Only a few laps before the red flag flew this Sunday at the “Coke 350,” as Brad Keselowski named it. His #6 and Christopher Bell’s #20 were locked hard in battle, with Kyle Larson prepping in the pits to reclaim his #5 throne from relief driver Justin Allgaier. The 2018 Xfinity Series regular-season champ battled for all 259 laps of the latest rain-shortened race in this year’s NASCAR calendar.

Those efforts fell flat, however, and Kyle Larson became the unluckiest man in motorsports on the same day he looked destined to complete a notorious 1100-mile Indy-Charlotte ‘Double Duty.’ Rainfall ruined Larson’s chances at a clear vision to chequered in both venues. But some positives might have emerged from a day steeped in major disappointment. And these findings were brought to light by none other than Brad Keselowski.

A rained-out ‘Opportunity’ for absent Kyle Larson

In the absence of Larson’s rapid fast presence prevalent on intermediates as of late, evident through wins at Kansas and Vegas, two similar tracks with 1.5-mile configurations. Teammate William Byron ensured a place at the podium in P3 behind Keselowski, who was coming off a strong points resurgence with a win at Darlington a few weeks ago.

As Keselowski later announced his disappointment over finishing second behind Bell to the media, claiming the #6 team had “the car to win the race,” he also opined on the positives surrounding Kyle Larson’s unlucky fate at not being able to run a single lap at Charlotte in his return.

Zach Sturniolo of NASCAR.com laid out the context in due regard, “with Kyle Larson not making a lap today that kind of opens up the regular-season Championship hunt as well.” Adding on to Larson’s current uncertainties of being granted a waiver for a shot at the playoffs championship, the reporter asked Brad: “Do you feel like that will play a significant role in how that unfolds?”

Keselowski had some interesting conclusions to draw on the #5’s fortunes He told the media during his post-race press conference, “Yes… This is a big point-scoring race, normally because you have the third stage right? Or four stages. But third stage to get points in.

Sharing the uncertainty of many others over the then-undetermined situation of the points standings, Keselowski continued to state, “I don’t think we’re going to play those points out… I don’t know have to get some kind of ruling on that. So, probably actually played to his (Larson’s) favor in that regard with the rain.” 

With rain putting a halt to festivities with almost ‘one & a half stages’ of the 400 lap encounter, still hallway from over, the Coca-Cola 600 failed to award integral stage points and their consequent playoff points to the benefactors of that unaccomplished scheduled break. This could potentially help Larson regain his now-lost points leader status from Denny Hamlin, sooner than most ascertain. Especially considering the narrow five-point lead his JGR rival currently holds over him in this season’s point standings, Heading to Illinois next Sunday, only Martin Truex Jr separates Larson from Hamlin for an exciting points battle.

However, a resurgent Brad Keselowski also talked about the dangers at bay from the highest-finishing Ford of the 2024 Coca-Cola 600.

Brad Keselowski leads charge of the Dark Horses after Charlotte chaos

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To conclude his answer to Sturniolo, RFK’s owner-driver said, “We scored good points today I think we moved up to 10th which is nice. And the highest Ford which is nice. But I think we had a lot more capability than what we were able to get out of it.” Indeed, with a well-in-coming return to victory lane only a few weeks ago, coupled with Joey Logano’s dominant showcase at Wilkes County last week, that statement does hold a lot of weight in the current NASCAR spectrum.

Add to it the rained-washed conclusion of a disheartening Memorial Day tribute on the Coke 600’s 65th anniversary, alongside the Ford Mustang’s 60th anniversary. And Keselowski’s words ring louder than usual. Regardless, the true headlines emerging out of RFK came from both its #6 Ford and the #17, as Chris Buescher’s temper heightened for seemingly the second time this season at another Toyota driver.

Owing to the close proximity of their pit boxes in Charlotte, Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher tangled a few times, leading up to a heated conversation over the radio, which ultimately did not result in much. Hamlin would round off the podium in P5, as Buescher ended his race in P23. Josh Berry drove the only Dark Horse accompanying Keselowski in the Top 10 in his #4 Mustang, chartered under Stewart-Haas Racing’s umbrella. Quite ironically, Keselowski is also the highest Ford Performance driver currently inside the top 10 in the drivers points standings at ninth. So will Larson’s assumed absence bring any differences about Keselowski’s attempt at a regular-season championship or even the Bill France Cup?