This was Keselowski’s first win as a part-owner in Jack Roush’s organization. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing was established and Keselowski drives the No. 6 Ford.
Keselowski has a long-term vision of RFK. It is not possible to return the team to being one of NASCAR’s top teams overnight. Keselowski’s win in the 150-mile qualifying race means that he has a Daytona 500 car.
Keselowski is currently 0 for 12 in “The Great American Race” after he was involved in an intense last-lap collision while trying to win the race last year. In disgust that he couldn’t deliver the win that he promised his dying father, he threw his helmet at his car. Bob Keselowski lost his fight with cancer last December. Keselowski won Thursday night with a sticker on his new No. 6 to honor his father.
Keselowski will start in the second row of Sunday’s season-opening race. In Wednesday night’s trials, NASCAR champion Kyle Larson was joined by Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. will make NASCAR’s debut Sunday, when The Money Team Racing begins the Daytona 500. Kaz Grala drove No. The No. 50 Chevrolet was in the race with a pass by J.J. Yeley on lap 60.
Six teams competed for four spots in Sunday’s 40 car field. Time trials filled two spots — former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve and Noah Gragson from Beard Motorsports will be making their Daytona 500 debuts — one spot was also available in each qualifying race.
Grala was the highest finisher of the “open” teams, and Mayweather was able to enter the Daytona 500 with an 18th place finish.
Roush had only won a Daytona qualifier once before. In 2012, Matt Kenseth won the 500 and the short race.
