FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: KENTUCKY NOTES
After sweeping the NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona International Speedway last weekend, Ford Performance heads to Kentucky for its only visit of the season. Brad Keselowski, who is the only Ford driver with a NSCS win at the 1.5-mile track, will be looking to make it two straight after taking the checkered flag Saturday night in the Coke Zero 400.
BRAD BATTLES BACK
Ford has only one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Kentucky Speedway and that came in 2014 when Brad Keselowski dominated most of the event. After he and teammate Joey Logano combined to lead the first 216 laps, Keselowski found himself with some ground to make up thanks to an ill-timed caution. Kyle Busch inherited the lead with 49 laps to go after being on pit road when Aric Almirola hit the wall. He stayed out while Keselowski and the other leaders pitted a couple of laps later. Keselowski came out of the pits sixth and immediately began moving toward the front. He eventually passed Busch with 20 laps to go and was never threatened from that point forward. As dominating as he was on the track, Keselowski created just as much buzz afterwards when he cut his hand shaking a champagne bottle in victory lane. The incident resulted in a delay of post-race photos as he went to the care center for what ended up being four stitches.
IN ADDITION…Keselowski has a pair of NSCS triumphs at Kentucky, having won in 2012 for car owner Roger Penske with Dodge…The 199 laps Keselowski led in 2014 is a race record…
JACK BACK IN KENTUCKY
Jack Roush graduated in 1964 from Berea College in Berea, KY, which is approximately 100 miles south of Kentucky Speedway. Roush, who earned a degree in mathematics, immediately took a job with Ford after graduating and has been associated with the company ever since. Roush Fenway Racing has 134 all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins, but Kentucky Speedway is one of only three tracks where he has yet to reach Victory Lane (Chicagoland, Indianapolis).
FORD KENTUCKY RACE WINNERS
2014 – Brad Keselowski
