Keselowski Ends 110-Race Winless Streak with Win at Darlington

Brad Keselowski clinched victory at Darlington Raceway in the Goodyear 400, breaking a 110-race winless streak. It was a triumph marked by persistence and a strategic approach, with Keselowski’s No. 6 RRK Racing Ford capitalizing to score the first victory for the Ford Dark Horse Mustang this season.

While the event was relatively mundane, with 23XI driver Tyler Reddick dominating 174 laps, there were a few moments of interest throughout the race. This included when Kyle Larson (who won Stage 1) scrapped the wall and subsequently spun a few laps later causing his day to come to an end. The race also saw Ryan Blaney retire early due to a restart dust-up between William Byron and Martin Truex Jr, highlighting the challenges of Darlington Raceway.

Keselowski’s victory did not come without its tensions. The decisive moment came after a final restart on Lap 261, where Keselowski battled Tyler Reddick side-by-side, ultimately allowing Keselowski’s teammate, Chris Buescher, to slip into the lead. Keselowski’s patience paid off as he stayed within striking distance, capitalizing on the drama that unfolded ahead when Reddick made an aggressive move for the lead on Lap 284. Reddick dove to the inside of Buescher in Turn 2, attempting a slide job, but ended up door-slamming Buscher into the wall resulting in significant damage to both cars. This cleared the path for Keselowski to take the lead on Lap 285 and claim the checkered flag. Despite the late-race drama, Ty Gibbs secured a career-best second-place finish, while Josh Berry finished third.

In the aftermath, Buescher expressed frustration over the incident in a heated exchange on pit road, while Reddick took responsibility, acknowledging his mistake and apologizing for his actions. Meanwhile, Keselowski celebrated a hard-fought victory at one of NASCAR’s toughest tracks.