NASCAR Official Extended Highlights: Tempers flare at Darlington Raceway | Goodyear 400
Summary
TLDRThe Goodyear 400 race saw intense competition with Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski dominating the field. Reddick led the race early on, but as he encountered lap traffic, Keselowski seized the opportunity to challenge for the lead. Kyle Larson also showcased his speed, passing Tai Gibbs to take the front spot. However, strategy and tire management played a crucial role, with Ryan Blay benefiting from a long stint on the track, gaining track position. A series of cautions and pit stops added to the drama, with Byron's short pitting move proving pivotal. The race featured thrilling door-to-door battles, with Keselowski eventually taking the lead in a three-wide battle and holding it through to the end. Despite a late-race scare with a flat tire, Keselowski managed to secure a hard-fought victory, marking his 36th career win and ending a three-year drought since his last win at Talladega.
Takeaways
- π The Goodyear 400 race is underway with Tyler Reddick taking an early lead.
- ποΈ Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin show competitive racing, with Busch eventually taking the second spot.
- π Lap traffic becomes a factor as the leaders start to catch up with slower cars on the track.
- π¦ Kyle Larson uses his speed to pass other cars and secure the lead after a round of green flag pit stops.
- π οΈ Pit strategy plays a crucial role, with some drivers like Ryan Blay benefiting from staying out longer on older tires.
- π Tire issues lead to cautions and changes in the race, affecting the strategies and outcomes for drivers like Kevin Harvick.
- π½ Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blay show strong performances, with Blay making significant progress through the field.
- π₯ Aggressive racing leads to crashes, with multiple cars getting involved in incidents throughout the race.
- π William Byron and Brad Keselowski are key players in the final stages of the race, with Byron showing strong speed.
- π A flat tire for Kyle Larson brings out a caution and changes the dynamics of the race towards the end.
- π Brad Keselowski wins the Goodyear 400, marking his 36th career win and a significant victory after a three-year drought.
Q & A
What is the significance of the number one pit stall in NASCAR races?
-The number one pit stall is significant in NASCAR races because it typically offers the best position for quick exits onto the track after pit stops, providing a strategic advantage. This was highlighted when Tyler Reic, who had the number one pit stall, consistently managed to come off Pit Road first.
How did Kyle Larson manage to take the lead from Ty Gibbs during the Goodyear 400?
-Kyle Larson took the lead from Ty Gibbs when Gibbs had difficulty maneuvering around slower traffic, specifically Carson Hos. Larson quickly caught up to Gibbs, applied pressure, and capitalized on Gibbs getting loose in turn three, which allowed Larson to take the lead.
What was the strategic move made by Larson to avoid putting Chase Elliott a lap down?
-Kyle Larson strategically chose to hold his position behind Chase Elliott to avoid putting his Hendrick Chevy teammate a lap down. This allowed Elliott to potentially get his lap back on a free pass and avoid starting at the tail end among the lap down cars.
Why was Brad Keslowski frustrated after the qualifying session?
-Brad Keslowski was frustrated after the qualifying session because he was aware of how beneficial the number one pit stall could be, as evidenced by Tyler Reic's advantageous position and quicker pit stop exits.
What caused the second caution of the day at lap 121?
-The second caution of the day at lap 121 was caused by John Hunter Nemechek, who was driving a 1956 Dodge tribute car. He spun out facing the wrong way on the front straightaway after a right front tire failure.
How did William Byron manage to take the lead during the race?
-William Byron took the lead during a moment of intense racing when he managed to pass Kyle Larson on Pit Road. His earlier pit stop compared to Larson, who pitted later, allowed him to gain track position and seize the lead.
What challenge did drivers face with old and new tires during the race?
-Drivers faced the challenge of balancing track position with tire wear. Those who stayed out longer on old tires, like Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace, gained track position but at the cost of tire performance compared to those on new tires.
What led to Chris Buescher taking the lead towards the end of the race?
-Chris Buescher took the lead towards the end of the race by making a daring move during a tight battle between Brad Keslowski and Tyler Reic. He used a crossover maneuver to pass both drivers as they were focused on each other.
What problem did Kyle Larson face that brought out a caution and affected his race?
-Kyle Larson faced a problem when his left rear tire went flat, likely due to brushing against the wall earlier in the race. This issue eventually caused a caution and significantly affected his position and performance in the race.
How did Brad Keslowski finally win the Goodyear 400?
