Brad Keselowski wiped out Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney in Stage 3 while challenging for the lead in Sunday’s Consumers Energy 312 at Michigan International Speedway.
On Lap 95 Keselowski was on the inside and appeared to get his left tires on the apron of the race track causing his No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang to wiggle and sending his car into the side of Blaney’s No. 12 Ford Mustang.
Both drivers slammed the SAFER barrier wall in Turn 2 and suffered major damage to both vehicles eliminating them from the race.
Keselowski who recently announced a one-year extension to remain in the No. 2 Ford Mustang took full responsibility for the accident.
“I just lost it. It’s my fault,” said Keselowski. I feel really bad for my teammate, Ryan Blaney. He didn’t deserve that. I just came off of turn four and the 4 car was behind me and he gave me a push and I swear I went into the corner like 20 miles an hour faster than I had been all day and got past the 11 and I went to get underneath the 12 and I just slipped.
“I lost the back a little bit and when I went to collect it he was there and I wiped him out and myself out, so I feel terrible for everyone at Team Penske and especially Ryan Blaney. Gosh, he didn’t deserve that.”
Keselowski said before the accident he had previously been able to run the bottom wide-open but said he overestimated the situation triggering the accident.
“I should have whoa’d way up,” added Keselowski. “I had been running wide-open on the bottom all day and thought I could do it again, but with that big push I overestimated the grip and ruined our day.”
Blaney took the misfortune in stride, chalking it up to an innocent mistake by his teammate.
“It’s just unfortunate for the whole Penske organization,” offered Blaney. “We had two fast cars battling for the lead and it just stinks that happened. He had a run, like he said, and he didn’t think he had as big of a run as he had and just got loose and, unfortunately, got us both. It’s a shame to end our day like that with the Knauf | Menards Ford Mustang.
“We were so fast. We had to battle back from having to pit again and got to 10th for the second stage and then got the lead. I was like, ‘All right, we can finally go back at it,’ and just got together there. That’s unfortunate, but it’s not gonna carry over. Things happen. Mistakes happen. It’s just a shame both of us got taken out.”
Keselowski, a native of Rochester Hills, Mich. finished second in Saturday’s Firekeepers Casino 312 and hoped to earn his first NASCAR Cup Series win at his hometown track, but instead will finish last in 39th.
Blaney finished fourth Saturday and 38th Sunday in his 12th Michigan start.
WOW.
Team Penske teammates Ryan @Blaney and Brad @Keselowski crash battling for the lead! TV: NBCSN Stream: https://t.co/CAYgs2g5vY pic.twitter.com/zHqa3wMMYx
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 9, 2020
Hard hits for Ryan @Blaney and Brad @Keselowski racing for the lead at @MISpeedway! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6UpVfP08FA
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 9, 2020
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
