Brad Keselowski wins Nationwide race, Chase Elliott clinches title

Reporting from Avondale, Ariz. — Kyle Busch had victory in hand and rookie Chase Elliott was set to make history with one lap left in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday.

But then another car abruptly slowed, the caution period came out to bunch the field for a two-lap overtime finish and Busch’s sizable lead vanished at Phoenix International Raceway.

Brad Keselowski then swept past Busch on the restart to win the race while Elliott, 18, hung on to finish fifth and clinch the series championship. That made Elliott the youngest driver in history to win a title in one of NASCAR’s three national series.

“This truly has been a dream come true,” said Elliott, son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bill Elliott. “This is just such a cool honor.”

The previous record was held by Brian Vickers, who won the title in the second-level Nationwide series at age 20 in 2003. Vickers now drives in NASCAR’s premier Cup series. NASCAR’s other national series is the Camping World Truck Series.

Cup drivers such as Busch and Keselowski who also compete in the Nationwide Series are not eligible to win the Nationwide championship.

Chase Elliott drives the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, a team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, and Elliott has three wins this season.

Busch’s No. 54 Toyota was the dominant car for most of the DAV 200 on Saturday and Busch looked set to win his eighth Nationwide race of the year.

But after Keselowski’s No. 22 Ford passed Busch on the inside on the restart, Busch couldn’t get back around him.

“We were able to get out front and from there it was just bringing her home,” Keselowski said. “Passing on the last lap is always cool.”