Kesolowski Takes Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, February 24, 2019 – Anthony Holbrook, Bluegrass Sports Nation NASCAR Columnist

2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Champion, Brad Keselowski – Driver of the Robert Penskee owned No. 12 Mustang collected the Checkers for The Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500.

The Second Race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was hosted by the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sunday Feb.24^th 2019.  Drivers competed 325 miles on the 1.54 mile Quad Oval Asphalt intermediate track located in Hampton, Georgia

Pole sitter Aric Almirola– Driver of the No.# 10 Stewart-Haas Ford , brought the field to green leading 35 of the first 36 laps.   Kevin Harvick– Driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Ford and Kyle Larson – Driver of the No. 41 demonstrated their cars were of contention with following dominating laps. Kyle Larson’s Bowtie captured Stage 1 win.

Stage 1 Results

1.  Kyle Larson
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Aric Almirola
4. Kurt Bush
5. Martin Truex,Jr.
6. Ryan Blaney
7. Joey Logano
8. Denny Hamblin
9. Ricky Stenthouse Jr.
10. Clint Bowyer

Kevin Harvick secured the point after pit road service, bringing the field to green.  Midpoint through Stage 2, Kevin Harvick No. 4 Chevrolet surrendered the lead to Kyle Larson-Driver of the No. 41 Chip Ganassi Chevrolet, setting up an epic stage finish. With Seventeen laps to completion of Sage 2, Kevin Harvick maneuver his Ford to the preferable bottom lane and held off an approaching Kyle Larson, for the Stage 2 win.

Stage 2 Results

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Kyle Larson
3. Martin Truex, Jr.
4. Ryan Blaney
5. Denny Hamblin
6. Joey Logano
7. Kurt Bush
8. Eric Jones
9. Kyle Bush
10. Clint Bowyer

The Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 final race stages focused upon other drivers who began to show their influence, as their presence was noticed within the final laps.

Driver Brad Keselowski-Driver of the No.2 Penske Ford set quest for the lead while Driver of the No. 16 Gibbs’ Toyota –Martin Truex Jr.  followed 2^nd.   Clean Air assisted the Ford Mustang to stay out front, setting up a battle to the end.

Brad Keselowski fought off a hard charging Martin Truex Jr., in his rearview mirror, to capture The Folds of Honor QuikTip 500 race victory.

Brad suffering from flew like symptoms collected his 2^nd win at Atlanta and first of the season for both Brad Keselowski and Ford Manufacturing.

2019 Folds of Honor QuikTip 500 Results

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Kurt Bush
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Kyle Bush
7. Erik Jones
8. Aric Almirola
9. Chris Buescher
10. Daniel Suarez
11. Denny Hamblin
12. Kyle Larson
13. Ryan Newman
14. Paul Menard
15. Alex Bowman
16. David Regan
17. William Byron
18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
19. Chase Elliott
20. Daniel Hemric
21. Austin Dillion
22. Ryan Blaney
23. Joey Logano
24. Jimmy Johnson
25. Ty Dillon
26. Matt DiBenedetto
27. Bubba Wallace
28. Matt Tift
29. Corey LaJoie
30. Parker Klingerman
31. Ross Chastain
32. BJ McLeod
33. Cody Ware
34. Landon Cassill
35. Ryan Preece
36. Garrett Smithley
37. Michael McDowell

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race No.3 will travel to Las Vegas for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube. Sunday March 4, 2019   3:30 pm.  FOX/FOX Sports Go.