Brad Keselowski emerged victorious at Darlington Raceway, while a dramatic incident between Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick overshadowed the race's conclusion.
Brad Keselowski secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory since 2021 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, but the race was marred by a controversial incident that left Chris Buescher fuming and Tyler Reddick apologizing for his reckless driving.
With approximately 10 laps remaining in the Goodyear 400, Buescher and Reddick were locked in a gripping battle for the lead. Reddick's car slid up into Buescher as he attempted to overtake him, sending Buescher into the wall and dashing their hopes of victory.
The incident marked the second consecutive week that Buescher missed out on a win, after finishing a mere 0.001 seconds behind Kyle Larson at Kansas the previous weekend. Buescher's frustration boiled over as he confronted Reddick in pit lane, requiring separation from officials.
Buescher emphasized his need to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs, while Reddick has already virtually secured a spot after winning a race earlier in the season. "That doesn't work for me. We don't have that sticker on my door right now," Buescher said, referring to the NASCAR playoff decal on Reddick's car.
Reflecting on the missed opportunities at Kansas and Darlington, Buescher lamented, "That's two weeks in a row we had a shot to win races. One, I'm going to relive in my head forever at what I would've done different (at Kansas). The other, I need someone else to be more mature about it."
Reddick expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the unfairness of costing Buescher a potential victory. "It's tough to walk away knowing that I used someone up, took their chance away from winning the race that's racing me really cleanly," Reddick said. "I have to work on that and try and make some better decisions."
Keselowski's victory at Darlington marked his first since the 2021 season. The veteran driver had come close to winning throughout the season but had been unable to seal the deal until Sunday's race.
Despite the drama surrounding the Reddick-Buescher incident, Keselowski expressed gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate in Victory Lane once again. "This is a special place. I've been fortunate enough to win here a few times, and it never gets old," Keselowski said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