-Brad Keslowski won the Goodyear 400 by maintaining strong track position throughout the race, effectively managing his tires, and executing crucial overtakes, including a final maneuver to maintain his lead and finish first.
Outlines
ποΈ Race Start and Strategy
The Goodyear 400 race kicks off with Tyler Reddick taking the lead and Kyle Busch securing the second spot. The commentary focuses on the importance of lap traffic and how it can affect the race dynamics. Kyle Larson is noted for his speed and the potential for him to challenge the leaders. The strategy of short pitting is discussed, with William Byron taking the lead through this tactic. The first round of green flag pit stops leads to a change in the race lead, with Ty Gibbs and Kyle Larson making significant moves. The summary also touches on the difficulty of turn three and the impact of tire strategy on track position.
π§ Cautions and On-Track Incidents
This paragraph details the second caution of the day, triggered by Kevin Harvick's right front tires going down, leading to a pile-up. The narrative describes the aggressive driving and the resulting on-track incidents, including a near-wreck situation. The focus then shifts to the race strategies, emphasizing the importance of stage points and track position. The aggressive driving of Brad Keselowski is highlighted, along with his successful attempts to control the race from the front. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of potential damage to car 17 and the changing race dynamics as a result of various incidents.
π Final Stages and Victory
The final stages of the race are characterized by intense competition, with drivers like Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski battling for the lead. The narrative describes the strategic moves on the track, including side-drafting and the importance of tire management. Chris Buescher's role in assisting his teammate is noted, along with the critical moments leading to Keselowski taking the lead. The race concludes with Keselowski making a significant gamble that pays off, leading him to victory in the Goodyear 400. The summary emphasizes the driver's persistence and the team's strategy, culminating in a hard-fought win.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Goodyear 400
π‘Lap Traffic
π‘Pit Stops
π‘Stage Points
π‘Restarts
π‘Track Position
π‘Short Pits
π‘Flat Tires
π‘Caution Flags
π‘Spin
π‘Lead Changes
Highlights
The Goodyear 400 is underway with Tyler Reddick taking the lead.
Keselowski secures the second spot in turn four.
Larson's speed is noted as he begins to catch lap traffic.
Reddick, the leader, faces lap traffic, providing an opportunity for Kyle Busch.
Kyle Larson passes Tai Gibbs to take over the front spot after a round of green flag pit stops.
Gibbs experiences difficulty getting around Carson Hocevar.
Larson's strategic move to avoid putting his teammate Chase Elliott a lap down.
Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski dominate the restarts with aggressive strategies.
Ryan Blay gains eight positions with a strategic pit stop cycle, moving into the top 10.
John Hunter Nemechek spins in the Lee Petty 1956 Dodge tribute car, causing the second caution of the day.
William Byron's impressive run, getting the lead with a three-wide move.
Kevin Harvick's right front tires go down, causing a crash.
Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blay show strong performance in the latter part of the race.
Brad Keselowski takes the lead for the second time in the race after a strong start.
Reddick faces a challenge with a right rear flat tire.
Brad Keselowski wins the Goodyear 400, marking his 36th career win.
