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SPORTS Tuesday 18 sepTember 2018
NASCAR PLAYOFF weeks," Keselowski said. in Vegas even after clip-
Continued from Page 17 "We put everything togeth- ping the wall and plowing
"I didn't think it was ever er when it counted, and through the infield grass
going to end," Keselowski we kind of stole it today. with 35 laps to go.
said after his 27th career Same scenario the last two Truex moved into the over-
victory and third in Las Ve- weeks. ... I feel like we stole all points lead over Busch
gas. "I was worried about the last three races. We're and Keselowski, who leap-
running out of gas there at not complaining, but we frogged Harvick.
the end." still have a lot of work to More things to know from
Keselowski had plenty of do to go out there and win Sin City:
worries with just two laps to heads-up without those is- BLOWOUTS
go while he sat in his sta- sues." Penske was not in Harvick's blown tire also
tionary car and waited for attendance for his land- wrecked pole-sitter Erik
the cleanup of Michael mark victory at Las Vegas Jones, who couldn't re-
McDowell's wreck with Kurt Motor Speedway, instead act quickly enough and
Busch. But after the red-flag watching from Sonoma at rear-ended Harvick. The
stop ended, nobody could the IndyCar season finale. Brendon Gaughan, right, presents Brad Keselowski with a tro- 42-year-old former champ
keep up with Keselowski's He formed Team Penske in phy following a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 16, doesn't need a fantastic re-
Team Penske Ford. 1966, and it has fielded 50 2018, in Las Vegas. sult from the first set of play-
The victory extended an winning drivers across 14 Associated Press off races to advance, but
extraordinary late-season race series during the ensu- he was still furious about
run for Keselowski, who won ing 52 years. Keselowski's rivals are very right now. He's on a streak. his tire failure. "There was
at Darlington and the Brick- The owner pumped his fist aware of his surge against That's the way it goes. We something wrong from the
yard in consecutive weeks on the timing stand in So- stiff odds. "Brad clearly finished third with the best time we put the tires on,"
before Vegas. Keselowski noma after Keselowski won. found the horseshoe," Truex car." Eight of the 16 playoff Harvick said. "It was like
credited his pit crew's ef- "We did it, boss!" Keselows- said. "Three races in a row drivers had various prob- Russian roulette every time
ficiency for the latest win ki shouted. "That's quite a he's won, (and) he has not lems during the race, which you put these (terrible) tires
in his improbable surge, number, right? It's really had the best car. ... He had six cautions in the final on and try to drive around
which has added some in- great to be a part of that, hasn't led the most laps in 60 laps alone. Four playoff the racetrack. One time it
trigue to a NASCAR season and to get the last one to any of those races, and he drivers failed to finish — in- is tight, one time it is loose,
largely dominated by the get us there, that's pretty showed up at the end with cluding co-leader Kevin one time they are blistered.
Big Three of Truex, Harvick great." Kyle Larson was good pit stops and good Harvick, who wrecked with We had a great car and
and Kyle Busch. second, and defending short-run speed. I think 120 laps to go when he then you put a set of tires
"We have not been the Cup series champion Mar- clearly, it's pretty obvious blew his right front tire. on it and you can't hardly
best car the last three tin Truex Jr. came in third. how it worked out. He's hot Kyle Busch finished seventh make it through the field."q