Keselowski wins rain shortened Kentucky Nationwide race

Brad Keselowski won Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway.

The 200-lap race was put to an end by NASCAR after a rain shower just 30 laps from the finish. Efforts were made to dry the 1.5-mile track, but severe weather approaching the track caused NASCAR to call the race.

“I didn’t want it to end this way,” Keselowski said about the race ending premature in a makeshift victory lane.

Friday night marks the second time in 2013 Keselowski has visited victory lane in the Nationwide Series with the previous win coming at Richmond International Raceway in April.

Keselowski started the race from 19th, but made his way through the field to take the lead for the first time on lap 94.

His lead at the moment was short lived as Kyle Busch re-passed Keselowski until the No.22 Penske Racing Ford took back the top-spot at the halfway mark of the race.

From there, Keselowski went on to lead until a round of caution flag pit stops dropped him back in the running order.

But once Keselowski reclaimed the top-spot away from Elliott Sadler, there was no looking back.

“We had a great car, didn’t qualify like we wanted, but Jeremy Bullins (crew chief) and the team did a great job,” he said.

“This is the type of car you get once a year, if you’re lucky. And driving this car, I feel like Jimmie Johnson. This is a rocket.”

Friday night’s win marks the second straight race Penske’s No.22 Ford was won in the Nationwide Series. AJ Allmendinger scored his first career NASCAR win last Saturday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc.

“I feel lucky to get to drive this car,” Keselowski said. “The last two drivers that have driven it before have won races in it.

“Ryan Blaney’s going to drive it and hopefully he’ll be able to win in it, too.”

Sadler, Matt Crafton, Brian Vickers, and Busch rounded out the top-five finishers from Friday night’s race.

Nationwide Series points leader, Regan Smith, finished 30th after left-front suspension issues forced him into the garage after running much of the race inside the top-10.

By finishing 30th, Sam Hornish Jr. and Justin Allgaier gained points on Smith’s championship lead – which has now been reduced to eight points over Hornish Jr. –  heading into next weekend’s race at Daytona International Speedway.

Daytona International Speedway will be the site for the Nationwide Series “Dash 4 Cash” program. The program is open to the top-four finishing  drivers running for the Nationwide Series championship at the upcoming race.

Sadler, Vickers, Austin Dillon, and Kyle Larson are the drivers eligible for the program next week at Daytona.

Feed the Children 300 Unofficial Results 

1. Brad Keselowski 
2. Elliott Sadler
3. Matt Crafton
4. Brian Vickers
5. Kyle Busch
6. Austin Dillon
7. Kyle Larson
8. Nelson Piquet Jr.
9. Sam Hornish Jr.
10. Alex Bowman
11. Kevin Swindell
12. Trevor Bayne
13. Justin Allgaier
14. Brad Sweet
15. Travis Pastrana
16. Parker Kligerman
17. Brian Scott
18. Michael Annett
19. Mike Bliss
20. Johanna Long
21. Mike Wallace
22. Reed Sorenson
23. Eric McClure
24. Ken Butler III
25. Jeremy Clements
26. Bryan Silas
27. Jamie Dick
28. Carl Long
29. Harrison Rhodes
30. Regan Smith
31. Cole Whitt
32. Joey Gase
33. Joe Nemechek
34. Blake Koch
35. Morgan Shepard
36. Landon Cassill
37. JJ Yeley
38. Josh Wise
39. Derrike Cope
40. Jeff Green