The Biggest NASCAR Storylines to Watch Ahead of Quaker State 400

Kentucky is one of the racing-est states in the Union. It’s home to the Kentucky Derby and the Quaker State 400, which was won last year by Brad Keselowski.

Keselowski was positively dominant, leading 199 laps of the event and ultimately waving the American flag like a boss.

"Our car was awesome," Keselowski told Bob Pockrass of Sporting News last year. "The team did a great job, and I’m just really thankful to have a car this good. I don’t know how else to put it."

The No. 2 Ford isn’t the only story heading to Kentucky. There’s the epilogue to Austin Dillon’s horrific crash into Daytona’s catch fence and a new rules package to explore.

Read on for this week’s storylines from the Bluegrass State.

Kyle Busch's Chase Hopes in Doubt

John Raoux/Associated Press

Kyle Busch’s Chase hopes, at one point, took a significant hit during Monday morning’s Coke Zero 400 when he lost control of his No. 18 Toyota and smacked the outside wall.

Busch’s chances looked promising after he won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, but that was only half the equation. He needs to finish in the top 30 in points by the time Richmond rolls around nine races from now.

He finished second at Kentucky last year and was one of only three drivers to lead a lap in a Keselowski-dominated Quaker State 400 (Joey Logano led the other 37).

After his mishaps at Daytona, Busch rallied from two laps down to finish 17th and on the lead lap. He gained just six points on Cole Whitt, the driver currently in 30th.

With time running out, Busch needs to win, or at the very least have a string of top-fives and cross all his fingers and toes.

Austin Dillon Feels Like Superman

Terry Renna/Associated Press

At 2:41 a.m. on Monday morning, a late run at the leaders catapulted Austin Dillon’s No. 3 car over three lanes and directly into the catch fence. His engine lay flaming on the infield, and his car—what remained of it—was upside down.

It was anybody’s guess as to what condition Dillon was in after the nastiest and scariest crash of 2015.

David Mayo, tire changer for the No. 88 car, was one of the first on the scene. He said, via Brad Norman of NASCAR.com:

"

When I got to the car, I immediately looked in. Rightaway, I saw his eyes, I saw he was wide awake. It looked like he was dazed a little bit, but he was aware of what was going on. I kind of talked to him a little bit; my crew chief (Greg Ives) was talking to me over the radio, telling me what I should ask him and that if he was all right.

"

Dillon’s radio wires detached during impact, allowing him to hear the worry and concern from crew and family, but he couldn’t tell them he was fine, or even alive.

"I was saying, 'I'm OK, I'm OK,' but it wasn't going through, and I could hear in their voice how scared they were,” Dillon said, via Holly Cain of NASCAR.com. “Luckily, the guys had gotten there fast enough and gave everyone the thumbs-up to let them know that I was fine.''

Dillon walks away confident given that the only thing salvageable from that wreck was himself.

"For me, I try and put it in the back of my head, forget about it and move on,'' Dillon said on NASCAR.com. "You have to be able to move on and trust in the safety equipment. Like I said, if I can take a lick like that and feel as good as I do right now, I feel like I can do anything. You feel like Superman."

Maybe this will make Dillion even more confident on the track as he looks for his first career win. 

New Rules in Play for Kentucky

Garry Jones/Associated Press

The field will take new rigs to Kentucky for a shiny, new set of rules.

Here’s the nitty gritty: a nine-inch rear spoiler, among other things, will create more downforce and a car that is slower by about 10 miles per hour.

Just what NASCAR fans want: slower cars. After watching Austin Dillon repel off the catch fence at Daytona, maybe a slightly slower car is what NASCAR needs (this on top of restrictor plates for the superspeedways).

Steve O’Donnell, chief racing development officers for NASCAR, said via Fox Sports’ Tom Jensen, "We've worked with the race teams to ensure that they've been afforded extended practice time at each of the events, and we're also finalizing the event schedules that we'll obviously share with all of you beyond Kentucky for these events."

Dale Earnhardt Jr., however, doesn’t expect much to come of it, via Kenny Bruce of NASCAR.com: 

"

The tire is a bit better, but not quite enough. I think that is understood amongst NASCAR, ourselves and Goodyear. The Kentucky weekend won't be a weekend we take a ton of stock in as far as what this package is really going to be able to lend us and if it would work somewhere else.

"

NASCAR has proven to be one of the more nimble sports leagues when it comes to rules changes. Imagine baseball changing a rule midseason?

Brad Keselowski Aims to Defend His Title at Kentucky

James Crisp/Associated Press

Brad Keselowski drove like Kevin Harvick in last year's Quaker State 400, which is to say he got out front on a 1.5-mile track and didn’t look back.

BK led 199 laps, and teammate Joey Logano led 37, thus racking up 88 percent of all laps led for Team Penske.

Kyle Busch stole 31 laps from the Dynamic Duo before succumbing to the unrelenting momentum of the No. 2 car.

"I figured we’d get to him, but I didn’t really think I’d be able to pass him," Keselowski said, via Pockrass. "I caught a little break in lap traffic, and the car was just that good. I was able to take advantage of it and get the lead. That was awesome.”

Keselowski hasn’t been as dominant in 2015, despite a win in the Auto Club 400, a race in which he led just one lap, the one that mattered.

What with the early dominance of Kevin Harvick and the ubiquity of Jimmie Johnson on Victory Lane, it’s easy to forget that Keselowski can be an unsung threat. After all, it’s these three drivers who have won the past three Sprint Cups.

Jeff Gordon Takes One Last Stab at Kentucky

John Raoux/Associated Press

This is it for Jeff Gordon. It isn’t just his career; it’s his final race at Kentucky Speedway, the only venue on the entire Cup circuit that Gordon has never conquered.

That is a bit deceiving given that Kentucky Speedway was adopted as a Cup venue just four years ago, so it’s not as if Gordon is 0-for-24. Still, it’s the one track that hasn’t shown up in Gordon’s 92 wins, which must stick in his craw.

“I’m already proud that I have won at every track except Kentucky, but to win there this weekend and have a win at every track at the Sprint Cup level is something that would mean a lot to me," Gordon said, via Gray Caldwell of Hendrick Motorsports' official site.

Gordon, to his credit, has finished in the top 10 in each of his four trips around KS, carding an average finish of 7.2.

The thing is, Gordon really needs a win. With just nine races to go in the regular season, Gordon has yet to seal a spot in the Chase. He’s 10th in the standings, so it appears likely that he’ll point in.

"Winning at every track is not something that’s easy to accomplish," Gordon said. "This will be a challenge, and I like a good challenge, and the team does, too.”