Keselowski wins Nationwide race while Elliott clinches title
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Brad Keselowski dove under Kyle Busch on a green-white-checkered restart to win Saturday's DAV 200 Honoring America's Veterans NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.
Busch led 187 of 206 laps in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota but Keselowski got underneath him heading into Turn 1 on the final two-lap restart to put his Team Penske Ford in Victory Lane.
Elliott Sadler finished third in a second JGR Toyota, followed by Ty Dillon in a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
By finishing fifth, Chase Elliott, 18, became the only rookie in series history to win the season-long championship and in the process he became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's top three touring series.
"Unbelievable, man," said Elliott. "This truly has been a dream come true."
The race seemed like another easy victory for Busch, until Alex Bowman ran out of fuel on Lap 198 to bring out a caution.
Asked about his race-winning move, Keselowski seemed surprised.
"It's a little bit surreal. I didn't really know the race was over," said Keselowski, who won his fifth Nationwide race in 10 starts this season and the 32nd of his career.
"Overall, it is what it is," said a disappointed Busch, who appeared headed to an easy victory. "… It sucks." It was the most laps Busch ever led in a race without winning.
NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars Busch and Keselowski started on Row 1, with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race-winner and Busch understudy Erik Jones rolling off third. Busch quickly jumped into the lead, with Jones moving to second in the opening laps, only to have Keselowski retake the spot on Lap 12.
Jones' progress was derailed with a pit-road penalty for an errant tire during his first pit stop on Lap 40.
Busch led the first 84 laps before getting passed on pit road by Regan Smith and Alex Bowman during a caution for a Landon Cassill wallbanger.
By Lap 95, Busch was back out front and at the halfway point he led Keselowski by 1.302 seconds. Smith was third at the midpoint, ahead of Alex Bowman and Elliott Sadler.
Busch surrendered the lead on Lap 167, as he pitted for tires during a debris caution in Turn 1, while Keselowski, Bowman and Sadler stayed out to takeover the top three spots. Busch restarted fourth behind those three and Regan Smith.
It took just a single green-flag lap for Busch to go from fifth to second, as he set off after Keselowski. Busch wasted no time and by Lap 176 was back out front.
With two laps to go, Bowman ran out of fuel setting up a green-white-checkered finish. And that's when Keselowski made his race-winning move. to second in the opening laps, only to have Keselowski retake the spot on Lap 12.
Jones' progress was derailed with a pit-road penalty for an errant tire during his first pit stop on Lap 40.
Busch led the first 84 laps before getting passed on pit road by Regan Smith and Alex Bowman during a caution for a Landon Cassill wallbanger.
By Lap 95, Busch was back out front and at the halfway point he led Keselowski by 1.302 seconds. Smith was third at the midpoint, ahead of Alex Bowman and Elliott Sadler.
Busch surrendered the lead on Lap 167, as he pitted for tires during a debris caution in Turn 1, while Keselowski, Bowman and Sadler stayed out to takeover the top three spots. Busch restarted fourth behind those three and Regan Smith.
It took just a single green-flag lap for Busch to go from fifth to second, as he set off after Keselowski. Busch wasted no time and by Lap 176 was back out front.
With two laps to go, Bowman ran out of fuel setting up a green-white-checkered finish. And that's when Keselowski made his race-winning move.
VIDEO: Chase Elliott celebrates clinching the 2014 Nationwide Series championship
