After a pass with 16 laps to go, Brad Keselowski drove away from the field to take the checkered flag in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Richmond Raceway. The win was Keselowski’s 36th of his career, and fourth NXS victory at Richmond.
“There are a lot of other places we could be in the world and a lot of other stuff going on,” said Brad Keselowski on Richmond fans. “I am glad I get to be here and glad they are here with us and I appreciate their support. Thank you everybody.”
Keselowski’s No. 22 for Team Penske led four times for 34 of the 250 laps. Kyle Busch finished second in the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing leading a race high 182 laps. The pivotal moment in the race was the Keselowski pass of Busch with 16 laps remaining.
“I knew Kyle (Busch) wasn’t going to just let me have it so I had to force something there,” said Keselowski. “Whenever you make a pass for the lead and the win by going three-wide it is really damn cool. It is good to be back in victory lane.”
The top five rounded out with Ty Dillon, Daniel Hemric, and Virginia native Elliott Sadler.
With his fifth-place finish, Sadler’s No. 1 of JR Motorsports clinched his second consecutive NXS regular season title in front of his hometrack at Richmond. With the regular season championship, Sadler will earn a bonus of 15 playoff points.
“It feels very good to do it here at Richmond of all places with my friends and family here,” said Sadler.
Sadler’s JR Motorsports teammate William Byron finished seventh and sits second in the NXS standing 95 points behind. The NXS regular season will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Chicagoland Speedway.
“We’re getting ourselves in playoff form,” said Sadler. “We’re fired up and ready to go.”
On Saturday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m., the sport’s best take to the track for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race as NASCAR crowns 2017 Regular Season Champion.
Tickets are available now for both races and can be purchased online at richmondraceway.com or by calling the Richmond Ticket Office, toll-free, at 866-455-7223.
Richmond Raceway PR
