With the Kansas Speedway grandstands about 3/4 full on an unseasonably cool spring evening, The No 2. car of Brad Keselowski outlasted a surging Alex Bowman to take the checkered flag at the NASCAR Digital Ally 400 for his third win of the season season.
The Digital Ally 400 highlighted a tremendous weekend of racing and excitement at Kansas Speedway and despite pole-sitter Kevin Harvic’s early domination of the race, it would be Keselowski coming, seemingly out of nowhere, to charge into victory lane. It took seven cautions and 23 lead changes to get there and Keselowski himself seemed surprised about the outcome Saturday night.
“I don’t know if I expected for our performance to be as strong as it was at the end, but I’m happy for it.” Keselowski said after the victory. “Nighttime is the new daytime for NASCAR as far as the racing being better.”
Video: Brad Keselowski Post-Race
The NASCAR Experience
As a first time NASCAR race attendee, it was important to take in all the nuances and details that encompass a weekend of race activities. It is clear that the NASCAR experience is second to none when it comes to fan-friendly activities, access and accommodations. It was an unbelievable experience just watching fans milling about in the infield on race day drinking cheap beer that they brought from home (as opposed to shelling out $12 a piece at Arrowhead of Kauffman Stadium).
The access that NASCAR gives its fans is unlike anything else in sports as patrons are treated to garage/pit access before races as well as a pre-race concert. As the sport continues to find its footing with regards to finding new fans, it is clear that they are already going above and beyond to keep the ones they have as despite the less-than-desirable temperatures at Kansas Speedway Saturday night, the stands were almost full and people were raving about the experience.
As someone that covers a lot of football and basketball, the behind the scenes look into the world of NASCAR was simply unforgettable and the accommodations for media members at Kansas Speedway were first-class all the way. There is way more to a race than the old cliche of “cars going around in circles.” There is a vast and deep-rooted culture in stock car racing and the mere sight of the rows of RV’s parked in the infield with hundreds of flags flying in the wind and the smell of barbecue and stale beer in the air is pretty awe-inspiring.
