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Keselowski Collects Stellar Top Five Finish at Homestead-Miami

Brad Keselowski earns a solid top five finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)

Brad Keselowski earns a solid top five finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Earlier this year, Brad Keselowski made it a mission to push RFK Racing toward the present and future, not the team’s storied past.

From selling old equipment and cars to enduring some of the growing pains, it was about building toward long term success, not past accolades.

At times, the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season has been an exercise in patience. There have been times when Keseslowski and Chris Buescher, his teammate, have been off in terms of pace.

However, the tide seems to be turning for Keselowski and his No. 6 Violet Defense Ford Mustang team. Since the Cook Out Southern 500, when Keselowski placed seventh, the 2012 Cup champion has finished 14th or better on three occasions.

Despite winning the Michigander scoring the pole and placing eighth last month at Texas Motor Speedway, this weekend’s Dixie Vodka 400 race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway was the most complete performance of the season.

Qualifying ninth, Keselowski placed seventh in Stage 1 before taking a respectable fifth in Stage 2.

By all means, it was the epitome of a good, clean race for the 38-year-old Rochester Hills, Michigan native.

When all was said and done, Keselowski drove to a fifth place finish, his first top five result of 2022.

As the 35-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner observed, it was a strong showing for his RFK Racing team.

“We were solid all day,” Keselowski said. “Great stops and the car was really solid. We weren’t in a spot to dominate the race but we were in a spot to run up front all day and that is what we did.”

Beyond the strong showing and performance on Sunday, Keselowski and crew chief Matt McCall are finding their stride.

The sharp colors of the No. 6 Violet Defense Ford Mustang ran toward the front at Homestead-Miami. (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)

The sharp colors of the No. 6 Violet Defense Ford Mustang ran toward the front at Homestead-Miami. (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)

“We are starting to gel and click as a team. It is exciting for RFK and I am really happy for Violet Defense and everybody on the team,” he remarked.

Although Keselowski tallied a Duel victory at Daytona in February, it is the recent run of frontrunning performances and results that stands out.

The 15th year Cup racer likes his team’s chances of finishing the season out on a strong note.

“We are pushing and getting better,” he shared. “It was a solid day all day. I am really looking forward to Martinsville.

“We had a great test there just like we did here at Homestead. I really want to get a win before this year is over. If we keep building momentum like this, I think we can do that.”

While there are only two races left in the season, Keselowski feels confident about his No. 6 team’s chances of winning their first Cup race.

“100 percent. It just can’t come fast enough. We want it bad,” he said.

Rob Tiongson is a 30-something motorsports journalist who enjoys sports like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, track and field and hockey. A Boston native turned Austinite, racing was the first sport that caught his eyes. From interviews to retrospective articles, if it's about anything with an engine and four wheels, it'll be here on TPF, by him or by one of his talented columnists who have a passion for racing. Currently seeking a sports writing, public relations, or sports marketing career, particularly in motorsports. He enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson, a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, pursues his Master of Arts in Digital Journalism at St. Bonaventure University. Indeed, while Tiongson is proud to be from Massachusetts, he's an everywhere kind of man residing in Texas.

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