Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: 2018 Drive for Diversity program emphasizes seat time

Daytona Beach, Fla. – The youngest NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series champion. The youngest driver to win four Trans-Am championships. And the 2016 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award winner.

As evidenced by the six drivers announced as part of the 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Team, the roster for next year is stacked with emerging young talent ready to make their mark in the sport. The drivers represent a cross-section of backgrounds – both in terms of heritage and driving disciplines – and all share a common goal: To reach the highest levels of NASCAR.

“What we’re seeing with these six drivers is a group of very talented racers who have shown the ability on and off the track to excel at the next level,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “With an increased focus on seat time and competition among the drivers, we’re looking forward to watching them perform next season.”

“We are thrilled with the level of talent that applied for the program, were invited to the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine and, ultimately, the six who were selected to drive for Rev Racing in 2018,” said Max Siegel, CEO of Rev Racing. “As we’ve seen the program evolve over the years and produce wins and champions, and help elevate drivers such as Daniel Suárez, Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace Jr. to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, these drivers have the ability and potential to carry that legacy forward.”

The 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity roster includes a pair of drivers who have been part of the NASCAR Next program, an industry initiative designed to spotlight the sport’s rising stars.

The new class features the following drivers:

• Chase Cabre, 20, Tampa, Florida. Cabre finished sixth in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship standings and was runner-up for Sunoco Rookie of the Year. He won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award twice and recorded four top-five finishes. He will return to compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and will also race a Late Model in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

• Ernie Francis Jr., 19, Dania, Florida. Francis has already locked up his fourth Trans Am Series championship, becoming the youngest driver in series history to do so. He has 32 Trans Am Series wins – the most in series history – and 15 Pirelli World Challenge victories. Francis will be a development driver with Rev Racing, running road-course events in the K&N Pro Series East and select Late Model events, as well as testing, as he transitions to oval-track racing.

• Rubén García Jr., 21, Mexico City, Mexico. García will return to Rev Racing for his third season. The 2015 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series champion finished fifth in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East this year and is third in the PEAK Mexico Series standings with one race remaining. The NASCAR Next graduate will join Cabre in the K&N Pro East in addition to racing in the Late Model.

• Nick Sanchez, 16, Homestead, Florida. Sanchez finished fifth in the 10-race Bojangles Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Rev Racing’s Legends Car program last year, and will move up to the team’s full-time Late Model in 2018. Sanchez had a win among five podium finishes in the Summer Shootout.

• Ryan Vargas, 17, La Mirada, California. Vargas won the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award in 2016 as the highest finishing multicultural or female driver in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I. He was runner-up for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Josten’s Rookie of the Year for California in 2016 while racing at Irwindale and Bakersfield’s Kern County Raceway Park and the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This season, he scored a pair of wins this year to finish third in the state standings and 16th in the national standings. Vargas will drive in the third full-time K&N Pro Series East car and also race in the Late Model.

• Isabella Robusto, 13, Fort Mill, South Carolina. Robusto will anchor Rev Racing’s Youth Driver Program as she returns to the team to drive in the Legends car. Robusto will be one of four youth development drivers, with the remaining three to be announced at a later date. She was third overall at the Bandolero Winter Nationals and was the South Carolina Legends Young Lions champion in 2016 and was third overall in points in the Bojangles Summer Shootout Series in 2015.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity aligns drivers with a team of executives, athletic directors, crew chiefs and mentors tasked with helping them achieve career successes, and thus improving their goal of reaching one of the three NASCAR national series.

The 2017 NASCAR season was another banner year for NASCAR Drive for Diversity alumni, as three graduates made a major impact at the sport’s highest level.

Kyle Larson earned four wins to establish his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing team as a force in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. A contender for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, Daniel Suárez this year became the first Mexican-born driver to compete full-time in the sport’s premier series, and in February raced in his first DAYTONA 500. Last month, Darrell Wallace Jr. was announced as the new driver of Richard Petty Motorsports’ iconic No. 43 Ford for the 2018 season.

