Brad Keselowski (@keselowski), driver of the No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford F-150 scored a third-pace finish in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season debut in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Keselowski started third in the No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford F-150 and finished third but his night was a bit more interesting than what those stats indicate. Ron Hornaday Jr. spun directly in front of Keselowski off Turn 4 on lap 74, but somehow Keselowski avoided major contact.
Then it was time for a bit of pit strategy. Keselowski was running behind teammate Ryan Blaney when Blaney was involved in an accident on lap 106, bringing out the seventh caution of the race. The front grill of the Ford F-150 was covered with grass and mud so Crew Chief Doug Randolph decided to pit to clean the grill and put on four tires in an effort to chase down the race leaders.
The move almost worked. Keselowski restarted in eighth-place when the race went green on lap 113 and steadily worked his way through traffic in the No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford F-150, climbing up to third place by the time the checkered flag waved.
COMMENT ON THE SPIN BY RON HORNADAY JR. RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. “Yeah we got into him but I don’t think it did any significant damage. It got our attention and made us worry (smiles). I think that didn’t have much of an effect on us but it was really cool looking.”
Doug Randolph – Crew Chief, No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford F-150: “Towards the end of the race when Ryan had his accident and went through the grass it covered our grill up with grass and mud. We were at that point where we knew tires would mean something at the end of the race. The grass on the grill actually helped make that decision for us. It just made sense to come down pit road and clean the grill and put on four tires.”
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