CONCORD, N.C. — Even though the Sprint All-Star Race is 90 laps long, and the Coca-Cola 600 runs 400 laps, Brad Keselowski says the transition from one weekend to the next may be more pronounced from a crew chief’s point of view than it is for a driver.
“I definitely think there’s a transition there where you have to be a little more patient, so to speak,” Keselowski said. “And I think it’s probably more of a transition for the crew chiefs than it is for the drivers, because, at the end of the day, it’s still our job to drive the cars very, very hard and make ’em go fast.
“I think that’s it’s more of a transition for the crew chiefs to make sure that the cars have maybe a more appropriate balance of speed and reliability — and speed being long versus a short run, and reliability obviously being parts and components that don’t fail in such a long race.
“It certainly requires a different approach, and I think that’s great. It showcases teams that are strong in multiple directions, and I kind of think it’s pretty cool.”
Keselowski, who finished second in the All-Star Race, seems well-prepared for the 600. His No. 2 Penske Dodge posted the fastest lap (183.692 mph) in final Cup practice Saturday afternoon.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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