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Brad is Rad in Thunder Valley

Brad Keselowski - photo by Larry Robinsion - BSN

Brad Keselowski collects his second win of the season after a late collision involving lap leaders at The Last Great Coliseum.

BRISTOL – May 31, 2020 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK

The 8th NASCAR Cup Series abbreviated Race located to Bristol, Tennessee Sunday, May 31th for The Supermarket Heroes 500 hosted by the Bristol Motor Speedway.  

The Supermarket Heroes 500, originally named the Food City 500, will be the fifth race that drivers will have had to compete in over the span of 15 days in the sport’s return from its COVID-19 pandemic interruption. Continuing cooperation with CVC, no spectators and limited essential personnel will be allowed to attend event until restriction lifted. 

The Supermarket Heroes 500 Stage 1 Recap:

As Qualifying and Practice dismissed, Teams would random draw for The Supermarket Heroes 500 starting grid position.  Penske Driver #2 Brad Keselowski would draw an Ace and bring the field to green.

Leading 78 laps of Stage 1 Brad Keselowski’s Mustang seemed to have the field covered until Hendrick’s Chevy Driver – No.9 Chase Elliott charged to the front blowing past the Penske No.2 Ford to secure P1.

Elliott would keep the field in check the final 22 circuits to win his 4th Stage win of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

NASCAR officials issued multiple Stage 1 speeding tickets while teams exiting pit service.  No. 18 Gibbs Racing Driver Kyle Bush as well as No. 96 Gaunt Brother Toyota Driver – Daniel Suarez both suffered penalty’s, erasing any chance to compete for the Stage 1 win.

The Supermarket Heroes 500 Stage 1 Results

  1. Chase Elliott
  2. Ryan Blaney
  3. Brad Keselowski
  4. Aric Almirola
  5. Joey Logano
  6. Kevin Harvick
  7. Matt DiBenedetto
  8. Denny Hamlin
  9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  10. Jimmie Johnson

The Supermarket Heroes 500 Stage 2 Recap:

With 20 laps remaining, Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Hendrick Chevy tagged Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spinning out the JTG Daugherty No. 47 Chevy in front of approaching field bringing out the Big One. 

Jimmy Johnson will rebound later in the race.  While Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Cole Custer, No. 88 Alex Bowman, No. 1 – Kurt Busch and along with No. 8 Driver – Tyler Reddick carnage would result with race ending damage.

Chase Elliott utilizing the top lane late in Stage 2 found No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports back to the lead once again by Lap 204 of Stage 2.

Elliott was followed by Gibbs Racing Driver No. 11 – Denny Hamlin, Stuart-Haas Racing No. 4 Kevin Harvick, Penske Racing No. 22 Joey Logano and Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Gibbs Racing Toyota round out the top five.

The Supermarket Heroes 500 Stage 2 Results:

  1. Chase Elliott
  2. Denny Hamlin
  3. Kevin Harvick
  4. Joey Logano
  5. Kyle Busch
  6. Clint Bowyer
  7. William Byron
  8. Erik Jones
  9. Brad Keselowski
  10.  Chris Buescher

The Supermarket Heroes 500 Final Stage recap:

With three laps to go, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano battled for the lead at Thunder Valley.  Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro would drift up into Joey Logano forcing the Team Penske driver into the fence.  The collision would take both contending drivers out of 1-2 finish.

Sometimes it’s Better to be Lucky than Good as Brad Keselowski capitalizes on the leaders contact, cruising to the checker flag of another caution filed Bristol Motor Speedway race.

The Supermarket Heroes 500 Final Stage Results

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Kyle Busch
5. Erik Jones
6. Austin Dillon
7. Kurt Busch
8. William Byron
9. Christopher Bell
10. Bubba Wallace
11. Kevin Harvick
12. Ryan Preece
13. John Hunter Nemechek
14. Michael McDowell
15. Ryan Newman
16. Matt Kenseth
17. Denny Hamlin
18. Daniel Suarez
19. Timmy Hill
20. Martin Truex Jr
21. Joey Logano
22. Chase Elliott
23. Chris Buescher
24. Brennan Poole
25. JJ Yeley
26. Garrett Smithley
27. Quin Houff
28. BJ McLeod
29. Aric Almirola
30. Gray Gaulding
31. Matt DiBenedetto
32. Corey LaJoie
33. Joey Gase
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
35. Cole Custer
36. Tyler Reddick
37. Alex Bowman
38. Bayley Currey
39. Ty Dillon
40. Ryan Blaney

Time of Race:
3 Hrs., 19 Mins, 2 Secs.

Average Speed:
80.338 MPH

Margin of Victory:
.471 Seconds

Caution Flags:
17 for 102 laps; Laps: 8-12 (#6 Spins Turns 1-2 [00]); 22-29 (Competition Caution [None]); 62-67 (Competition Caution [66]); 127-136 (Stage 1 Conclusion [32]); 200-207 (#12, 13, Incident Turn 2 [None]); 213-216 (#51 Incident Backstretch [27]); 218-221 (#53 Stalled On Track [66]); 231-235 (#8, 88, 41, 47, 1, 48, 37, 34, 21 Incident Backstretch [Red Flag: 00:11:35] [96]); 240-243 (#37 Incident Turns 3-4 [96]); 252-261 (Stage 2 Conclusion [1]); 270-274 (#17 Incident Turn 2 [21]); 330-334 (#3 Incident Turn 2 [32]); 356-360 (#6 Spins Turn 4 [37]); 434-439 (#4, 20 Incident Turn 1 [42]); 459-463 (#27 Incident Turn 2 [96]); 466-471 (#10, 19, 34, 43, 2, 6, 20 Incident Turn 2 [66]); 490-495 (#22, 11, 78 Incident Turn 4 [66]).

Lead Changes:
21 among 7 drivers; B. Keselowski 1-62; C. Elliott 63; M. DiBenedetto 64-67; B. Keselowski 68-83; R. Blaney 84-104; C. Elliott 105-130; R. Blaney 131-169; B. Keselowski 170-203; C. Elliott 204-223; J. Logano 224; C. Elliott 225-255; D. Hamlin 256-277; K. Busch 278-329; C. Elliott 330; K. Busch 331-360; D. Hamlin 361-416; K. Busch 417-434; C. Elliott 435; D. Hamlin 436-488; C. Elliott 489-496; J. Logano 497; B. Keselowski 498-500.

The NASCAR Cup Series resumes Sunday June 7, 2020 to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 300   3:00 p.m. ET   Fox / MRN / Sirius XM NASCAR Chanel 90

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