NASCAR XFINITY Series Race Report
Track: Iowa Speedway
Race: American Ethanol E15 250
Date: June 19, 2016
No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 7th
Finish: 3rd
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 250/250
Laps Led: 0
Owner’s Points Position: 7th (-76)
Recap: While the box score will show Brad Keselowski started seventh and finished third on Sunday afternoon at Iowa Speedway, the Michigan native and his No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang team had a much more difficult task in earning the top-five finish. Keselowski was one of four drivers sent to the rear of the field before the start of the event due to unapproved body modifications following qualifying on Saturday. Keselowski wasted little time racing his way through the field and back towards the front, reaching the seventh position by lap 50. From there the crew chief Brian Wilson led Discount Tire crew made minor adjustments during each pit stop to give Keselowski a car capable of racing inside the top-five, which he did throughout the second half of the event. Through much of the afternoon Keselowski battled a loose-in and loose-off condition with the car, while also being tight in the center of the turns. With 60 laps remaining, the team pitted for the final time, taking four tires and repairing damage to the right front headlight area caused by contact with a lapped competitor. After the ensuing restart, Keselowski radioed his team and informed them the final changes were working to his liking. The on-track performance of the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang validated the driver’s statement as he was able to consistently run some of the fastest laps of the event. Keselowski utilized all three lanes on the 7/8-mile speedway for the remainder of the race as he battled second place finisher Ty Dillon until the checkered flag.
Quote: “We ran third and were probably just a little bit better than (Ty) Dillon but I kept losing the battle off pit road and that didn’t help. Who knows if I could have gotten by him – maybe I could have battled with Sam (Hornish) but I never got that shot. We’re still trying to get our XFINITY program where we want it to be and we’ve made gains. We still want to be a bit faster but we’ll keep working on it and I’m confident it’ll get there. In terms of the race it was a battle. I think all we were missing in terms of damage on our Ford was hitting the pace car. My guys leave it all out there every weekend and I feel like I left it all out there today.”
