Brad Keselowski Wins Chase Opener

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Brad Keselowski won the MyAFibStory.com 400 from Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday to clinch a spot in the next round of the Chase.

Photo courtesy Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Keselowski led 61 laps throughout the day, but he made a daring 3-wide pass for the lead just 10 laps from the finish to win the race.

“I saw Kyle [Larson] and Kevin [Harvick] racing really hard and aggressively side-drafting,” Keselowski said.  “I just waited and the car stuck and everything just came together.”

Keselowski had to start in the back of the pack, and many people did not think he could win from deep in the field.  Keselowski said he knew his team could get him to the front.

“When you start in the back, a lot of people don’t think you can win.  We had a great car, and the whole No. 2 team did a great job.”

With the win, Keselowski clinched a spot in the second round of the Chase. 

Kyle Busch started on pole after qualifying was rained out on Friday, and he raced early with Jeff Gordon and Jamie McMurray.

McMurray looked strong throughout the first 100 laps, but after losing the lead he made contact with the wall and faded late in the race.

Rookie Kyle Larson took the lead on a late-race restart, and he raced side-by-side with Kevin Harvick for the lead.  While the two were racing hard, Keselowski shot through the middle to make a 3-wide pass for the lead.

Keselowski was running away from the field when the final caution of the day came out with 10 laps to go.  

Keselowski and Larson raced side-by-side for the lead on the following restart, but Larson made contact with the wall and that ended his fight for the lead.

Keselowski was able to run away from the field over the final five laps, and he took his car to victory lane for the fifth time this season.

Unofficial results:

1. Brad Keselowski

2. Jeff Gordon

3. Kyle Larson

4. Joey Logano

5. Kevin Harvick

6. Denny Hamlin

7. Kyle Busch

8. Kurt Busch

9. Jamie McMurray

10. Matt Kenseth

11. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

12. Jimmie Johnson

13. Kasey Kahne

14. Martin Truex Jr.

15. Ryan Newman

16. Austin Dillon

17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

18. Tony Stewart

19. Danica Patrick

20. Carl Edwards

21. Paul Menards

22. AJ Allmendinger

23. Greg Biffle

24. Brian Vickers

25. Marcos Ambrose

26. Casey Mears

27. Justin Allgaier

28. Landon Cassill

29. Reed Sorenson

30. Cole Whitt

31. David Ragan

32. Michael McDowell

33. Josh Wise

34. David Gilliland

35. Alex Bowman

36. Joe Nemechek

37. Joey Gase

38. Travis Kvapil

39. Clint Bowyer

40. Michael Annett

41. Aric Almirola

42. Ryan Truex

43. Mike Bliss

Next week, the Challenger Round of the Chase continues at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  The Sylvania 300 can be seen on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.

Keselowski puts his name on the official Chase Grid. (Photo courtesy Sean Gardner/Getty Images)