It’s Bristol, Baby: ‘Bad Brad’ Goes Back-to-Back in Thunder Valley

On Saturday night, Brad Keselowski tweeted that his Sprint Cup Series car was the best he’d ever had in his career. On Sunday afternoon, he proved it by winning the Food City 500, making it back-to-back wins at the famed Tennessee bullring. The driver of the “blue deuce” led 232 laps en route to his fifth career victory in NASCAR’s elite series.

The race didn’t start off all rosy for Kez though. On lap 24, Kasey Kahne and Regan Smith got together right in front of him, almost taking him out of the race. Fortunately he sustained minor damage and was able to continue on, obviously. The same couldn’t be said for Kahne, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose, and Kevin Harvick, all of whom sustained significant damage in the wreck. Harvick, however, rallied from lengthy stops on Pit Road to repair the damage and finished 11^th.

Perhaps the biggest surprise wasn’t the driver who ended up in Victory Lane, but the one who started 2012 without a ride at all. Just days after announcing his partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing for six races this season, Brian Vickers ran up front all day, leading 125 laps and finishing fifth. In fact, all three of the MWR cars finished in the top five, with Martin Truex, Jr. and Clint Bowyer finishing third and fourth, respectively. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing also had a great showing as both Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya finishing in the top-10, showing much improvement over their previous weeks’ performances. 

However, the race itself didn’t seem like the good ol’ Bristol we knew and loved. Sunday’s race showed longer green flag runs, different pit strategy, and only five caution flags. If that was a good thing is a different story for a different day, but if you ask Brad, I’m sure it was just fine for him.

Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Brad Keselowski takes a Twitpic for @keselowski amidst the 

celebration following his win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 

on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

So who walks away with the checkers and who ends up on the wrecker this week? The results may surprise you… Then again, maybe not.

Checkers: Welcome back, Brian Vickers. After suffering from near-fatal blood clots that sidelined him for most of the 2010 season, to losing his Red Bull Racing ride at the end of last season, to contending for the win on Sunday, it is obvious that the word “quit” is not in his vocabulary. I bet even Matt Kenseth was proud of him as well. One thing is for sure though… Vickers belongs in this sport. I hope someone comes to bat and offers him a legitimate full time ride.

Wreckers: Poor Kasey Kane cannot catch a break so far this year, hitting just about everything but the lottery. He has had great cars and even a pole at Phoenix, but it seems like Lady Luck is not on his side. However, I have faith in the #5, and I think he will redeem himself this upcoming weekend in California, where he has run very well in the past. There is still a lot of racing left in 2012.