Brad Keselowski sits 18 points below the cutline heading into the Monster Energy Series Playoffs Round of 12 elimination race at Kansas Speedway. The No. 2 team can advance to the next round on points with some help, but crew chief Paul Wolfe is eyeing something much bigger.
“I think with the situation we’re in, we’ve just got to focus on going to Kansas and doing everything we can to win,” Wolfe told NASCAR.com. “There aren’t very many scenarios with the points that are likely to play out to do that, so I think we need to go there and do everything we can to win that race. That’s going to be our chance to move on to the next round.”
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In order to have an opportunity at victory in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Wolfe says the team must be more aggressive than usual to be in position.
What qualifies as “in position?” Running in the top five all day long.
“To play a conservative setup or things like that just to go make sure we can gain some points is really not my mindset,” Wolfe said. “I’ll be as aggressive as I can with the setup. If the opportunity allows in the race, where I may need to be aggressive on my strategy, that’s going to be my play this weekend and hopefully it’s enough.”
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If Wolfe can get a little risky and put the No. 2 Ford in position to win with a strategy call on pit road in the closing laps, he knows he has a driver who can handle it. Keselowski’s ability to thrive under pressure gives Wolfe confidence to make those calls.
“We know, as a team, if we can put Brad in situations, give him the opportunity toward the end of these races, we know he’s capable of getting it done,” Wolfe said. “… Only certain drivers can handle that type of pressure, whether it’s putting him out there toward the end of the race on two tires in the lead or those types of scenarios, there’s certain drivers who can step up and not make mistakes and can go race at another level.”
BLOG: Keselowski in his own words
Keselowski and team are in this position despite a string of three consecutive wins at Darlington, Indianapolis and at the playoff opener in Las Vegas. The victories boosted Keselowski’s playoff points considerably, and for a time he was considered to be the fourth member looking to break into the “Big 3.”
Mishaps at the Charlotte road course and last weekend at Talladega, though, dropped the driver in the standings.
“There’s a confidence piece that goes along with it, especially leading up to the playoffs and being able to put together a string of wins like we did in such big races with a lot on the line,” Wolfe said. “I think it proved and just gave everyone some confidence that we know what we’re doing.
“We execute like we know how to, and we’re as good as anybody.”