Brad Keselowski's car destroyed after contact with Denny Hamlin
Brad Keselowski’s hopes for a second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship took a huge hit in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.
On Lap 190, Keselowski was attempting to go under the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Denny Hamlin in Turn 4 at the 1.5-mile speedway.
But as Keselowski tried to complete the move, his Team Penske Ford came up the track, wiggled and Hamlin tagged him from behind.
That contact shot Keselowski’s Ford into the infield, where the car’s splitter got caught in the crash, basically tearing the front clip off.
Keselowski’s crew valiantly attempted to make repairs but he eventually retired, finishing a disappointing 38th.
Asked what transpired with Hamlin, Keselowski preferred to talk about the job his crew did trying to get his wounded car back on track.
“I don’t know what happened but I know what is happening now,” said Keselowski. “A group of guys were busting their butt to put the race car together and get me back out there and they did it in amazing fashion. I am really pumped about that.”
And the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion professed not to be worried about the Talladega race next weekend, which he may need to win in order to advance in the Chase.
“Days like today are going to happen to anybody and everybody in the Chase,” said Keselowski, who has four victories at Talladega. “It is about the effort you have when that happens. I am proud of my guys for doing their best to recover and we will move on to Talladega and give ‘em hell.”
