Kaz Grala Puts The Lie To Brad Keselowski

Elliott Sadler and a plethora of others battled for the lead in a spirited LTI 250, the latest race to feature NASCAR's restrictor plate-draft duct package



Michigan International Speedway's 2018 season kicked off and immediately NASCAR's new rule sagacity debate took center stage in a Friday presser by Brad Keselowski.   Keselowski's presser concerned NASCAR's new restrictor plate-draft duct package introduced to MIS for the first time, run in the Michigan Xfinity 250.

Keselowski's missive expressed "concern" - aka opposition - to expanded use of the plate-draft duct package by NASCAR, and it included all the usual nonsensical allusions to driving skill and talent and how they are supposedly stifled by this plate package; his missive got endorsement from Mark Martin via social media but also earned sharp rebuke on NASCAR's satellite radio network from Dave Moody.

The focal area of Moody's rebuke was Keselowski's startling claim that "the best drivers" would avoid racing in NASCAR if this package is integrated into more tracks because in such a scenario they would not be able to showcase their skills.


First, as Moody noted right away, Keselowski's breakthrough in the Winston Cup level was in a restrictor plate race.

Second, that drivers from other series have come to NASCAR stems from the series being the strongest in motorsports, and it is worth noting these drivers such as Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Max Papis, Sam Hornish, and Scott Speed did not succeed in NASCAR outside of two Winston Cup road race wins by Montoya.


And finally to Brad Keselowski - just what is the definition of "driver skill and talent," anyway?   It is an old debate and the answer is usually along the lines of "throttle control, braking, and acceleration points."   This begs the question - would Keselowski throttle-control his way to victories if he was still in James Finch's Chevrolet?

But the strongest rebuke to Keselowski comes from Kaz Grala's superb run in the slapped-together Tony Eury  Xfinity car, storming into the top-ten and challenging for the lead in the race.    Far from stifling driving talent, this package by making the draft more important is opening up driving talent.


This is a fact Keselowski seems oblivious to here.    For driving racecars and racing them are not the same thing. Passing and repassing is what brings out true racing talent, and Kaz Grala's wildcard victory bid displayed a talent more impressive than Keselowski's prerace pedantry.