For more information on NASCAR Drive for Diversity, visit NASCARDiversity.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Full driver standings

Veteran crew chief Robert “Bootie” Barker will not return to oversee the No. 13 Chevrolet fielded by Germain Racing and driven by Ty Dillon in 2018.

Team officials made the announcement Tuesday that a crew chief change would be forthcoming via press release.

Barker’s replacement will “be announced at a later date,” according to the release. He will remain with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team and driver Ty Dillon through the final two races of the 2017 season.

Dillon, competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, enters Sunday’s Can-Am 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR) at Phoenix Raceway 24th in points. He has yet to finish in the top 10 in only 52 career starts in the Monster Energy Series.

Barker, 46, has more than 15 years’ experience as a crew chief in NASCAR. His first stint came in 2001-02 in the XFINITY Series with driver Scott Wimmer and Bill Davis Racing. The combination won four races in ’02 and Wimmer finished third in points.

Barker joined Germain for 2010 as crew chief for then-driver Max Papis.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Cole Custer survived an opening-lap tire issue at Texas Motor Speedway and overcame the setback to finish fifth, keeping him in position to challenge for a spot in the NASCAR XFINITY Series playoff quartet with one race left – this Saturday at Phoenix – to set the final foursome.

The biggest takeaway for Custer and his Stewart-Haas Racing Team Saturday night on the Fort Worth high banks, wasn’t so much the good effort as the good mentality the 19-year-old maintained to rebound from adversity with his playoff hopes on the line.

Custer, who has eight top-10 finishes in the last 10 races, is currently in sixth place, 13 points behind Brennan Poole in the fourth-place championship cutoff line. And that’s a far better position than he was in early in Saturday night’s race when the tire issue dropped him more than 30 points back.

“I honestly didn’t know what was happening if something broke or we just had a real loose race car, it was so loose something had to be wrong,’’ said Custer, who drives the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford. “It is what it is, one of those bad luck deals.

“It was really nerve-wracking but I knew it was a long race and we’d be able to get it back because we had a real fast car.’’

Custer could only smile and shake his head recalling the bad luck that hampered him from the drop of the green flag at Texas. After qualifying in the outside pole position, he started inexplicably dropping back from the start of the race, finally pitting for new tires and dashing off to begin his dramatic night of catch-up.

There was no panic for the young driver and he so methodically made his way back forward that he earned playoff points in the second segment before challenging back to his top-five finish.

It was a real test of inner strength and cool.

“It was a hard day from the start but we really couldn’t do anything about that tire,’’ Custer said. “Just proud of how we could rebound like that. I think we had a top-three Ford Mustang just didn’t have the track position at the end. It was a job by everyone this weekend. We had a fast car, just some bad luck.

“That was a really strong run for us with what happened at the start of the race.”

In many ways overcoming the setback was as invigorating as the top-five showing – something Custer still felt might have bettered had things gone a little differently.

But it’s on to Phoenix and a season of work for the rookie will come down to the Ticket Galaxy 200 on the Arizona 1-miler. He finished 21st there in the spring after a top-10 start. He finished third in his Camping World Truck Series debut on the track in 2014 and added another top 10 in last year’s Truck Series race.

“It’s really encouraging,’’ Custer said, “Our short-track stuff is getting better. We ran pretty decent there earlier in the year and we’ve gotten better. I’m looking forward to Phoenix. It’s a place we can win a race or at least have a shot at it, and point our way in.

“If someone has a bad run, you can make it up in two stages. No reason we can’t win a race. If we show up with game faces on, no reason why we can’t that race.’’

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Team Penske and Alliance Truck Parts announced today that the commercial transportation parts company has agreed to a multiyear extension that will continue its relationship with the No. 2 Ford Fusion team and driver Brad Keselowski through the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) season and beyond. Alliance Truck Parts will again be featured as the primary sponsor for six MENCS races on the No. 2 Ford next season and will serve as an associate sponsor on the car for the remaining events in 2018.

