Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Report- Charlotte

May 18, 2019

Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race: Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race
Date: May 18, 2019

No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski

Start: 14th
Stage 1: 16th
Stage 2: 7th
Stage 3: 4th
Finish: 11th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 88/88
Laps Led: 4

Notes:

Brad Keselowski scored an 11th-place finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The driver of the Discount Tire Ford Mustang started 14th in the 88-lap race. He steadily worked his way through the field and was up to 10th position when the first caution slowed the race on lap 28. Keselowski said the balance of his No. 2 Mustang was free through the center of Turns 1 and 2 and tight across the bumps in Turns 3 and 4.
He chose not to pit during the caution, inheriting the race lead with others ahead of him pitted. The race went green on lap 31, two laps from the conclusion of Stage 1. Keselowski quickly backpedaled through field, falling to 16th position over the next two laps when the segment concluded on lap 33. He pitted during the stage caution for four tires and a chassis adjustment and restarted 14th.
Keselowski finished seventh when the second segment concluded on lap 53. He said his No. 2 Mustang was good in clear air but he couldn't run the top of the track in Turns 3 and 4. He pitted for four tires following the segment. Fast service by the Discount Tire pit crew moved Keselowski up to fourth-place for the restart.
He ran inside the top-five throughout Stage 3 and claimed a fourth-place finish when the segment concluded on lap 73. Keselowski pitted for four tires and fuel and restarted ninth when the final segment went green.
Keselowski struggled on the restart, falling back to 15th position but caught a break when the seventh yellow slowed the race on lap 75. He said he was hitting the front splitter, so the team insert packers into both front shocks, raising the front splitter. The adjustment brought the Discount Tire Ford to life. Keselowski motored through traffic, going from the tail end of the field on the restart to seventh-place by lap 75. He restarted sixth on lap 76 but faded to 11th-place over the final laps.

Quotes:
"I was crushing the splitter there towards the end of the race and couldn't hit a lick on that restart when we fell back. We pitted and put those packers in the front shocks and the Discount Tire Ford really took off. It was a night and day difference. Unfortunately we didn't the finish we wanted to tonight."

No. 12 BODYARMOR Ford Mustang – Ryan Blaney

Start: 9th
Stage 1: 6th
Stage 2: 3rd
Stage 3: 15th
Finish: 16th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 88/88
Laps Led: 0
Driver Point Standings (behind first): 10th (-138)

Notes:

Ryan Blaney finished 16th in Saturday night's Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The driver of the BODYARMOR Ford Mustang battled multiple pit miscues during the 88-lap, four segment event.
Blaney started ninth and reported to crew chief Jeremy Bullins his BODYARMOR Ford was sliding the nose in the center and exit of the corners. He made his first pit stop of the night on lap 28 under caution for four tires, fuel and a slight air pressure adjustment. The first stage would end with a green, white, checkered finish and Blaney managed to drive from ninth to sixth on the restart, where he would ultimately finish.
Blaney would remain on track during the stage 2 caution and restarted in the top-five when racing resumed on lap 33. He reported the air pressure adjustments helped the balance of the BODYARMOR Ford. After making a late charge to third he fought teammate Joey Logano for the runner-up spot, but would ultimately settle for a third place.
Under the stage 2 break, Blaney pitted on four tires, fuel and additional air pressure adjustment to help with center turn. Unfortunately, he was forced return to pit road for loose left side lugnuts. The loss of track position forced the BODYARMOR team to change strategy and he would come home 15th when stage 3 concluded on lap 73.
In an effort to gain back track position, the BODYARMOR crew opted for a two right side tires with an additional air pressure adjustment. Unfortunately, Blaney was forced to start from the rear of the field again after driving through too many pit boxes leaving.
He tried to fight his way towards the front, but would receive nose damage after contact with Denny Hamlin on lap 75. The BODYARMOR crew made repairs, but the damage affected the overall handling of the car. Blaney managed to bring home a 16th place finish when the race concluded.

Quote:
"We had a pretty good BODYARMOR Ford tonight. Unfortunately issues on pit road and on-track on hurt our night. We will try to clean them up and get ready for the Coca-Cola 600 next week."

No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang – Joey Logano

Start: 10th
Stage 1: 4th
Stage 2: 2nd
Stage 3: 1st
Finish: 4th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 88/88
Laps Led: 19
Point Standings (Ahead of Second): 1st (+9)

Notes:

Joey Logano started Saturday night's NASCAR All-Star Race from the 10th position in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang. After some initial jockeying for position, Logano settled in to the ninth place, dealing with a tight condition in his Ford Mustang. A caution flag at lap 25 would bring the leaders to pit road, with the 22 team electing to take four tires and make an air pressure adjustment.
Logano would restart in the seventh position, but quickly raced forward to fourth in the two-lap dash for the end of Stage 1. In the opening laps of the second stage, Logano settled into the second position, chasing race leader Kevin Harvick. Logano maintained the second position to the end of the second stage, reporting he was still too tight with the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford.
Logano restarted in second but quickly grabbed the lead on the second lap of the third stage. Logano would lead the remainder of the stage, winning the third stage. On the caution, the field went on a split strategy, with Logano staying out and others pitting for two tires and four tires. Logano would restart with the lead with the first car on four tires being eighth.
On the final stage restart, Logano would get shuffled back to the third position, but a caution flag at lap 74, would line the field up to give Logano another chance at re-claiming the lead. Another caution at lap 76 would prompt the Shell-Pennzoil Ford making a trip to pit road for the team's last set of sticker tires.
Logano would restart 16th and race forward, reaching the fourth position before the checkered flag.

Quote:
"We just needed a caution when we got to fourth with about five laps to go. We had the tire advantage at that point and we'd have been in a great spot to contend for the win. The guys did a really good job on pit road and preparing a car for the unknown conditions with the aero changes. We'll come back here next week and try to win the Coca-Cola 600, it's a bucket list race for me being a Coke driver."