Brad Keselowski looks to 2017, but not happy about end to 2016
Lost in the glowing aftermath of Jimmie Johnson’s incredible run to a record-tying seventh NASCAR Premier Series championship was the fact that some drivers, namely Brad Keselowski, were not too happy with what transpired on a restart with 10 laps to go in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The cars of Carl Edwards and Joey Logano got into each other on the restart, triggering a nine-car pileup that took Kesleowski and others out. Johnson was able to drive through the mess and went on to win the race and his seventh title, tying him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most of all time.
While the two competitors with the highest profiles involved in that incident – Championship 4 Chase contenders Edwards and Logano – seemed to make peace with each other and with what happened almost immediately afterward, Keselowski made it clear in a brief comment that he remained none too pleased.
And he appeared to blame the current Chase elimination playoff format that NASCAR introduced in 2014.
“It’s a product of a format that’s based on putting everything (on the line) and risking everything. I don’t know,” Keselowski said. “It’s not really all that surprising. It’s disappointing. I don’t think that’s great racing, but I understand why it happened on both ends.”
On the incident in question, with Edwards starting in the second position on the inside of the front row and Logano right behind him, the two wrecked after Logano attempted to dive to the inside and Edwards attempted to block Logano. Both drivers later said they recognized that they both did what they figured they needed to do to have their only chance to win the championship.
As Edwards’ No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota spun back into the field, Keselowski’s No. 2 Team Penske Ford was one of the cars that quickly became collateral damage.
Keselowski declined to do further media interviews after the race because, he said later on Twitter, “I couldn’t find anything positive to say.” He then declared on Twitter that he’s putting it all behind him now and looking for better luck going forward in 2017.
Thank you. I'm ok. Not the media's fault. I couldn't find anything positive to say so bowed out of interviews. On to 2017 with a great team. https://t.co/78xuZm5CtU
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) November 21, 2016
