In a crash-filled race featuring a record-tying number of cautions, the outcome ultimately came down to fuel mileage Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway.
NASCAR Kentucky 2016 results: Brad Keselowski wins Quaker State 400
Brad Keselowski had just enough fuel to make it across the finish line ahead of Carl Edwards.
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Brad Keselowski saved just enough fuel to narrowly edge Carl Edwards to win the Quaker State 400, running out of gas just as he came off Turn 4 towards the checkered flag. He was so short of fuel, he needed a push to victory lane.
The win was Keselowski’s series-best fourth of 2016 and his second straight, having also won the week before at Daytona International Speedway.
“We went out and we set a really fast pace there on that restart and was just using fuel, and then it became obvious that you were gonna have to save fuel at the end, but I already used so much,” Keselowski said. “It’s a testament to our guys to have the fuel mileage that we did to be able to get back what I burnt early in the run.”
Ryan Newman finished third, followed by Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart, who was making his 600th career Cup Series start.
Keselowski’s ability to save fuel proved to be the difference-maker, as he admitted he didn’t have the best car. He thought his tank ran dry with two laps remaining allowing Edwards to close up, but after slowing Keselowski was able to get back up speed and pull away.
Kevin Harvick led a race-high 128 laps, but a late pit stop for fuel dropped him to ninth in the finishing order.
Eleven cautions matched the Kentucky track-record set in last year’s race.
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