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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Report
Track:  Daytona International Speedway

Race:   Coke Zero 400

Date:   July 5, 2015

No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion – Brad Keselowski

Start:  32nd

Finish: 29th

Status: Running

Laps Completed:  159/161

Laps Led: 0

Points Position (behind leader):  7th (- 136)

Recap: Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford team started the Coke Zero 400 from the 32^nd position and finished a tough 29^th place after being involved in a mid-race, multi-car accident that severely damaged his Ford Fusion. The 32^nd-place starting position was a result of qualifying being cancelled due to lightning in the area and the field being set from the first practice session speeds. Over the course of the 400-mile event, Keselowski ran as high as fifth as he narrowly avoided making contact in the second multi-car wreck of the night. Unfortunately, Keselowski was not able to avoid damage at lap 105 when the No. 5 (Kasey Kahne) and No. 20 (Matt Kenseth) cars wrecked directly in front of him. The contact resulted in major damage to the front end of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford and lengthy repairs cost the team multiple laps. Keselowski appeared set to nurse his wounded machine home as he trailed the field with a patched up car that was a bit off of the pace. He just crossed the finish line in the 29^th position when a huge wreck unfolded in front of him just after the checkers.  Keselowski was unable to slow down after driving through fluid from the wrecked cars and he slid into the side of the No. 3 car of Austin Dillon, who thankfully emerged unhurt.  The tough finish saw the driver of the No. 2 Ford Fusion slip to seventh in the point standings.

Quote:  “That was a tough race, we managed to make it through the first two wrecks unscathed, but the third one caught us. Our No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford was pretty strong though we could not run with the 88 or 48 – they were both in a class of their own. After we had been wrecked, I was just out there doing my best to log laps, avoid any more contact and stay out of the way. We almost made it too – right until we crossed the finish line. There was a big wreck and I was slowing down, but I must have hit some oil or something because I could not stop to avoid Austin and that looked pretty bad until I saw him get out of the car. I hope the fans are ok too.”

No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion – Joey Logano

Start:  33rd

Finish: 22nd

Status: Running

Laps Completed:  161/161

Laps Led:  0

Points Position (behind first): 4th (-75)

Recap:  Joey Logano overcame being involved in three multi-car accidents and falling four laps down to come back and score a lead-lap, 22^nd-place finish in the rain-delayed Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday evening/Monday morning.  The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion started 33^rd after qualifying was rained out on Saturday and the lineup was set by practice speeds.  Evening rain showers and thunderstorms pushed the start of the race back by three hours to just after 11:30pm.  Once the green flew, Logano was involved in the night’s first multi-car accident, causing extensive damage to his Shell-Pennzoil Ford.  In the process of fixing the machine, Logano fell four laps down to the leaders.  The rest of the race, Logano and crew chief Todd Gordon played the strategy game to try and get the laps back by taking the wave around whenever possible.  Logano was a victim of another multi-car accident on lap 106 while just one lap down.  Despite even more damage, the team worked feverishly to keep Logano on just one lap off the pace.  With less than 15 laps to go, Logano finally got a timely caution and put himself back on the lead lap.  Unfortunately, the damage to his machine was too severe and Logano was only able to make up seven positions over the final few laps as the race ended, giving Logano a 22^nd-place finish.  Logano dropped one spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings to fourth.

Quote:  “There isn’t much good to say about what happened here tonight. It is a product of the racing here. We got caught in the first crash which was way unfortunate after sitting around all day. We were four laps down and battled back to the lead lap, so that is something to be proud of, but we couldn’t do much once we got there.”