The drought is over for former NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski. For the first time in three years (Talladega in April 2021) and 110 races, and for the first time as part owner of his own team, Keselowski took the checkered flag Sunday afternoon at Darlington in the Goodyear 400 coming across the stripe 1.2 seconds ahead of Ty Gibbs. Rookie Josh Berry finished third followed by Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe.
The win was also the first for Ford in the 2024 NASCAR Cup season.
With ten laps to go, the race looked like a battle between Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick with Keselowski hanging back in third. As the two leaders raced down the back stretch into turn three, Reddick attempted to pass Buescher on the low side, but could not clear him. The contact damaged the tires on both cars enough that it opened the door for Keselowski to take the point.
From there, Keselowski maintained a comfortable lead on Gibbs and went on to his second win at Darlington to go along with his 2018 Southern 500 victory. Keselowski had a pair of second place finishes earlier in the season, and this win gives him a spot in next week’s all-star race as well as the playoffs.
Buescher and Reddick had to pit following their incident and finished 30th and 32nd respectively. Reddick was also hit with a pit road penalty. After the race, Buescher angrily confronted Reddick, and Reddick was heard taking responsibility for the contact.
There were only four caution flags for incidents on the track. There were 16 lead changes among ten different drives with Reddick leading the most laps with 175. Keselowsi was out front for 37 laps. The race took 3:13 and had an average speed of 124.370 MPH.
Goodyear 400 unofficial results
Brad Keselowski — Postrace Press Conference
Crew Chief Matt McCall — Postrace Press Conference
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