“Alliance Truck Parts has been an important partner for Team Penske since 2013 and we are excited to welcome them back to the No. 2 Ford for next season,” Roger Penske said. “We have developed a comprehensive partnership with Alliance Truck Parts both on and off the track, working toward wins and championships in NASCAR and on transportation opportunities through our other businesses. It’s exciting to know we will continue to build on our success together in 2018.”

Team Penske and Alliance Truck Parts formed an alliance in 2013 when the industry-leading parts brand sponsored the No. 12 Ford Mustang driven by 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner, Sam Hornish Jr., for 17 races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Alliance Truck Parts took its partnership with the team to the next level in the Cup Series in 2014 with an eight-race sponsorship of the No. 2 Ford Fusion driven by 2012 Cup champion Keselowski.

Team Penske and Alliance Truck Parts have continued to build upon that relationship over the last three MENCS seasons.

“Team Penske is a first-class organization led by one of the true business and racing icons in our country – Roger Penske,” said Brad Williamson, Brand Manager for Alliance Truck Parts. “The team takes great pride in its attention to detail, its professionalism and its commitment to winning. That is why Team Penske has been so successful and we strive to operate and produce with that level of detail and commitment. We appreciate that this partnership continues to deliver for both of our organizations.”

One of the biggest milestones in the 51-year history of Team Penske helped highlight the bond between Alliance Truck Parts and the team. When Keselowski drove to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway in July of 2016 racing the No. 2 Ford sponsored by Alliance Truck Parts associate, Detroit Genuine Parts, it represented Team Penske’s 100th NASCAR Cup Series victory.

The first race for the No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion will take place on Sunday, March 11 at the newly-named ISM Raceway in Phoenix.

Posted on by Team Release

DENVER, Colo. — Furniture Row Racing announced that Auto-Owners Insurance has increased its 2018 primary sponsorship package from six to eight races on Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Toyota Camry.

With the addition of the two Auto-Owners Insurance primary races, Truex’s Furniture Row Racing Camry will be fully sponsored for all 38 events in 2018, including 36 NASCAR Cup Series point races, The Clash at Daytona and the All-Star Race at Charlotte.  Auto-Owners joins Bass Pro Shops and 5-hour ENERGY as primary sponsors on the No. 78 Toyota next season.

Auto-Owners Insurance became a primary sponsor of Furniture Row Racing in 2016. The blue Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota has had its share of success on the track, scoring three wins — one in 2016 (at Darlington) and two this season — at Kansas in May and Charlotte in October.  Auto-Owners will be the primary sponsor on the No. 78 for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Phoenix.

Auto-Owners Insurance provides auto, home, life and business coverage for NASCAR fans and customers through local, independent agents in 26 states. The Fortune 500 company is based in Lansing, Mich.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

Kevin Harvick punched his ticket to Homestead with a thrilling win at Texas — a race, believe it or not, won last year by Carl Edwards (remember him?). They say everything’s bigger in Texas, which isn’t very accurate if Harvick’s really only three inches tall.

Thumbs Up: Letting someone else have a chance

This season, everybody expects Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78 team to contend for wins each week, especially on 1.5-mile tracks like Texas. Truex nearly grabbed his eighth win of the season, until Harvick tracked him down and passed him in the closing laps (oh yeah, spoiler — oops).

Harvick’s victory advances him to the Championship 4 to battle it out at Homestead. Fantasy racing players banking on what looked like a lock for Truex, however, might have been less excited about the finish.

 

Thumbs up to Truex for letting somebody else have a chance to win a race. But more importantly, his loss changed his 1.5-mile win ratio this season to 6 out of 9. Nice.

Thumbs Down: One hot afternoon

It’s November, like, a week after Halloween. Everybody’s Googling how to cook turkey. North Face jackets and pumpkin spice lattes, y’know?

Then, why is it over 90 degrees on race weekend?!

Last weekend’s race in Texas was the hottest ever recorded. Yes, in November.

 

Warm weather is good and fine, but maybe a little unexpected when there are holiday decorations in every major retail store. Thumbs down for weather not conducive to busting out those new Ugg boots.

Thumbs Up: Jokes during driver introductions

Texas Motor Speedway, always doing things its own unique way, had some fun during driver introductions before Sunday’s race, as Reddit user /u/DlmaoC captured.

