Getting into the 2026 Daytona 500, there have been issues round if the 42-year-old Brad Keselowski might even run the complete race. He confirmed as much as the observe with a strolling cane, following a December fall that left him with a damaged femur.
However Keselowski shortly returned to type, and was a contender all through Sunday’s 68th working of the Daytona 500 — his seventeenth begin in ‘The Nice American Race.’
Exiting Flip 4, he had a large run. A push from 23XI teammate Riley Herbst helped Tyler Reddick making the successful move, however Herbst was nonetheless eying 500 glory for himself. He went to the skin of Chase Elliott within the move for second, however Keselowski was already there with a useful push from Logano.
As the 2 drivers went for a similar piece of race observe, a large crash ensued throughout the road with Keselowski ending fifth, struggling heavy nose-damage. Keselowski was annoyed afterwards, and overtly criticized, who on the identical time was being praised by 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan for serving to Reddick to win the five hundred.
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Staff Penske Ford, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
“That was one of many dumbest issues I’ve ever seen,” stated Keselowski. “He had no probability of blocking my run. I had an enormous run, I do not know if I might have gotten the 45 [Reddick], however I’d have favored to have came upon as a result of my run was coming quick. The 35 [Herbst] simply wrecked us in itself.Â
Keselowski then added: “I believed, effectively, you recognize, a one-lane block sort of is smart, however to dam from the very backside all the way in which to the highest and wreck your self and everyone else is simply silly. Very, very silly.”
The optimistic for Keselowski, past nonetheless scoring a high 5 end, is that his leg felt fantastic. It did not trouble him in the course of the race, and he exited the automotive underneath his personal energy. “Felt actually good within the automotive, felt actually good getting by means of the crash, and I am joyful for that.”
Nevertheless, video exhibits that Herbst was holding the center lane earlier than making an attempt to return up into Keselowski’s lane to move Elliott, however the late block nonetheless resulted in a large crash. Ultimately, it was one other potential Daytona 500 victory slipping by means of his fingertips, and a winless streak that now sits at 60 races.
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