News Director 
Story By: NASCAR – BROOKLYN, MI – A Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and a 23-time winner, Brad Keselowski boasts quite the racing resume.
One achievement the Rochester Hills, Michigan, native longs to add to his list of accomplishments is a victory in his home state.
He’ll get the chance in Sunday’s FireKeeper’s Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway (3 p.m. ET on FS1).
“I would say (Michigan is) a weekend that is circled every year on our calendar and one where we’ve had a lot of success but haven’t been able to break through for that first win,” Keselowski said. “So I feel like with the season we’re having this year, we have a great opportunity of checking that box off.”
In 15 starts at the two-mile track, Keselowski has five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. He has placed in the top 10 in his past six Michigan races, including showings of third and fourth last year.
Through the first 14 races this season, Keselowski ranks fifth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings on the strength of two wins, eight top fives and 10 top 10s. His 12 playoff points are the third-most in the series. In the 10 races where has not wrecked or had technical difficulties, the No. 2 Team Penske Ford driver hasn’t finished lower than seventh.
Keselowski, 33, felt pressure to perform well at Michigan when he was younger, but is relaxed going into this weekend’s contest.
“Earlier in my career it used to feel like a ton of pressure, but as of late, I don’t seem to feel quite as pressured by it,” he said. “I think maybe that’s just changes in my life or changes in the status of my career as I’ve become more established. But now I just look at it and I think of how amazing it is to run well there, and I don’t seem to get stressed about if I don’t run well there.”
Allgaier Hopes To Extend Points Lead
Justin Allgaier pulled a theft on his JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler in last Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Pocono.
Allgaier seized the lead in the standings from Sadler after finishing runner-up at the Tricky Triangle.
He’ll try to extend his one-point lead over Sadler in Saturday’s Irish Hills 250 at Michigan International Speedway (1:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
In six career starts at Michigan, Allgaier has logged one top-five and three top-10 finishes. He placed eighth there last year.
Through the first 12 races of the season, the No. 7 JR Motorsports driver claims one win, four top fives and six top 10s. He leads the series with seven playoff points via his victory at Phoenix and two stage wins.
“I’m pumped to get to Michigan,” Allgaier siad. “We had a great race at Pocono last weekend and we were able to take over the points lead. That was big for us and we want to keep building on that. Michigan is such a fun, fast race track.”
Bell Tries For Gateway Repeat
Seven races into his second full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Christopher Bell, 22, continues to prove why he’s considered one of the top young talents in the sport.
The Oklahoman picked up his second win of the season at Texas last Friday, edging out Chase Briscoe by inches for the checkered flag. In addition to his two victories, he owns five top fives, six top 10s and a 6.4 average finish. Although Bell currently sits second to Johnny Sauter in the standings, he leads the Truck Series with 13 playoff points.
Bell will continue his pursuit of Sauter when he goes for his second consecutive victory in Saturday’s Drivin’ for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park (8:30 p.m. ET on FS1) – a race he won last year.
“Gateway was a good race for us last year because we were able to get a win and earn a spot in the [playoffs], but it was kind of circumstances that got us the win,” Bell said. “A few of the strong guys crashing late in the race combined with a good pit stop, followed by a good restart won us the race.
“I’m looking forward to going back this year and trying to win the race as the dominant truck like we have the other two wins we’ve collected this year. I feel like every time we’ve gone to the track this year we’ve had really good speed and a Tundra that’s capable of winning the race.”
