Brad Keselowski became the first driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to win multiple races this season when he passed Kyle Busch with 42 laps remaining and never looked back to visit victory lane for his first time at Martinsville Speedway.
Keselowski, who notched the first victory for Ford at Martinsville since Oct. 20, 2002 (Kurt Busch, Roush Fenway Racing, 28 races ago), will go for his second straight victory in Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
The No. 2 Ford driver leads the series with 10 playoff points and sits fourth in the points standings, 34 markers behind No. 1 ranked Kyle Larson.
In 17 starts at Texas, Keselowski has four top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 16.2.
Elliott Poised For Win After Strong Start To Second Full-Time Season
Chase Elliott finished third at Martinsville for his third top five of the season. He has an average finish of 7.8, which has propelled him to second in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings – four points below Kyle Larson.
Elliott, 21, is competing in his second full-time season after earning a playoff berth in his Sunoco Rookie campaign. He has two playoff points via his two stage wins.
The No. 24 Chevrolet driver performed well at Texas last season with finishes of fifth (spring) and fourth (fall).
His 5.1 average running position this season is the best in the series.
WDUN will have live PRN Radio coverage of Sunday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 from Texas Motor Speedway beginning at 12:30 pm on 102.9 FM and at 1 pm on AM 550.
JR Motorsports Holds Top Three Spots In The Standings
For the first time in NASCAR Xfinity Series history, a single organization holds the top three positions in the driver standings – JR Motorsports drivers Elliott Sadler (189 points, standings leader), William Byron (-17, second) and Justin Allgaier (-46, third) accomplished the historic feat following their performances at Auto Club Speedway.
This weekend, they will look to hold on to the top three spots as the series returns to action at Texas Motor Speedway for the My Bariatric Solutions 300.
Sadler has been outstanding through the first five races of the season, posting two top fives and an average finish of 9.8. He also has two stage wins that have garnered him two playoff points. Sadler heads to Texas looking for his eighth consecutive top-10 finish at the 1.5-mile speedway. He finished fifth in this event last season.
Sunoco rookie sensation William Byron sits a mere 17 points back from his teammate Elliott Sadler through the first five races. Byron’s season has seen two top fives, four top 10s, a pole and an average finish of 7.8. While this will be his series track debut at Texas this weekend, he did make two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the Lone Star State in 2016, winning the spring race.
Of the three JRM drivers atop the standings, Allgaier is the only one who has cemented his place in this season’s playoffs after his big win at Phoenix earlier this season. Now just 46 points separate him from the standings lead. Through five races this season, Allgaier has posted one win, two top fives, three top 10s and an average finish of 14.8.
Allgaier has made 13 starts at Texas, posting an average finish of 12.3. Last season at TMS, he finished both races inside the top 10.
WDUN will have live PRN Radio corverage of Satuday's NASCAR Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300 from Texas Motor Speedway beginning at 1 pm on 102.9 FM.
Texas Race Weekend Preview
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date: Sunday, April 9
The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 501 miles (334 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 85),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 170), Final Stage (Ends on lap 334)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: My Bariatric Solutions 300
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, April 8
The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)
