|
#18 Busch is being stalked by #88 Keselowski... then passed by him
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
Keselowski
wins inaugural race at Iowa Speedway
NEWTON,
Iowa (Aug. 1, 2009) -- Brad Keselowski passed Kyle Busch with eight
laps remaining to win Saturday's inaugural Nationwide Series race at
Iowa Speedway, the U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Northland Oil and
TMC Trucking.
Busch had pitted for two tires under the
race's 10th caution, while Keselowski chose to keep his No. 88
Chevrolet on the track. The race went green on Lap 219 of 250, and
Busch needed six laps to pass Keselowski.
But
after another caution, Keselowski stormed back to take the lead and
earn his second win of the season. And with the victory, Keselowski
won an extra $75,000 via Nationwide Insurance's Dash 4 Cash program,
honoring full-time Nationwide drivers who win select races, with Iowa
being one of the four.
"It
sure means a lot to win this race," Keselowski said. "The
Dash 4 Cash program that Nationwide has, to be the guy that wins that
… and to be a full-time Nationwide guy that wins it that doesn't
run full time in the Cup series, it kind of feels like you stake a
claim for the series by winning that.
Nationwide
rookies #16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and #12 Justin Allgaier posted
identical qualifying times earlier Saturday, but Stenhouse was awarded
the pole on owners' points. Allgaier grabbed the early lead and kept it
for 35 laps, by far the most of his young Nationwide career, but he was
bumped on pit row and Keselowski surged ahead.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
"The
inaugural race here at Iowa for the Nationwide Series, and, really,
for NASCAR, and to win here in front of a crowd we had here today,
that's pretty awesome.
"And
it was a good race, too. Just everything about today, I couldn't ask
for more. I couldn't ask for a better finish."
<>
#60
Carl
Edwards (Citi Financial Ford) Battles local Favorite #15 Michael Annett
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
Keselowski
ended up leading four times for 121 laps.
Busch
finished second, matching the series record of nine for consecutive
races finishing first or second.
"I
wish they were all first," Busch said. "That'd certainly be
nice, and then we'd have broken another record: We'd have the most
wins in a single season. Man, I should be so grateful and so happy to
finish second, but I am not. … Whether it's me, the car, I have no
idea. But I put all the pressure on myself to come out here and win
these things, and when I don't get the job done, I feel like I let my
team down."
Busch
did increase his series point lead to 207 over Roush Fenway Racing's
Carl Edwards, who finished fourth.
Jason
Leffler finished third and Kelly Bires fifth.
Finishing
sixth through 10th were Jason Keller, Kenny Wallace, Michael
McDowell, Scott Lagasse Jr. and Stephen Leicht.
.
Past Sports News
Local
Sports and
Teams
|