As drivers walked the stage, a cheeky one-liner accompanied their image on the speedway’s famous Big Hoss TV — celebrating an achievement or poking fun at recent events. For instance, Truex’s driver introduction text read, “Probably going to win a Stage at some point today.” (Surprisingly, this wasn’t a correct prediction.)

The quip displayed on screen for Kyle Busch hinted that he wouldn’t be the most universally booed at the track in light of recent events.

 

Texas Motor Speedway has Jokes

Thumbs Down: Larson’s third consecutive DNF

Once a championship favorite, Kyle Larson’s had a rough patch in the last three weeks, culminating in his third failure to finish in as many races.

Texas looked like a promising race for Larson, who’d been knocked out of championship contention after an engine failure at Kansas. He won the race’s second stage but retired early after a fiery crash on lap 282.

In his post-race interview, he made it clear he’s ready for 2017 to end.

 

Thumbs down for the unlucky spell for a future champ.

Biggest Thumbs Up of the Week: Clinching on playoff points

It took 34 races, but the effort paid off for Truex and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team. After winning more stages and races than most could count, Truex’s second-place finish gave him enough points to clinch one of the four coveted championship spots at Homestead.

Sure, the team would have loved to win another race, but it must feel good to use a season’s worth of playoff points for something, right?!

 

Of course, this means only one position remains for one of the five non-clinched championship contenders to secure. We’ll see what happens at Phoenix.

Thumbs up for putting all those playoff points to use. They certainly earned them.

Posted on by Team Release

MORE: Drivers offer condolences, memories following passing of Robert Yates

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov 6, 2017) – Roush Fenway Racing will honor longtime competitor and partner Robert Yates at Phoenix Raceway with a tribute paint scheme on Ricky Stenhouse’s No. 17 Ford Fusion. The scheme, inspired by Yates’ 1991 and 1992 victories at the Arizona track, honors the NASCAR Hall of Famer’s career and lasting legacy in the sport.

“The entire NASCAR Community has lost a pillar of our sport with the passing of Robert Yates,” Jack Roush said. “Robert was true to all he held dear — a fierce competitor, a dedicated and inspired leader and a passionate family man. For me he was the type of competitor that brought out the best in everyone around him and he was a wonderful partner and friend. I am very fortunate to have been able to team up with, and learn from, Robert Yates.”

Yates, who passed away after a battle with liver cancer in October, was selected for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2018 in May. His Robert Yates Racing team, which will be featured on the hood of Stenhouse’s car, won 57 races and 48 pole positions in nearly twenty years of racing.

“Our family would like to thank everyone at Roush Fenway Racing for the special paint scheme at Phoenix Raceway to honor my dad Robert Yates and his legendary career in NASCAR,” Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines, said.

MORE: Bruce: Humble beginnings propelled Robert Yates to everlasting legacy

Robert Yates and Roush Fenway team owner Jack Roush partnered together in 2003 to form Roush Yates Engines, the exclusive provider of engines for Ford NASCAR teams. The two legendary engine builders’ combined forces have led to 268 NASCAR race wins and nine championships.

“It’s really cool to be able to honor Robert with our car in Phoenix,” Stenhouse said. “He’s meant so much to NASCAR, and to have him ride along with us this weekend will be really special for everyone at the shop.”

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 6, 2017) – Together with FOX, NBC, race teams and tracks, NASCAR today unveiled 2018 race start times and network coverage for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, including the DAYTONA 500® on FOX and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship on NBC.

As noted in the previously released schedule dates, key changes include the return of the DAYTONA 500 to President’s Day weekend for the historic 60th running of The Great American Race®. Additionally, the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will begin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway® and include the Charlotte Motor Speedway® road course as part of the first round.

“Feedback from our fans, along with insight from teams, tracks and our broadcast partners was key to identifying the most ideal start time for each race,” said Steve Herbst, senior vice president, broadcasting and production at NASCAR. “Every race weekend is unique, so considering fan and industry input alongside each event’s nuances allows us to balance interests on all sides.”

