By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The bad luck of Speedweeks continued for Brad Keselowski during the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
When the green flag fell shortly after 2:45 p.m. ET, the roof hatch became unbolted from the chassis. After waiting until the first stage break, the No. 12 crew attempted to fix the hatch but was unsuccessful.
In the third stage, the roof hatch completely separated from the car, which resulted in Keselowski getting black flagged. Luckily, the caution flag flew, but it was too little too late as he went to the garage and had his day ended.
“I felt like I was back in the ‘50’s running a convertible here on the beach,” Keselowski said. “That was interesting. The roof, escape hatch, whatever it is called looks like there was a defect from the factory on the body and just nothing we could do. The guys tried to fix it but it is in a spot where you can’t get to it and work on it.
“It is made the way it is made. We are stuck. It is one of those things outside your control and sometimes that is just how things go. I know we had a car that could win today. It broke on lap one, turn one, and we did everything we could to fix it for the last hour or so but it is just not something you can fix. It has to be right from the factory and isn’t something we control. Just part of it I guess.”
Keselowski finished 36th after retiring on Lap 71 with the issue adding to his pit road miscues in the Gander RV Duel and crashed in the Advanced Auto Parts Clash.