News

THE RACE

MYAFIBSTORY.com 400
Chicagoland Speedway
Sunday, September 14

THE RESULTS

The No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion
Driver:  Brad Keselowski
Starting Position: 25
Finish Position: 1
Driver's Points Position: 1

 
THE RACE REVIEW

· Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite team began Sunday’s first race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Chase for the championship “playoffs” from the 25th position. Qualifying was cancelled due to rain on Friday and the field was set based on the times from the first practice.

· The plan for the Miller Lite Ford was to be patient at the start of the race and take care of the car while working towards the front of the field. In the early going Keselowski, who entered the Chase as the top-seeded driver, reported that the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford was handling a little loose going in and coming out of the turns and the car needed to turn better through the corners.

· By lap 26, Keselowski had worked his way up to the 15th position in the running order. At lap 42 the field began making green-flag pit stops with the Miller Lite machine scored in 13th place.

· By staying out on track the longest before coming to pit lane, Keselowski led lap 46 prior to pitting at lap 47. During the first stop, Miller Lite team crew chief Paul Wolfe called for a couple of slight adjustments to fine tune the handling of the Team Penske Ford Fusion.

· At lap 60, the Miller Lite Ford made its way back into the top 10. A lap 66 caution set up the next pit stop during which the team elected to take just two right side tires. The move paid off as Keselowski restarted the race in the fourth position at lap 71.

· Keselowski and the Miller Lite team continued a slow march forward and took the lead of the 400-mile race at lap 107. The 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion went on to lead for 39 laps before the No. 4 car driven by Kevin Harvick took over the top spot.

· During a yellow-flag pit stop at lap 182, there was an issue and all the wheel nuts did not get tightened on the No. 2 Ford. As a result, Keselowski had to pit again under that caution to make sure the wheel was secured and he lost several positions in the running order.

· When the green flag flew to restart the action, the Miller Lite Ford Fusion was scored 16th, well behind the leaders.

· Undeterred by the miscue, Keselowski went to work and by lap 210 was once again running in the top 10. By lap 230 he was running in the top five and late in the race while running third he made a pass for the lead after threading the needle to move past the two lead cars.

· From that point on Keselowski and the white Miller Lite Ford was the team to beat. Keselowski held on to notch his series-leading fifth victory of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

· The victory represented the first-ever NSCS win for Ford at Chicagoland Speedway, as well as the second victory at the venue for the No. 2 Miller Lite team. The win ties Keselowski’s career-best five victories in a season (2012) and it marks his 15th career win.

· The result also keeps Keselowski out front as the leader in the Chase standings and it means he and the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford team advance to the next round of the Chase.
    

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

BRAD KESELOWSKI, NO. 2 MILLER LITE FORD

THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE PASS FOR THE LEAD LATE IN THE RACE, HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT?

“I am not really sure what to say. I don’t really know what happened I just know we got to the lead. There was traffic and I was just digging and in the zone. The recorder was turned off so I don’t remember what happened. I had my head down doing all I could do. We had a great Miller Lite Ford Fusion that I knew from the start would be good, but man it was really awesome the last few runs. We really dialed it in and the 2 crew did an excellent job. What a day. Man, I am still pumped.”

YOU CAME FROM MID PACK, STARTING 25TH, HOW MUCH PATIENCE DID THAT TAKE?

“You have to be so patient. The cars in traffic are all over the track and it is very easy to spin out on your own and you have to pace yourself. I don’t know what to say. I am so thankful to be here. I want to say thanks because I know the fans can hear me. I saw all of them standing on their feet when we made the pass for the lead and that was awesome. Thank you fans for being here and for your support. What a great day.”
 
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND OF THE CHASE?

“Awesome.”