Cup: It’s an RFK Day in Darlington: Mid-Race Report

What’s Happening?

Two stages down at Darlington, South Carolina at the Track Too Tough to Tame. After Toyota dominated qualifying, Ford started to flex their muscles early on with the RFK Fords quickly assuming control of the race. Brad Keselowski went on to sweep the stages. The has been 58 races since Brad K’s last win in the NASCAR Cup Series. The venue for that last win? Darlington in the spring of 2024.

Here’s what went down in the first two stages at the Lady in Black.

Mid-Race Report

• Stage 1 started with the 23XI duo of Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace battling for the lead before polesitter Reddick ultimately won the battle. But the problems started early for Reddick as he came over the radio, reporting mechanical issues. Still, he remained in the lead, leading the first 45 laps prior to the cycle of green flag pit stops. After the pit cycle, the race changed hands to Kyle Larson, who led the next 20 laps. At the end of the stage, Brad Keselowski took the lead and ultimately won the stage.
• Stage 1 points earners are: Brad Keselowski (10), Tyler Reddick (9), Ryan Blaney (8), Bubba Wallace (7), Kyle Larson (6), Chris Buescher (5), Austin Cindric (4), Chase Elliott (3), Daniel Suarez (2), and William Byron (1).
• The only caution for cause came out on Lap 11 when Denny Hamlin tagged Erik Jones and turning him around. This caused the No. 11 to check up and he made contact with the outside wall as Bubba Wallace slammed into the back of him. Wallace spent the remainder of the second stage nursing his car around the track.
• Stage 2 belonged to the RFK cars of Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher. It appeared as though Keselowski had his No. 6 Greg Biffle tribute Ford dialed in, but as the run ran long, his teammate Chris Buescher started reeling him in. Buescher made a last-ditch effort in the final turn to take the lead from his boss as Brad Keselowski earned a Darlington Stripe. But he came up just short as Keselowski went on to collect the stage win, sweeping the stages.
• Points earners for Stage 2 are as follows: Brad Keselowski (10), Chris Buescher (9), Kyle Larson (8), Chase Briscoe (7), Tyler Reddick (6), Ryan Preece (5), William Byron (4), Ty Gibbs (3), Austin Cindric (2), and Daniel Suarez (1).

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