Transcripts
and the Goodyear 400 is
[Music]
underway Tyler reic wasted no time as
keslowski slides up in front of Gibbs to
secure the second spot in turn
four the next part of this equation we
know Larson's fast we just noted it all
right they're starting to catch lap
traffic it'll be another lap and reic
the leader will be in lap traffic now
he's going to be mired in traffic and
that'll be kow's opportunity to pounce
he better
hurry right the car right behind these
two cars Kyle arson watch his line Clint
when he goes into the entry to the
corner he's got a little bit higher
entry see how he's off that apron right
there in a turn one and he used uses
that to get that straight line up off
the corner he's already see how he turns
down earlier into turn two well when he
goes into turn three right here he's
going to go in above that top scene and
now that he's catching traffic he may
come down he may not be close enough to
do it yet but when he was behind the 54
he would ride that Rim right there and
turn it off the wall but until he gets
close when he gets closer he'll turn
that car off the wall and drive off
Street look at this they're going to get
him
boys these guys are getting passed who
are they getting passed by short pitting
you got Byron in the lead by the way
Byron somehow got around the five and
Pit Road that's why you pit
early how will you pay the price on the
back side of these runs and that this
this is when it becomes difficult right
because you got to run that whole long
run um all the way I mean it's going to
be 50 plus laps so you never know with
these guys they might decide to to split
it up again but um that's going to be a
long ways if we run the whole
run Ty Gibbs takes over the lead of the
Goodyear 400 45 laps in after one round
of green flag pit stops Kyle Larson
passing Tai Gibbs here to take over the
front spot Tai was having trouble
getting around Carson hos far in front
of him and lson caught him pretty quick
put the pressure on him got into turn
three Gibbs got loose the rest is
history yeah and that's real real easy
to do in that corner we'd actually um
it's a very common problem no matter
what car you drive getting loose in into
turn three the way that you carry the
speed in and it has kind of a little bit
of swell getting into the corner kind of
a ridge that you go over now taking a
look at stage points Ryan blay remember
he was 18th before theit Pit Stop Cycle
he ran the first 45 laps before coming
in he's up into the top 10 so a gain of
eight with that strategy well both of
these guys right here bubble Wallace and
Ryan bling were the guys that that
stayed out the longest so you know I
think that that lap time difference in
the new tires old tires it just became a
little bit easier to make up that track
position with what they gave up at the
end of that that last first cycle last
lap stage one Larson holding station uh
behind Chase Elliot so as not to put his
Hendrick Chevy teammate a lap down he'd
still get his lap back on the free pass
but he'd have to pit with the lap down
cars and start tail end so good
strategic move here this will be
larsson's seventh stage win of the
Season he only had eight in of 2023 so
he is on great Pace as he rounds off
turn
four in that great throwback scheme to
Terry Leon's 96 Championship look at
this guys six beat him out 45 didn't
have to move much where's he at plus
three that number one
box there it is Kevin number one box all
right stage two Tyler reic Brad
keslowski
bring them back to green and again reck
gets a good jump thank you number one
pit
stall well that's why Brad keslowski was
so frustrated yesterday after qual
qualifying because he knows how much
easier that number one pit stall makes
this day and you saw evidence of that as
Tyler reick came off Pit Road first that
time man look at blay coming by looking
to the inside of Byron right there just
keeps marching up through them good day
so far for Ryan blay got nean check
around on the front straightaway guys
facing the wrong way in that Lee Petty
1956 Dodge tribute car John Hunter n was
running 17th at the time of the spin
this is the second caution of the day it
comes at lap
121 right front tires Down Kevin right
front tires
gone left right front Ben left rear
right front back to green
three wide for third yes sir Here Comes
William Byron on that inside they
squeeze him TRX almost wrecked bling in
the wall they're wrecking guys and they
pile up accordion style behind them
caution waves I think bl's got a right
rear toe link bro watch William Byron
he's the one that gets the run here goes
to the inside as he gets into three gets
him three
wide yeah you see that 12 car get to the
outside of the 19 and then oh Byron just
yeah they just all came together right
there and we talked about it in the
beginning of the show you know I think
that 17 car is is going to have some
damage on the front end too possibly
that Gap that splitter uh right we you
said that in the in the pre-race show
Kevin cannot get separation see Byron
just come up just a little bit and gets
into the side of Trux and Trix was
trying to back out but big hit for bla
out yeah 17's going to have that
frontting damage like you're talking
[Music]
about when somebody falls out it's
somebody else's Fortune look at that
Lano Bubba Wallace up there filling them
slots here they come boy reck's had
great fire off speed all day he just
launches out ahead of the
field well and that's what you want you
want to be a B to control the race you
want to control it on the Pit Road you
want to control it off Pit Road on the
restarts into turn one pick the lane and
it's all working that way for Tyler reck
right now so everything he can do to not
make any mistakes and keep control of
the race just gives his odds just keep
going up every lap uh this is this is
when you could get yourself in trouble
let's see what
happened see him get loose back there
all by himself guys trying to stay out
of the wall spun around gets into the
inside wall reck and kazlowski again on
