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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Report

Track:  New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Race:   5-Hour Energy 301

Date:   July 19, 2015

No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion – Brad Keselowski

Start:  10th

Finish: 2nd

Status: Running

Laps Completed: 301/301

Laps Led: 100

Points Position (behind leader):  6th (- 131)

Recap: Brad Keselowski had one of the best cars all afternoon at New Hampshire Speedway, led for a total of 100 laps and came home with a runner-up finish on Sunday afternoon, his best finish since his win earlier this season in California.  Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion team started from the 10th position and ran strong early in the going, improving four spots before the first caution at lap 23. Crew chief Paul Wolfe called the Miller Lite Fusion into the pits to take fuel and two tires, which put them ninth in the order on the restart. After charging through the field on fresher tires, Keselowski assumed the lead on lap 67. The No. 2 Team Penske Ford was strong, leading three times for a total of 100 laps on the afternoon.  A late-race caution flag for fluid on the track brought the Miller Lite machine into the pits for two tires and a splash of fuel. Keselowski restarted second and raced hard for the top spot, but eventually had to settle for second at the checkers. The result keeps the No. 2 Miller Lite team sixth in the championship standings, 131 points out of the top spot.

Quote:  “We had a really strong Miller Lite Ford today. That was definitely a fun car to drive. We just didn’t quite have enough to catch the 18 (Kyle Busch) there at the end with just two tires. The team did a great job of executing in the pits and I am proud of the effort. Days like today are tough as the car had a lot of speed.  You want to capitalize on days like today and we just came up short.”

No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion – Joey Logano

Start:  2nd

Finish: 4th

Status: Running

Laps Completed:  301/301

Laps Led:  12

Points Position (behind first): 2^nd (-69)

Recap:  Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion ran solidly inside the top-five most of the afternoon on Sunday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, eventually coming home fourth, his 11^th top-five finish of the season.   Logano started second, but slipped back to fourth early when the inside line didn’t go on the initial start.  Logano fought a loose in, tight center condition for the early part of the event.  Crew chief Todd Gordon made several adjustments to the No. 22 Fusion, including wedge and air adjustments.  Logano slipped back as far as 10^th just past the 100-lap mark when several cars stayed out as Gordon brought Logano down pit road for service.  From there, Logano would race his way back toward the front, eventually taking the lead as green flag pit stops cycled through on lap 179.  Logano would lead for 12 laps before having to pit, under caution, and restart eighth.  For much of the latter portions of the race, Logano would ride in the third position.  Logano eventually slipped back to fourth, where he would finish as the checkers waved.  It was Logano’s 11^th top-five finish of the season, second-best in the series.  He also moved up one spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and now sits second behind leader Kevin Harvick by 69 markers.

Quote:  “We had great execution with the Shell-Pennzoil Ford, just not enough speed.  Todd made some great calls keeping us toward the front.  We were good on the restarts and got a few when we could there.  When you’ve got four tires you try to make something happen, but we just didn’t have enough speed in our race car to go up there and race with those guys.  We’ll find a little bit more speed before we come back.  It’s still another top-five.  We’ll take these top-fives, they’re nice to have, but right now wins are the only thing that pays.”