![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-12T202703Z_1668212666_MT1USATODAY17881134_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-RUOFF-MORTGAGE-500-PRACTICE-QUALIFYING.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 12, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) during qualifying for the Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-12T202703Z_1668212666_MT1USATODAY17881134_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-RUOFF-MORTGAGE-500-PRACTICE-QUALIFYING.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 12, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) during qualifying for the Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Not everyone can tame the ‘Lady in Black.’ Perhaps every NASCAR fan will agree after Sunday’s race at the crown-jewel racetrack. You can have the fastest car and still miss the win. Take Kyle Larson, for example. He did not have the fastest car but all throughout the last 55 laps, he came up front when the other contenders fell back. Even though he made mistakes, considering the wildcard that Darlington is, his rebound was exceptional.
However, Brad Keselowski‘s star driver would probably not agree with the wildcard part. After finishing third, the way he spoke to the Frontstretch reporters clearly revealed that he had anticipated the nature of this race moments ago. However, he was not entirely pessimistic about his top 3 finish.
Brad Keselowski’s secret weapon hopes to only run better now
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Poll of the day
Kyle Larson & HMS Are Planning to Return to Indy 500 Next Year. But Should They?
Yes! It Is Great for NASCAR
No, It Was a Disaster This Time
The last 31 green flag laps witnessed Chris Buescher stay frustratingly close to leader Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick in second place. Buescher has three wins into the current season and he had started the day with the motive of bagging another. Although he hoped that Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick would slow down after running into the wall several times, that did not happen.
Buescher did not shy away from the fact that they had to do better. He admitted in front of the media that he had known beforehand that Darlington would be a bit tough to tame.
He acknowledged, “I guess in this round, the three racetracks we are heading to; this one was probably, not a wild card, but I knew this would be the toughest one for me.”
Keselowski received his flowers from his driver when the latter exclaimed, “I know Brad’s been very strong here. So, to come out of here third I hope that’s the worst we finish in these next two races now…”
All things considered, both RFK cars fared well in the 500-plus-mile-long race. The third-place finish provided Keselowski’s employee a 27-point-strong edge over the cutline and his #17 Ford Mustang is most likely to move on to the round of 12. However, the races at Kansas and Bristol will decide that. Hopefully, those two races will not be so much of a hullaballoo as this one was.
Watch This Story: Condescending Kyle Busch Once Brutally Trolled Arch-Enemy Brad Keselowski as Brother Kurt got Caught in Crossfire
Chris Buescher pointed out how everyone ran unruly at Darlington
Trending
Kyle Busch’s Wife Samantha Surprisingly Embracing Indian Culture Has Fans Going Gaga Over Fashionista Status
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1240218799.jpg?width=300)
NASCAR Rumor: Courtesy of a $38.76B Sponsor, Tony Stewart’s Dark Horse Secures a Seat With Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-627072846-1.jpg?width=300)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Enraged at Bubba Wallace After He Shot Himself in the Foot, Leaving Michael Jordan in Agony
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Untitled-design-91-21.jpg?width=300)
NASCAR Fans Urge Kyle Busch for a U-Turn Amid Rumors of Rick Hendrick’s Underachiever’s Exit
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Rick-Hendrick-and-Kyle-Busch-1.jpg?width=300)
Despite Alex Bowman’s Confidence, $12.67 Billion Sponsor Could Leave Him Hanging Out of HMS if the Tides Don’t Turn
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-12T201334Z_1117556456_MT1USATODAY17881011_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-RUOFF-MORTGAGE-500-PRACTICE-QUALIFYING.jpg?width=300)
Darlington or Daytona, which one is harder to tame? Well, that is debatable. However, it is safe to say that drivers like Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, and most importantly, Tyler Reddick, would all agree that Darlington is trouble indeed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
An unprecedented stop owing to a loose wheel ended the day for Denny Hamlin, who won both Stages 1 and 2. Kevin Harvick, who was going for the final win of his career, received a controversial penalty, moments after he had committed to the pit road. Ryan Newman spun across the backstretch and fell back to a 27th-place finish. With 49 laps to go, both Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman made contact, which left the two speedsters with a DNF each.
Not to forget Tyler Reddick. Many believe that it was due to him slowing down that Newman spun and the caution came out, resulting in Harvick’s misery.
Chris Buescher said that his car was faster than the #45 Toyota. He admitted, “The 45 was really loose, hit the fence. We were a little faster but where do you go when we’re all riding the fence?”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“That’s absolutely an excellent night. I don’t know who had trouble at this point. Kind of got my blinders on still but we’ll certainly go back and look at it. I know at some point there I feel like we jumped a handful of cars and I didn’t see them again so…fast race cars fix a lot of things,” he added.
Read More: NASCAR World Crowns Brad Keselowski the “Best Boss Ever” After Penultimate Sacrifice