The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)

Keselowski wins playoff opener in Las Vegas

- By Greg Beacham

Brad Keselowski raced to his third consecutiv­e Monster Energy Cup victory, perseverin­g through a wreck-filled afternoon and roaring away from the field in overtime to claim the playoff opener.

LAS VEGAS » Brad Keselowski nailed the final restart and roared away from the field in the scorching Vegas heat.

With another huge performanc­e in his late-season surge, Keselowski finished up front again — and he’s got NASCAR’s Big Three drivers looking over their shoulders.

Keselowski raced to his third consecutiv­e Cup series victory Sept. 16, opening the playoffs by perseverin­g through a wreckfille­d afternoon and taking charge of overtime.

He also secured team owner Roger Penske’s 500th victory across all competitio­ns with his resourcefu­l performanc­e amid 99-degree conditions and constant stopand-start late drama of a race featuring 12 cautions and several wrecks.

“I didn’t think it was ever going to end,” Keselowski said after his 27th career victory and third in Las Vegas. “I was worried about running out of gas there at the end.”

Keselowski had plenty of worries with just two laps to go while he sat in his stationary car and waited for the cleanup of Michael McDowell’s wreck with Kurt Busch. But after the red-flag stop ended, nobody could keep up with Keselowski’s Team Penske Ford.

The victory extended an extraordin­ary late-season run for Keselowski, who won at Darlington and the Brickyard in consecutiv­e weeks before Vegas. Keselowski credited his pit crew’s efficiency for the latest win in his improbable surge, which has added some intrigue to a NASCAR season largely dominated by the Big Three of Truex, Harvick and Kyle Busch.

“We have not been the best car the last three weeks,” Keselowski said. “We put everything together when it counted, and we kind of stole it today. Same scenario the last two weeks . ... I feel like we stole the last three races. We’re not complainin­g, but we still have a lot of work to do to go out there and win heads-up without those issues.”

Penske was not in attendance for his landmark victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, instead watching from Sonoma at the IndyCar season finale. He formed Team Penske in 1966, and it has fielded 50 winning drivers across 14 race series during the ensuing 52 years.

The owner pumped his fist on the timing stand in Sonoma after Keselowski won.

“We did it, boss!” Keselowski shouted. “That’s quite a number, right? It’s really great to be a part of that, and to get the last one to get us there, that’s pretty great.”

Kyle Larson was second, and defending Cup series champion Martin Truex Jr. came in third. Keselowski’s rivals are very aware of his surge against stiff odds.

“Brad clearly found the horseshoe,” Truex said.

 ?? ISAAC BREKKEN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Brad Keselowski celebrates after winning the Monster Energy Cup Series race Sept. 16 in Las Vegas.
ISAAC BREKKEN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Brad Keselowski celebrates after winning the Monster Energy Cup Series race Sept. 16 in Las Vegas.

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