Brad Keselowski breaks seven-race top-10 drought at North Wilkesboro

Brad Keselowski erased a seven-race top-10 drought with a gritty seventh-place run at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night.

What happened at North Wilkesboro?

Keselowski and RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece entered the Window World 450 on 20 Jul mired in poor form. Keselowski’s last top-10 finish came at Kansas on 19 Apr, while Preece had gone 24th-or-worse six times since Charlotte’s Coke 600 on 24 May. Both drivers needed a lift-and got one on the 0.625-mile oval.

Keselowski clawed into the top 10 early, then hung on with a seventh-place finish. His crew chief, Jeremy Bullins, kept calling four-tire stops when most teams went two. That call kept Keselowski inside the top 10 deep into the race, even after he dropped a lap.

Why it matters for Brad Keselowski

The seventh-place run is Keselowski’s best since Kansas in April. It also moves him to 19th in the Cup standings ahead of the Brickyard 400 on 26 Jul. He now trails the playoff cut line by 58 points with five races left.

Preece, meanwhile, posted his first oval top 10 since Bristol on 12 Apr, finishing 10th. The pair sit 18th and 19th, separated by 10 points. Both need points in the next five events just to keep their postseason hopes alive.

How the four-tire call worked

Bullins stuck with four-tire pit stops throughout the race. The move kept Keselowski’s car fast enough to avoid losing spots late. Rivals who took two tires faded back, while Keselowski stayed in the top 10 until the final 50 laps.

The strategy wasn’t flashy, but it worked. Keselowski earned stage points and avoided a late-race slide that could have dropped him outside the top 15.

What comes next for Keselowski

The Brickyard 400 on 26 Jul is the next chance to gain ground. Keselowski must bank points fast-58 separate him from the cut line. A strong run at Indianapolis could swing his playoff chances back into play.

Preece, meanwhile, leans on his short-track reputation. If he can repeat Sunday’s methodical climb through the field, he’ll keep his own postseason hopes flickering.