By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Near the mid-point of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, 11 of the 12 Chase drivers were running in the top-12. That changed for Brad Keselowski at Lap 190 of the 267-lap race when he slid his No. 2 Ford in front of Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.
Keselowski got loose and a tap from Hamlin sent Keselowsi’s Ford spinning into the infield grass. The spin did a number on the Miller Lite Ford as the front-end looked as if it had just slammed the wall head on at 180 mph.
Keselowski keyed up his radio, indicating that he thought he had room and taking blame for the wreck.
Hamlin reported on his radio that he had nowhere to go in the situation. “I didn’t want to hit anyone, that’s for sure,” Hamlin said.
The accident brought out the sixth caution of the race and the Team Penske crew immediately went to the garage and began making repairs.
Keselowski would return to the track 30 laps down and in the 37th position but head back to the garage almost immediately as his car started smoking heavily.
“First of all my guys busted their butt on this Miller Lite Ford to get it back out,” Keselowski said after climbing from the car. “They just worked their guts out. I want to race my guts out. I don’t want to points race, I don’t care what the damn format is.”
Keselowski finished 38th and leaves Kansas in the 11th position in the championship standings, seven points behind the eighth and final spot to advance to the next round.
The third and final race of the Round of 12 is next weekend at Talladega Speedway, where Keselowski has recorded four victories.
