The Latest: Keselowski shakes off flu to win at Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — The Latest on the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (all times local):
5:50 p.m.
Brad Keselowski has recovered from a stomach virus to win Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Team Penske started the day with a replacement driver on standby for Keselowski because the bug that hit him late Friday night kept him out of the car for a portion of final practice. Keselowski received intravenous fluids in the track’s infield medical center and vowed to complete all 500 miles.
The win is the first points victory for Ford’s new Mustang and came a week after the manufacturer was locked out of a podium finish at the Daytona 500.
Martin Truex Jr. finished second in a rebound from his disappointing debut with Joe Gibbs Racing. His three JGR teammates swept the podium in the Daytona 500 while Truex failed to ever contend in his Toyota.
Kurt Busch was third in a Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Kyle Larson led a race-high 142 laps but was taken out of contention by a speeding penalty. Ryan Blaney, Keselowski’s teammate, led 41 laps until a poor pit stop ruined his race.
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4:15 p.m.
Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson have waged an entertaining contest for the lead throughout the second stage of Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Harvick earned the stage victory. He passed Larson when Larson bobbled in the closing laps of the stage. The two had exchanged the lead earlier, with Larson capitalizing when Harvick hit a bump in the asphalt.
Martin Truex Jr. was third in the stage and followed by Ryan Blaney, Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.
Logano has had trouble on pit road on every stop because his car has repeatedly been boxed into its stall by Alex Bowman. It has cost Logano several positions each time he’s had to make up on the track.
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3:15 p.m.
Kyle Larson has won the first stage of Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Larson was the first driver off pit road following a competition caution 35 laps into the race. Kevin Harvick was second in the stage and followed by pole-sitter Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR debuted a new competition package at Atlanta that showed early promise when the cars ran close together. But the field was strung out and single-file at the end of the first stage.
The stage victory was the sixth for Larson on a 1.5-mile speedway.
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2:15 p.m.
Brad Keselowski has recovered from a stomach virus in time to start Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Keselowski jogged from a golf cart into the pre-race driver meeting and predicted he’d go the full 500 miles.
Keselowski missed a portion of the final practice session with a stomach bug and was treated with intravenous fluids Saturday in the infield care center. Team Penske had Austin Cindric on standby in case Keselowski was too ill to drive his No. 2 Ford.
Keselowski’s symptoms first appeared after he surprised fans Friday night in the rainy infield at Atlanta.
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2 p.m.
Kyle Busch will make his 500th career Cup start when he races Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he’s already notched one milestone this weekend.
Busch became the Truck Series all-time wins leader Saturday with his 52nd career victory. He starts from the back in Sunday’s main event because he crashed his Toyota in final practice.
Aric Almirola starts from the pole in the debut for NASCAR’s new competition package. The rules this season are designed to improve the on-track product by slowing the cars and creating more passing opportunities. NASCAR hopes the package creates parity among the teams and increases entertainment for fans.
Brad Keselowski has battled a stomach ailment at Atlanta but is expected to at least start the race. Austin Cindric is on standby as a Team Penske relief driver.
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