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Keselowski scores first Cup win at ‘Dega, seven fans injured in Edwards crash

Written by Scott Keller · April 28, 2009

Brad Keselowski ran like a freight train (almost literally) to the front of the field to win his first race in NASCAR Sprint Cup on Sunday, surviving a race that was full of crashes and burning race cars. In the end, Keselowski got the checkers, while Carl Edwards got his Ford wadded up in the catch fence on the last lap.

The story behind the last lap crash involves the ever more infamous rule that forbids NASCAR drivers from crossing below the yellow line at the bottom of the track without being penalized. Keselowski trailed Edwards going into the final lap on Sunday, and when Edwards tried a last second block on a charging Keselowski, all hell broke loose as the young gun held his car in bounds.

Here’s the video in case you haven’t seen it 200 times on TV yet.

Note:
While the finish was wild and dramatic, seven fans did receive minor injuries. One lady was reported to have possibly suffered a broken jaw. While not life-threatening, a broken jaw is a very serious injury, and something that shouldn’t happen to any spectator.

Miami Herald: Talladega a disaster waiting to happen unless changes are made

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GM Racing’s Sunday press release:

Talladega, AL — Brad Keselowski, No. 09 Miccosukee Indian Gaming and Resort Impala SS, scored his career-first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) victory in a wild finish of the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway (TSS).

Keselowski led just one time for one lap as he hooked up in a two-car draft from the middle of the field on the final lap to score the win. It was the just the fifth NSCS start and first at TSS for the 25-year old Rochester Hills, Michigan native.

Team Chevy drivers finished one-two-three to maintain lead in Manufacturers’ Cup standings for Chevrolet.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Impala SS, finished second behind the Keselowski, the full-time driver for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He led seven times during the 188-lap/500.3It was his 11th top-10 finish in 19 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2009. Earnhardt moved to 15th in the point standings.

Despite being involved in a two-car accident coming to the start-finish line for the checkered flag, Ryan Newman, No. 39 Prelude to the Dream/U.S. Army Impala SS, finished third. He led twice for a total of 10 laps and moved to 13th in the standings with his first top-five and third top-10 in the nine races run to-date.

Jeff Burton, No. 31 Caterpillar Impala SS, finished 10th, coming from three-laps down to the leaders after alternator problems forced repairs on pit road. Burton moved to ninth in the standings.

Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont/Pepsi Throwback Challenger Impala SS, dropped to second in the standings after finishing 37th as the result of being caught up in a multi-car accident on lap seven today.

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Impala SS, now rides third in points after a multi-car wreck on the 180th lap relegating him to the 30th finishing position.

Tony Stewart, No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Impala SS, finished 23rd today to remain fourth in the points with nine races in the 2009 record books. Stewart suffered engine problems late in the race.

Marcos Ambrose (Toyota) and Scott Speed (Toyota) completed the top-five finishers.

The NSCS moves on to Richmond International Raceway to run under the lights on May 2, 2009.

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BRAD KESELOWSKI, NO. 09 MICCOSUKEE INDIAN GAMING & RESORT IMPALA SS - Winner

AS YOU PULLED INTO VICTORY LANE I SAW YOUR HANDS WERE SHAKING, CAN YOU BELIEVE YOU JUST WON A SPRINT CUP RACE AND YOU DID SO AT THE BIGGEST TRACK OF ALL? “Wow, pinch me. I don’t know, am I awake? How about this team? How about all them fans out there, man thanks for coming. This is the best show on earth. I’ve got to apologize to Carl (Edwards) for wrecking him at the end. The rule is you can’t go below the yellow line and he blocked and I wasn’t going below it. I don’t want to wreck a guy but you’re forced in that situation. There was nothing else I could do. We had a lot of fun today. Man was that fun. I hope the fans did too because this is NASCAR racing and this is cool.”

CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH THAT LAST LAP AND THE MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU JUST WON A RACE AS YOU CROSSED THAT START-FINISH LINE? “Well I kind of felt bad because I was watching Carl (Edwards) in my mirror wreck hard and I hope he’s okay. I feel bad about that but man that’s the rule. He knows the rule as well as anyone else and he put himself in that spot. I don’t want to wreck a guy but he put himself there. I hope he’s okay and I’m sorry for that.

“What a great Chevrolet. How about that Chevy? Man did this thing have some smoke. I can’t believe it.”

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