Brad Keselowski has won the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with his 4th win of the season at Richmond.
Brad Keselowski enjoyed a near-perfect race, running towards the front of the order throughout the 400 laps, to finish 2.5 seconds ahead of Martin Truex Jr.
Despite a penalty for speeding on pit road, Austin Dillon pushed Keselowski for most of the time. After an impressive start, Dillon finished second in both stages one and two. He was set to record his second straight podium finish when a mistake meant he missed the entrance to pit road late in the race.
Brad Keselowski with his wife
He managed to get onto pitroad the following lap, triggering the last pitstops of the race for those who had opted to run a two-stop strategy.
Kevin Harvick, winner of the opening playoff race last weekend at Darlington, had proven in the opening stage the two-stopper was the quicker strategy and, by the end of the race, all but Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth had opted for the strategy.
We came here to win and this team got it done! I’m so pumped about our performance tonight…Wins like tonight really show the strength of our #2crew. Excited to keep this going! pic.twitter.com/jHXhh7f8eh
Busch led after the final round of pitstops but quickly dropped down the order as his older tires struggled.
Austin Dillon briefly retook the lead, before Keselowski moved into the front of the field.
The #2 car had shown good pace throughout the race, coming up from ninth on the grid to finish fourth in stage one and win the second stage.
Keselowski offered no opportunity for Martin Truex Jr to challenge for the win.
Brad Keselowski after winning the NASCAR Race
The third Team Penske car of Ryan Blaney dropped to the back of the pack early on after he was forced to pit twice during the competition caution due to a loose left-front tire. He climbed back up to 19th and, along with Matt DiBenedetto and William Byron, was one of three playoff drivers to not finish in the top 16.
Kyle Busch came through from the back of the order after failing too many pre-race inspections. He enjoyed a trouble-free drive to finish sixth ahead of Harvick, who was handed a penalty after an issue getting onto pit road.
Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, and Clint Bowyer completed the top 10.
