NASCAR enthusiasts are set for a great race this Sunday when Crown Royal Presents The Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, July 24th at 3 pm E.T. on NBC Sports Network.
Team Penske will unload several strong cars that are backed by aggressive and accomplished drivers. As a result, the famed Team Penske organization will be well represented for the prestigious race. Famed owner Roger Penske has collected 16 victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Every one of those wins have come in the IndyCar Series. He has yet to place a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hot-rod into Victory Lane in the Brickyard 400.
All that could change this weekend if Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have anything to say about it. Not only has the two skilled teammates excelled in 2016, but both have proven their merit at some of NASCAR’s biggest events.
Joey Logano has won NASCAR’s grandest race, the Daytona 500. He has also captured victories at Talladega Super Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Charlotte. Logano appeared to have sealed his place in the main event last season but on track fiasco’s costed him dearly. He qualifies better than any driver in the Sprint Cup Series. This advantage will enable him to have an edge in the pits for the Brickyard 400.
Brad Keselowski, Logano’s partner in crime, has also won at some celebrated venues. The 2013 Sprint Cup champion has driven to victory at Talladega on three different occasions. He also has wins at Daytona, Bristol Motor Speedway and Pocono to name a few. Let’s examine each driver and see why they will put that elusive trophy into Roger Penske’s cluttered showcase.
Brad Keselowski
NASCAR’s Brad Keselowski would love nothing more than to capture the first Team Penske Brickyard 400 triumph. The 2016 wins leader has three top ten finishes here but also has yet to win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This year, Brad Keselowski leads the series with four wins and the #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion has been fast all season. The momentous driver has collected a victory in the Xfinity Series at Indianapolis. As a result, the speedster can find the speed to get the job done at this tricky track.
Brad Keselowski’s team has been the best Ford team in 2016, but the manufacturer has not been out front when it counted here since 1999. There will be extra motivation to break that bad streak in this year’s race. Furthermore, nobody is better at managing their fuel when it counts the most than Brad Keselowski’s team.
He already displayed that ability when he won at Kentucky Speedway on July 9th. This track has been famous for the outcome being decided on fuel consumption. There will be distinct advantage he will hold if that scenario arises. Look for the savvy driver to find his way to the front in the closing laps and contend for the win on Sunday.
Joey Logano
Joey Logano has been one of the faster cars this year. As a result, he will be one of the favorites to drive into the Winners Circle on Sunday. Logano has finished four of the last five races in the top five so he will have some momentum entering the Brickyard 400
One distinct advantage that Joey Logano carries into the weekend is that he tested at this track last week. The #22 Pennzoil Ford Fusion was fast at Pocono Raceway which as many similarities as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Logano’s hot-rod ran well there and he finished the day with an impressive fifth place finish. Furthermore, he will be driving the same automobile for this race, so a top five finish here is likely.
Joey Logano has managed to get just one win this season. The victory came pretty late in the Firekeepers Casino 400 back in June. He also just missed the boat last weekend, finishing third on his own home course in New Hampshire. The 26 year old phenom sits fifth in the Sprint Cup Series points race. The credit for his high ranking goes to his unyielding consistency. Logano has 12 top ten outcomes in the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season.
That same consistency applies to Joey Logano’s performances in the Brickyard 400. The aggressive driver has collected two top five finishes in a row at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In fact, Logano led 28 laps in last years installment of the Brickyard 400. He finished just three tenths of a second behind race winner Kyle Busch. Look for The masonic colored, fiftieth anniversary of Penske Racing’s #22, to be up front with a chance to capture Team Penske’s first Brickyard 400.
