Martin Truex Jr.’s misfortune was the break that Brad Keselowski needed.
After running the first 46 laps Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford was leading without making a pit stop under green yet. He radioed his team that his car’s engine had sputtered and seemed to be running out of fuel with nearly a full trip around the 2-mile oval ahead before he could reach the pits.
But then the caution flew for a half-spin in Turn 4 by Truex’s No. 78 Toyota. Truex was making a pass below Clint Bowyer’s No. 15 Chevrolet when the cars appeared to make slight contact. There was damage to the right side of Truex’s Camry, near the side skirt and wheel well. NASCAR required the team to make a stop to fix the side-skirt damage.
Rather than lose major ground from a green-flag pit stop while running out of fuel, Keselowski stopped to refuel under yellow and restarted the race in 10th on Lap 50. Truex restarted in 16th.
The lead went to his Team Penske teammate, Joey Logano, who led 33 of the first 50 laps.