there was the rain delay and subsequent postponement after just 20 laps. Then, there was the 19-car crash with 17 laps to go that knocked out some of the race’s top contenders. Finally, there was the second-closest finish in race history, with Denny Hamlin edging Ryan Blaney by just 0.014 seconds to pick up his second straight 500 win and third in his last five years. Unfortunately, Ryan Newman’s horrifying crash at the finish line that nearly caused NASCAR’s first driver fatality in 19 years overshadows all the rest. The race, particularly the last few hundred feet, brought about some talk and debates that the sport hasn’t had to deal with in nearly two decades. Here is the first edition of winners and losers from the week’s race.
Power Ranking for the NASCAR Cup Series is now available after each race by our newest Fan4Racing crew member, Owen Stewart.
NASCAR season is upon us again. And so, the Power Ranking begins.
With the completion of the Daytona 500, one of thirty-six races has been run in the quest for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Denny Hamlin got the season-opening victory, holding off a late run from both Ryan Blaney and Ryan Newman to take his third 500 victory since 2016. Since the season is underway, it’s only right that we get the power rankings off and running as well. Daytona is a race that can prompt big swings in the rankings, and this year follows that trend.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Ross Chastain, driver of the #10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet, climbs into his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Speculations over the driver for the RFR No 6 at Las Vegas are now over.
On Wednesday afternoon it was Ross Chastain getting a nod from Roush Fenway Racing to take the wheel of the No. 6 for Ryan Newman starting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Due to injuries from a last-lap incident – in Monday’s rain-delayed Daytona 500 – Newman was immediately taken to Halifax Medical Center for treatment. The good news is that he was released this afternoon and is now home.
“First and foremost, our focus remains with Ryan and his family as he continues to recover. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to all of those who have offered support and taken the time to send their thoughts and prayers to Ryan, his family and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing”.
“The NASCAR community has long prided itself on being a close-knit family. That is never more evident than during these types of moments, and we want to express our appreciation to everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing as well as Kaulig Racing for allowing Ross to fill in for Ryan in the No. 6 on such short notice.”
Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark.
A popular NASCAR veteran, Ross Chastain is taking advantage of his most recent opportunities with stellar results. In the past two years, he has three Truck Series victories and two Xfinity Series wins. In 2018, his dominating win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway put a spotlight on his career. Chastain has also run in 72 Cup Series races, which includes his top-ten finish in last year’s Daytona 500. On Monday, however, his strong 500-run came to an end with a late-race accident.
Currently, there is no timetable for Newman’s return and Roush Fenway Racing is continuing to provide any additional updates.
