Brad is Back!

Goodyear 400:

Brad Keselowski won in a thrilling finish on Sunday afternoon at Darlington Raceway in the Goodyear 400. The win for Keselowski snapped a 110-race winless streak, was his first in the 6 car for the team he co-owns, and locks Brad and the 6 team into the 2024 playoffs. The win was also a feel good win for many in the sport and a lot of fans. It cannot be denied that, even if you are not a Keselowski fan, you have massive respect for what Keselowski has done and what he has turned RFK Racing into the last few years. They truly are back at the top of the sport. Top that off with his trademark American flag celebration and having his daughters join him on the ride to victory lane and in the post-race press conference, and it was a feel good win all around.

Keselowski was a contender all day, and arguably had the best car on runs that lasted 30+ laps. He was, however, unable to display that strength many times on Sunday due to cautions and dealing with lapped traffic. At one point late in Stage 3 it looked like Brad was going to drive away with the win until a caution. While his crew was lights out Sunday, Reddick and the 45 was almost always first off pit-road with the benefit of pit stall 1, and nipped him at the scoring line once again. Then, we had a battle for the ages. Keselowski v. Reddick for several laps was some of the best racing we have seen in the Gen7 car and even some of the best we have seen at Darlington - at least in recent memory. As this battle reached its peak and had contact, Chris Buescher swooped in and snagged the lead. It was shaping up to be an intense battle of Reddick v. Buescher as each driver was doing all they could to keep momentum and fend of the other's attempts at the lead. Reddick's full send slide job attempt was peak racing and entertainment. Unfortunately for him and Buescher, it backfired gloriously and allowed Bad Brad to retake the lead and drive away to the checkered flag.

Much will be made about Reddick's move, but I know this much. Every NASCAR fan I talked to or encountered with on Twitter was on edge that last charge to the finish. It was a great race all day. Tire fall off, attrition, accidents, comers and goers, multiple strategies trying to capitalize on a tough race track. It was everything and then some that makes NASCAR great. The race brought out the best, and worst, of drivers. They had to wheel it all day. We saw peak emotion from Blaney after Byron took him and MTJ three wide thus ruining their days. We say a PISSED off Chris Buescher (as he should be) but we rarely see that out of him outside the car. All I know, is Sunday made me feel like NASCAR, like Brad, was back. It's been discussed in many avenues outside of the NASCAR bubble several times this year. We are seeing more and more out of teams and drivers, and it makes this fan feel excited and happy to see NASCAR getting coverage far beyond the track walls. There is a lot to be excited about with the momentum NASCAR is riding and many things coming down the track for the industry.

It's hard to look ahead coming off such a great race. But alas, we must. This weekend we have the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The track is freshly repaved and NASCAR had Goodyear bring multiple tire compounds to try out in race conditions. I am optimistic that with the multiple tire options at the historic track we will have another great NASCAR race weekend. Tune into the NASCAR All-Star race at 8 p.m. EST on FS1 Sunday evening. But! Do not forget All-Star qualifying on starting at 5:40 p.m. Friday on FS1, Heat races Saturday evening on FS2 at 5:20 p.m., and the All-Star Open on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. And of course, the Truck series races Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. on FS1.

All Star-Weekend Picks:

Cup:

All Star Race = Denny Hamlin

Open Transfers = Berry & Wallace

Fan Vote = Hocevar

Trucks = Ty Majeski

Header Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images