News

Track:    Talladega Superspeedway
Race:     Geico 500
Date:     May 1, 2016
 
No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion – Brad Keselowski
Start:  7th
Finish: 1st (Second win of 2016 and 19th of career)
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 188/188
Laps Led:  46
Points Position (behind leader):  7th (-51)
 
Recap: Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion team had a lot of energy in winning Sunday's Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway for their second win of the 2016 season. After beginning with race with an ominous forecast of rain, the 2012 series champion wasted little time in moving towards the front of the field as he moved into the second position by the lap two. Even throughout several rounds of pit stops, Keselowski was never shuffled too far back in the field, rarely falling outside the top 10. He took his first lead of the race at lap 94 before crew chief Paul Wolfe called him to pit road for four Goodyear tires and fuel just as rain appeared on the horizon. The race stayed dry and Keselowski was able to work his way back to the lead at lap 161. Keselowski then had to endure several late-race cautions. and a late push by the No. 41 of Kurt Busch, before taking the lead for good and taking his 19th career checkered flag and his fourth win at Talladega. Keselowski now has six bonus points going into the Chase for the Championship later in the year.
 
Quote: "The guys at Team Penske gave me a great Miller Lite Ford.  One of the best tickets to stay out of the wrecks at Talladega is if you can stay up front, and you've got a great shot of not getting wrecked. Daytona didn't go the way we wanted it to go. We thought we were going to be better than that, but we just didn't show the speed in the 500 and the guys went to work and they brought me a really strong care here for Talladega. I'm so proud of everybody at Team Penske. To be back in Victory Lane with two wins this year, and we feel like we can get a lot more."
 
No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion – Joey Logano
Start:  22nd
Finish: 25th
Status: Accident
Laps Completed:  180/188
Laps Led:  6
Points Position (behind leader):  5th (-35)
 
Recap:  Joey Logano drove the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion to the front of the field and led laps on Sunday, but got involved in a late-race, multi-car accident and finished a disappointing 25th on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.  Logano started the race in the 22nd position to quickly used his drafting prowess to move his No. 22 to the front of the field, racing all the way to fourth in the first 12 laps of the event.  Logano would be a top-10 car most of the afternoon, working the draft well.  Through several round of pit stops, including a couple of green-flag stops, Logano was able to keep his Shell-Pennzoil Ford near the front all day long.  Late in the going, Logano looked to work closely with teammate Brad Keselowski as the two Ford drivers raced toward the front of the field.  Logano was actually able to take the lead late in the race and looked to be one of the cars to beat, pacing the field from lap 166 to lap 171.  However, just nine laps later, Logano would get collected in a multi-car accident, which would eventually end the day for the No. 22 team.  He retired from the event with a 25th-place finish.  Logano remains fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, 35 points behind the leader.
 
Quote: "I haven't seen a replay yet. We crashed. That is part of Talladega. 75-percent of us crashed I think. Congratulations to my teammate. That is great for them. It is a bummer for us though. We were in position decent toward the end. I don't know. Something happened up top and cars came down across my nose. It is what it is.

It's unfortunate.  We had a pretty decent car.  I wouldn't say it was the fastest car out there.  It took us all day to get towards the front, but we positioned ourselves well at the end there with around 20 to go up there in the front row and in the lead.  I was proud of what our Shell/Pennzoil team did.  We worked hard all day, but unfortunately didn't end up as well as we'd like to two days in a row."