News

Track:   Bristol Motor Speedway          
Race:    NASCAR All-Star Race    
Date:    July 15, 2020

 
No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 9th
Stage 1: 8th
Stage 2: 4th
Stage 3: 3rd
Finish: 4th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 140/140   
Laps Led: 0
 
Notes: 

• Brad Keselowski scored a solid, yet undramatic fourth-place finish in the NASCAR All-Star race Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. 
• Keselowski drew the ninth-place starting position and had a close call on lap eight, when contact with Kurt Busch caused Busch to spin directly in front of the Discount Tire Ford Mustang at the entrance to turn 1. Keselowski would recover to finish the first 55-lap segment of the race in eighth position, despite losing the turn at the 2/3-mark of the corner.
• Crew chief Jeremy Bullins made the call to pit during the stage caution for four tires and an air pressure adjustment and Keselowski restarted sixth when the race went back to green.
• Keselowski fell in line fifth and stayed there for much of Stage 2, but made a pass around Alex Bowman with four laps to go to take fourth as the second segment concluded on lap 90. Bullins once again made the call to pit, this time for left-side tires during the stage caution and Keselowski remained fourth for the restart.
• In Stage 3, Keselowski ran second for much of the segment and held off Kyle Busch in a spirited battle for position. He said his No. 2 Mustang was free off the corner and tight in the center.
• Keselowski chose the bottom lane for the final restart, moving him inside leader Chase Elliott for the 15-lap dash to the checkered flag. Unfortunately, the final restart wasn't kind to Keselowski, who fell in line fourth. He briefly moved up to third, but slipped back to fourth when the checkered flag flew after 140 laps.

 
Quotes: "We had a solid night in our Discount Tire Ford and great strategy by Jeremy Bullins. The 9 car (Chase Elliott) was dominant but we gave him all we had."

No. 12 BODYARMOR Ford Mustang – Ryan Blaney
Start: 3rd
Stage 1: 1st
Stage 2: 3rd
Stage 3: 2nd
Finish: 6th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 140/140
Laps Led: 72
 

• Ryan Blaney started third and finished sixth in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday night in the No. 12 BODYARMOR Ford Mustang. The High Point, NC-native led a race-high 72 laps in the non-points event.
• By way of the pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. failing pre-race inspection, Blaney would bring the 20-car field to green in first. After a quick battle with Alex Bowman in the opening laps, Blaney would take the lead and run away with the Stage 1 victory.
• Following a pit stop for four tires and an air pressure adjustment, Blaney would restart third for the second stage.  He would remain third for the entire 35-lap stage.
• After staying out on the track under the Stage 2 break, he would begin the third stage from the lead. Battling a tight BODYARMOR Ford Mustang, he would lose lead to Chase Elliott late in the run and settle for a second-place finish leading into the final stage.
• Blaney would once again stay out, then opt to for outside line on the final 15-lap restart. Still battling ill-handling car on older tires, Blaney would fall back to sixth when the 140-lap All-Star race concluded.

 
Quote: "We had a pretty good BODYARMOR Ford Mustang tonight. We managed to win Stage 1 but fought a tight condition most of the race. I should have pitted at the end of Stage 2, but it was a fun event and glad to see fans back in the stands at Bristol tonight. We'll be ready to go racing for real on Sunday in Texas."

 
No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang – Joey Logano 
Start:  12th
Stage 1: 7th
Stage 2: 8th
Stage 3: 8th
Finish: 7th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 140/140
Laps Led: 0
      
Notes:

• Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang started 12th and finished seventh in Wednesday night's NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Logano charged into the top-five early but battled a "loose in and tight off" condition for most of the race.
• At the drop of the green flag, Logano moved from 12th to fifth in the opening eight laps, before the first caution flag was displayed. Logano's Mustang took a swing to the loose side around lap 30, dropping him to the seventh position at the end of the first stage. The team adjusted wedge and air pressure at the stage break.
• During the second stage, Logano reported the car was better firing off, but then went too free on entry again, with the tight center condition returning. The team made a stagger adjustment on the second stop.
• Logano continued to struggle in the third stage, eventually moving up the track to the second lane to cool the rear tires. The team pitted prior to the 15-lap run to the finish for four tires, a stagger change and air pressure adjustments.
• As the Shell-Pennzoil Mustang lined up in the 12th position for the restart to begin the final stage, Logano charged forward to seventh, but ran out of laps as the 15-lap stage went caution free.

 
Quote: "We fought the handling a little bit tonight and really were a bit surprised by the final stage going caution free. Great pit stops on pit road all night from the Shell-Pennzoil crew. We gained spots on every stop; the guys were lights out."