If through the first quarter of the NASCAR season Chase Elliott has been the most unlucky as well as controversy-filled driver than Brad Keselowski has been the most fortunate.
Keselowski won his second race of the young season last Sunday in Bristol when Elliott and Joey Logano, who were 1-2 at the time, crashed in the final laps. His first win of the season, the Coca Cola 600, also came at the expense of an Elliott mishap.
“It’s nice to catch some of those breaks,” Keselowski told NASCAR.com after his win at Bristol.
Keselowski, who sits in fourth place in the standings with 315 points (55 behind leader Kevin Harvick) heads to what might be his favorite track Sunday in Atlanta for the Folds of Honor 500. The 36-year-old Team Penske driver won this race here last year and in in 2017 and finished second to Harvick in 2018.
His early-season success comes at a time when questions persist about Keselowski’s future. His contract with Penske is up, so will he get an extension or boost his value on the open market?
“I haven’t put that much thought into anything other than competing and winning and wanting to be in a spot to compete and win for a long time,” Keselowski said. “I don’t let it be a distraction. I can’t always speak for others. The experience I've had with the team, they’re not either.”
Keselowski, as long as his success continues, is in kind of a win-win situation. And another win Sunday, where he’s the fourth choice at 9-1, will make it even better for him.
While Keselowski caught a break in Bristol, The Eckel 3 did not. Looking for their fifth win of the season here are Sunday’s selections from the group that as always includes Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker and Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney.
Kyle Busch (13-2): Both LT and TR are looking for Busch to get his first win of the season. I’m not so sure. “I’m going to keep picking him until he wins,’’ LT said. Busch has won twice in Atlanta.
Kevin Harvick (5-1): The overall point leader is the favorite Sunday. And it’s hard to leave him out of the mix, despite the somewhat short odds. Like Busch, he also has two wins in Atlanta.
Ryan Blaney (16-1): Blaney has driven well this year but has run into some bad luck. This is a good price, although keep in mind he has never finished in the top 10 in Atlanta.
Brad Keselowski (9-1): Sometimes lucky is better than good. The odds are too good to leave out a driver who has dominated here the past three years.
Long Shot: Clint Bowyer (25-1)
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