NASCAR
Brad Keselowski is Winless at Michigan, Can He Finally Win at His Home Track?
For most NASCAR drivers, a win at their home track is at the top of the racing bucket list. For 2012 Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, he wants to win at Michigan International Speedway more than anywhere else. This weekend marks the 2nd annual trip to the Irish Hills. Can the pride of Rochester Hills finally win at home? Keselowski’s recent history at the 2 mile oval reveal just how close he has been to victory lane in the Motor City.
Brad’s Michigan International Speedway Stats
In 18 career starts at Michigan International Speedway, Keselowski has 5 top 5s, 9 top 10s, and 180 laps led. He is winless at his home track in a Cup car. However, he won at Michigan in the Xfinity Series back in 2009. Keselowski does have 1 Michigan pole to his credit. The pole came in this race a season ago, when Brad led over 100 laps. Brad’s best finish at MIS was a runner up result to Greg Biffle in 2012. From 2014 until 2017, Brad never finished lower than 9th at Michigan. In the June Michigan race earlier this year, Keselowski started P2 and finished 6th.
Unusually Streaky Season For Keselowski So Far
So far in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski is winless. He has not gone this far into a season without a win since 2013, when he missed the Playoffs. In 22 starts, Brad has 5 top 5s, 11 top 10s, and 323 laps led.
Recent weeks have not been pleasant for Keselowski or the Penske 2 crew however. 4 of the past 5 races have seen Brad finish 17th or worse, including 3 sub-30th place results. In spite of this, Brad had a great car at the last intermediate racetrack. In Kentucky last month, Brad finished P3 after leading laps. The Penske team has been strong on intermediate style tracks this year, earning everything but a win.
Brad’s Chances at Winning Michigan
Brad would be the first Michigan-born driver to win at Michigan International Speedway. According to Sporting News, Keselowski has 12-1 odds of winning this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway. These odds fall short of the ‘Big 3’ drivers, recent Michigan winners Kyle Larson and Clint Bowyer, and Chase Elliott. In my opinion, Brad will have a great chance to score points and have a rebound performance this weekend. If he can stay trouble-free on track and in the pits, I can see him solidly running inside the top 7 or 8. With some pit strategy Paul Wolfe is known for, having the 2 car in victory lane would not be a major surprise.