the front row where Tyler reck has
dominated every start and restart
[Music]
today well you see Brad kazlowski be a
little more aggressive that the side
draft right there and he's kept himself
in a better position but this is when it
gets tight coming off a turn two see
those cars bouncing and wiggling around
over that bump on the exit but Brad
keslowski is there yes that was a great
start for Brad keslowski trying to slide
job him not going to be there reic still
holding tight on his outside here they
come off the four well they both know
this is a short run they don't you see
him bang doors a little bit right there
they they both know they don't have to
take care of their tires but they also
know how important it is to get not only
stage points but track position and
control this race careful off a two
keslowski has led one lap today as he
falls in line behind reic who's now led
more laps at Darlington than any other
track in his career for stage two reic
leading keslowski by a second
gives one and 3/4
[Music]
back tidler reic looking to win his
second stage of the season and it would
be his first stage win at
Darlington in that Tim Richmond Daytona
consolation race winning graphic scheme
on the number 45 reic here they come for
stage
three green
[Music]
flag oh they're
banging put some pressure on him lson
looking to the inside yeah and you see
Brad keslowski just kind of give that
position up not yet not so fast still
holding on the outside here comes a big
push William Byron going around them
both Byron again three wide way deep on
the bottom but has to back out slide job
larsson's going to slide up in front of
him leaves him room on that outside
[Music]
respect it's pretty nice to him there
wasn't he yeah I really thought he had
plenty of room to to at least try to
make him go the opposite direction but
he decided to uh to give him a lane and
Brad drove back around careful he's
going to get a hem trying to stay on the
tail end of the lead lap in the 31 new
leader Brad keslowski for the second
time
today well the thing that happened right
there there was keslowski had clean air
in front of him and and reic was behind
that lap car and got him tight and Brad
was able to drive by and more aggressive
let's hear what the five has to
say oh he's around left rear theall left
rear went off the beat loose or or
excuse me flat tire and that will bring
out a caution at lap 2 get stuck it
brought right back in here leader just
middle one and
two so that changes things
Larsson was sixth he had brushed the
wall earlier and his last couple of lap
times were almost to second off the
leader Joey Lano had just passed in the
lap before you see that left re soft
already yep went off the bead right
there yeah the lap times fell off
because he I'm sure he felt that left
your tire going down
and there it went slaps the 2311 has
ever LED in a race as Tyler reck brings
us back to green with Brad kazlowski
[Music]
inside and reic can't clear well I think
Brad knew exactly what he needed to do
right there you see him shove him up the
shove the 45 up the racetrack I think
Brad feels like this is his what would
have been his best chance to um drive by
reic on the bottom but definitely saw
him fighting for space on the entry to
the corner and here we go again side
draft off the
45 45 had a li a little bit yes he did
he's crowding him a little bit still got
room here he's on his door same for
Bucher in third battling Tai Gibbs but
then Bucher pulls ahead and now it's six
cars together for the
lead neither driver given an inch right
here drag race down the front
straightway here comes butcher to the
inside he's going to give his teammate a
huge shot how about that I'm surprised
he didn't try to cross over he would
have if that wasn't his boss could have
got a two for one right there man
they're going at it Kevin well both of
these guys know how important that this
is going to be the race for the win if
the caution doesn't come back
out kazlowski
Relentless holding the
bottom reic trying to power ahead and
can't do it kazlowski is still there on
his quarter don't door even and ahead
one more shot you're going to have to
run him up the track you need to crowd
him running out of Chances with him up
there in that preferred Groove yeah and
every lap he runs low it just makes it
harder and harder on his tires on the
long run so you see Chris buer he's
going to play a part in this if he can
if he has the opportunity to help Brad
as we saw he'll do it again fantastic
racing door to door for these guys I
thought reic might have rubbed the wall
right there but he's leaning on him here
comes a crossover for berer going to
pass him both way down on the apron he's
clear guys Chris
buer now he's going to check up last
week the brides made now he's in the
lead yeah and what you here comes the
dive bomb he's going to try to slide him
he's going to try to slide him he's got
Lo buter got in the wall watch for the
six car
coming
oh loose and he's looking he's mad he's
not happy something's wrong they're both
in trouble reck's in trouble he's got a
right rear flat
and reic fences it again no caution yet
he still going around there I'm not so
sure that that 17 car has not got an
issue as well yeah he's he's 17's
pitting the six back to the lead oh my
gosh and you're right he came over here
big gamble put it on his shoulders and
did it left a championship continuing
team and organization White Flag one lap
to go sponsored by Credit One Bank well
Brad kazlowski is Four Corners away from
from getting back into Victory Lane he
has done a fantastic job we knew that
this was a style of Racetrack and we
knew he had a good car yesterday
qualified well and that put him in
position to do exactly what he's done
[Music]
today RFK they're here they're back both
of those cars were a factor and it's
Brad keslowski so happy for this guy
three years of trying since Talladega
April 21 Brad kazlowski wins the goodye
400
36th career win
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