NASCAR XFINITY Series Race Report - Bristol
August 20, 2016
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Race: Food City 300
Date: August 19, 2016
No. 22 Discount Tire Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 11th
Finish: 12th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 306/308
Laps Led: 67
Owner's Points Position (Points Behind): 5th (-63)
Recap: Brad Keselowski held the race lead heading into a green-white-checkered finish on Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, but ran out of gas just before the green flag waved, forcing him to lose two laps and finish 12th in the Food City 300. Keselowski qualified the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang in the 11th position and began working on the top groove as soon as the green flag flew in the 300-lap event. Despite making some headway in the second-groove, Keselowski complained of a loose car that wasn't getting any better. Despite the loose condition, Keselowski found himself running solidly in the top-10 before breaking into the top-five on lap 160. Crew chief Brian Wilson made air pressure and wedge adjustments throughout the race but Keselowski said the Mustang continued to be loose on corner entry. Keselowski made his final pit stop on lap 194 and then stayed out on the track when the rest of the leaders pitted on lap 236. Keselowski was able to hold on to the lead until getting passed by Ty Dillon with 10 laps to go. However, Dillon got into the wall just a lap later and Keselowski once again assumed the lead. With just four laps to go, racing side-by-side with Kyle Busch, the two drivers got together, and the caution once again flew. With Keselowski still in the top spot and a green-white-checkered finish forthcoming, the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang started to sputter and Keselowski radioed in that he was out of gas. Bringing his car down pit road, Keselowski eventually lost two laps and had to settle for a 12th place finish in the event.
Quote: "What can you say? I guess it happens. We weren't as fast as we wanted to be all weekend, but we had a lot of heart and fought as hard as we could. I was kind of playing jam car on the 18 and 42. They were really good and probably had the speed to win today. I was doing all I could to hold them back and just ran out there at the end. I guess we had enough gas, but running under yellow it doesn't pick it up so it ran out and once it runs out these cars don't have all of the fuel-injection stuff and it just stops. I guess that's the story."