Brad Keselowski said he probably wouldn’t climb atop his car the next time he wins.
Keselowski added that he wouldn’t tell fellow RFK Racing drivers Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece what they could or couldn’t do in victory lane.
Jumping atop one’s car in victory lane didn’t become the norm until the 21st century.
After Connor Zilisch tumbled off his car during a victory lane celebration and broke his collarbone, the big question at Richmond Raceway was would the Cook Out 400 winner hop atop his car to celebrate.
If you missed it, the answer is, yes, he did, but winner Austin Dillon did two things differently.
First, he made sure his window net was inside the car, not hanging on the outside of the car. It was the window net that caused Zilisch’s left foot to slip.
Second, Dillon took a different stance. Unlike Zilisch, who had his left foot on the driver’s door where the window net was hanging and his right foot on top of the car, Dillon stood with both feet on the driver’s door. Dillon executed the move when his car was parked on the track’s frontstretch and again in victory lane. He said he had a person with him reminding him to make sure the window net was inside the car so it wouldn’t trip him.
Leading up to Saturday night’s race at the three-quarter-mile Richmond track drivers who were asked if they would forego climbing atop their car during victory celebrations indicated they wouldn’t change what they do, but they would be more careful.
NASCAR did not move to restrict rooftop celebrations.
Team co-owner Brad Keselowski said he wouldn’t tell fellow RFK Racing drivers Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece what they could or couldn’t do in victory lane.
“I’m not looking to be the car police,” Keselowski said.
The 41-year-old Keselowski said he probably wouldn’t climb atop his car the next time he wins.
“I think I’ll just grab my American flag and stand outside of it (car),” Keselowski said.
“We’ve all had our moments. You do this sport long enough you’re bound to have a moment that you wish you could have back. I sliced my hand open one time. I’ve got quite a few of them and Connor got his first one. Just adventures in racing.”
Jumping atop one’s car in victory lane didn’t become the norm until the 21st century when the drivers became younger and composite body cars came into use. After all, sheet metal would give under a person’s weight and NASCAR wouldn’t be happy if the car didn’t fit the templates during post-race inspection.
Can you imagine Richard Petty climbing atop his familiar No. 43 or David Pearson atop the Wood Brothers candy apple red and white No. 21 Mercury? The only time Petty jumped on top of his car was during the 1968 Daytona 500 to repair his car’s black vinyl roof after debris damaged it. When it was fixed to his satisfaction, he climbed back into his car, returned to the race and eventually finished eighth, two laps down.
Granted drivers and race queens stood on the winning car in victory lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the track’s first two decades, but a portable platform with carpet on it was placed on the car before the photographs began.
The only driver to climb atop his car in the 1980s was Rusty Wallace after he claimed the 1989 championship at Atlanta. He jumped from the top of his Pontiac to its hood and then onto the ground. I assure you; NASCAR Cup Director Dick Beaty wasn’t happy.
After the Daytona 500, the winning car’s crew members often hopped onto the car and rode to victory lane seated on the decklid and hood. It was a cool visual, but that was stopped due to the concern someone might fall off onto pit road.
So, will victory lane celebrations change? Probably not. The drivers will just be more aware of their surroundings.
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