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season officially returns on February 18 with the DAYTONA 500. Tune-in at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, or visit NASCAR.com/buy-tickets to catch all the action in-person.

2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

Date Location Network Race Start Radio
2/11 Daytona 500 Qualifying at Daytona International Speedway FOX 12 p.m. ET MRN
2/11 The Clash at Daytona International Speedway FS1 3 p.m. ET MRN
2/15 The Duel at Daytona International Speedway FS1 7 p.m. ET MRN
2/18 DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway FOX 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
2/25 Atlanta Motor Speedway FOX 2 p.m. ET PRN
3/4 Las Vegas Motor Speedway FOX 3:30 p.m. ET PRN
3/11 Phoenix Raceway FOX 3:30 p.m. ET MRN
3/18 Auto Club Speedway FOX 3:30 p.m. ET MRN
3/25 Martinsville Speedway FS1 2 p.m. ET MRN
4/8 Texas Motor Speedway FS1 2 p.m. ET PRN
4/15 Bristol Motor Speedway FOX 2 p.m. ET PRN
4/21 Richmond Raceway FOX 6:30 p.m. ET MRN
4/29 Talladega Superspeedway FOX 2 p.m. ET MRN
5/6 Dover International Speedway FS1 2 p.m. ET MRN
5/12 Kansas Speedway FS1 8 p.m. ET MRN
5/19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway FS1 6 p.m. ET MRN
5/19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway FS1 8 p.m. ET MRN
5/27 Charlotte Motor Speedway FOX 6 p.m. ET PRN
6/3 Pocono Raceway FS1 2 p.m. ET MRN
6/10 Michigan International Speedway FOX 2 p.m. ET MRN
6/24 Sonoma Raceway FS1 3 p.m. ET PRN
7/1 Chicagoland Speedway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
7/7 Daytona International Speedway NBC 7 p.m. ET MRN
7/14 Kentucky Speedway NBCSN 7:30 p.m. ET PRN
7/22 New Hampshire Motor Speedway NBCSN 2 p.m. ET PRN
7/29 Pocono Raceway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
8/5 Watkins Glen International NBC 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
8/12 Michigan International Speedway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
8/18 Bristol Motor Speedway NBCSN 7:30 p.m. ET PRN
9/2 Darlington Raceway NBCSN 6 p.m. ET MRN
9/9 Indianapolis Motor Speedway NBCSN 2 p.m. ET IMS
9/16 Las Vegas Motor Speedway NBCSN 3 p.m. ET PRN
9/22 Richmond Raceway NBCSN 7:30 p.m. ET MRN
9/30 Charlotte Motor Speedway NBC 2 p.m. ET PRN
10/7 Dover International Speedway NBCSN 2 p.m. ET MRN
10/14 Talladega Superspeedway NBC 2 p.m. ET MRN
10/21 Kansas Speedway NBC 2 p.m. ET MRN
10/28 Martinsville Speedway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
11/4 Texas Motor Speedway NBCSN 3 p.m. ET PRN
11/11 Phoenix Raceway NBC 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
11/18 Homestead Miami Speedway NBC 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
Posted on by Holly Cain

FORT WORTH, Texas — An hour after helping his driver Kevin Harvick celebrate a dramatic and crucial win at Texas Motor Speedway, three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart happily showed up to speak to the media as proud team owner. He was energized and hopeful, offering a healthy dose of that playoff personality fans applauded and competitors learned to dread from his days behind the wheel.

This time Stewart’s postseason game face comes as a team owner, but he still delivered the playoff juju. Stewart promised 2014 Cup champ Harvick will be a “player” when he arrives at Miami in two weeks, officially the newest member of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship Four. It will be Harvick’s third championship opportunity in the last four years.

“What I saw tonight is something that I’m really encouraged about,” Stewart said. “It wasn’t just the fact of winning this race, but it’s just how it was won, how Kevin drove those last 20, 25 laps. I know Kevin and I can tell watching his driving style; there’s something that field and those other three guys who make it to Homestead in a couple weeks, they’ve got something to be worried about.

“I’ve seen this man when he gets locked in like this and he’s strong right now.”

