Brad Keselowski’s afternoon at Michigan International Speedway was cut short by an accident 61 laps from the finish of the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Keselowski was credited with a 39th-place finish in the final rundown and is second in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, 137 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.

Keselowski started 19th following a second-place finish in first race of the MIS doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, and wrestled a loose handling Mustang throughout Stage 1.  The opening segment of the race ran caution free with Keselowski collecting a 14th-place finish when Stage 1 concluded on lap 40. He pitted during the stage caution on lap 43 for four tires and a right-rear wedge adjustment. The 2 crew did their job, gaining four positions on the stop, moving Keselowski up to 10th for the restart on lap 47.

Keselowski chose the inside lane for the restart and when the race went green, he rocketed through traffic, climbing up to second position by lap 53. Keselowski’s nice work on the restart paired with crew chief Jeremy Bullins’ adjustments put the Discount Tire Ford in clean air just behind Kevin Harvick. As the laps ticked off Keselowski was too loose to mount a challenge for the stage win, but he held off a fast-closing Kyle Busch for second position. Keselowski pitted during the stage caution on lap 88 for four tires and another right-rear wedge adjustment and restarted third when the race went green on lap 91.

Unfortunately, Keselowski would not make it to the finish. On lap 95, he received a huge push from Harvick on the exit of Turn 4 that propelled him down the front stretch and into the second position. Keselowski then dove to the inside of leader Ryan Blaney but got loose. The two made contact, sending both cars into the outside wall, ending their afternoon.

“That was my fault,” said Keselowski. “I feel really bad for my teammate Ryan Blaney. He didn’t deserve that. I came off of Turn 4 and the 4 car (Kevin Harvick) was behind me and he gave me a push and I swear I went into the corner 20 miles an hour faster than I had been all day. I got past the 11 (Denny Hamlin) and I went to get underneath the 12 (Blaney) and I just slipped.  I lost the back a little bit and when I went to collect it, he was there, and I wiped both him and myself out. I feel terrible for everyone at Team Penske. 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.”