Keselowski DQ’d after hopeful day at Martinsville

Before a post-race disqualification, Brad Keselowski was set to earn back-to-back top-5 finishes following a 4th-place finish Sunday at Martinsville.

However, his car was found to be too light in post-race tech inspection, which disqualified Keselowski – nullifying a comeback and a near-win.

On Lap 274, Keselowski was spun by Ross Chastain while battling for a top-10 spot in turn 3.

Thanks to finishing 6th and 7th in the stages and staying on the lead lap, his team executed a two-tire stop that vaulted him to 4th for a restart with 30 laps to go.

Keselowski passed Kyle Larson and Cole Custer, who had two fresh tires and no fresh tires respectively, to take 2nd and chase down Chase Briscoe, who was on no fresh tires.

Keselowski caught Briscoe and bumped him, but he then slid and fell behind Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney who he initially finished 4th to.

Even with the DQ, Keselowski has earned a top-5 finish, 4 top-10 finishes and 13 top-20 finishes – including 9 top-15 finishes – in the last 17 races. During that period, his average finish for 2022 improved from 20.2 to 18.7.