RELATED: Full race results | Playoffs update

While there may have been a certain sense of competitive psychology behind Stewart’s remarks, there was no doubt he believed Harvick would be up for the championship opportunity.

The two have competitive personalities that are actually more alike than not. They are both straight-shooters, not too willing to suffer fools or foolhardy situations inside or outside their race cars.

They are extremely driven men who proudly made it into NASCAR’s big leagues the old-fashioned way. Strictly talent, not the blessing of family fortunes to launch and sustain their careers.

As with Stewart, Harvick arrived on NASCAR’s biggest stage because of his exceptional skill in a race car and, also like Stewart, he was able to seize any and all opportunities earned along the way.

To some extent all the hard-knocks and hard work explains a little of the intensity both drivers exhibit. When Stewart — a certain future NASCAR Hall of Famer — was still racing, he and Harvick would occasionally bang fenders and exchange bad words.

As teammates at the Stewart-Haas Racing organization now, that zeal and passion couldn’t be more appreciated. Stewart knows Harvick will give a million percent as driver and Harvick knows Stewart will give a million percent as owner.

MORE: Tony Stewart through the years

And in a year of massive technical change for the organization after switching from Chevrolet to Ford in 2017, the extra attention to detail and the intangibles Harvick displays — along with crew chief Rodney Childers — have obviously made a difference.

So in a postseason thus far dominated by Toyota, Harvick’s victory Sunday in a Ford was game-changing not just for fans, but also for this team and for the manufacturer.

The organization won the pole position with driver Kurt Busch on Friday night — setting the fastest 1.5-mile lap in stock car history at the Texas high banks, ironically bettering the three-year-old former record held by none other than Stewart himself.
And after scoring the second non-Toyota victory in the playoffs, this team is proud, enthused, reinvigorated and … ready.

“The hell with everybody else,’” crew chief Rodney Childers said, wearing the Texas winner’s black cowboy hat and offering a slight smile. “We need to worry about ourselves. If we give him (Harvick) ]the right tools on the race track, he’s going to win races with it.

“I’m just proud of having that backing whether it’s ‘Smoke’ or Zippy (SHR competion director Greg Zipadelli] or everybody at the shop. Everybody has worked their butts off the last two months to try to make things better and they have.”

Asked what, in particular, the team has discovered, Childers offered a big smile again and apologized to reporters saying he was not going to reveal his secrets.

“Don’t be sorry,” Stewart said, adding as the room erupted in laughter, “if you tell him, I’m going to kick your ass.”

It was vintage Stewart after a vintage Harvick performance and it all makes this year’s championship finale all the more compelling.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Race results | Stage recaps | Detailed breakdown

In an instant, Brad Keselowski was a lap down.

Moments after the start of Sunday’s AAA Texas 500, before the lead drivers had completed the first two corners, Kyle Busch’s Toyota washed up the track into Keselowski’s Ford and cut a tire on the Team Penske machine.

The resulting unscheduled pit stop left Keselowski a lap down, but he and the team kept their heads on straight. Keselowski got the lap back under the second caution as the highest-scored lapped car, and by the end of the second stage, he was 14th.

Throughout the rest of the race, Keselowski gained ground. On Lap 334, he took the checkered flag in fifth place to hold fourth in the series standings and build a 19-point edge over Denny Hamlin in fifth.

MORE: Full NASCAR Playoffs standings

This Sunday at Phoenix, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will be cut from eight drivers to four, and Keselowski already has a leg up on the final available spot in the Championship 4 round.

“Something happened on Lap 1, and basically we started the race last and a lap-and-a-half down,” Keselowski said. “That cost us a bunch of stage points, but we rallied with a solid effort to get back to fifth. I’m happy for that.”

Happy, but not overly confident with the 19-point margin.

“We’ll take it,” Keselowski said. “I still want more. I hate to give up those stage points. Nineteen points isn’t terrible for a cushion.

“We’ll need to go and have a solid race at Phoenix next week and hope none of the other guys win. It’s doable, but it’s going to be a nail-biter next week for sure.”

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