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Keselowski wins Federated Auto Parts 300

Jun 8, 2008 - 5:40 AM LEBANON, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Brad Keselowski will go strumming happily into the night.

Keselowski won his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday, taking the checkered flag in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.

In a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the 24-year-old crossed the finish line first with an average speed of 117.664 miles per hour. It was Keselowski's first win in 49 tries as he became the seventh first-time winner at Nashville.

"I feel like I paid some dues," Keselowski said. "To catch a break joining JR Motorsports last July after Keith Coleman Racing disbanded, vindicates the long wait. I've got a team that just keeps getting better every week, and I keep getting better every week."

Hailing from Rochester Hills, Michigan, Keselowski collects the winner's check of $56,913 as well a Gibson electric guitar - the unique trophy symbol for this Nationwide event.

"We had a strong car, there's now doubt about that," Keselowski said. "It came down to strategy. We pitted with about 40 laps to go and were digging and passing cars one at a time. It seemed like we were taking forever to get to the front."

Keselowski also stole some of the thunder from pole-sitter Joey Logano.

An 18-year-old rookie, Logano - who was making just his second career Nationwide start - led many of the early laps before an accident on lap 89 sent his wrecked car into the garage for repairs.

"I was in the middle of traffic when someone tapped me from behind," Logano said.

The Middletown, Connecticut native, who led a total of 64 laps, got back in the race nearly 30 minutes later and finished a distant 31st in a Toyota Camry.

Logano wasn't all that surprised to be starting in front in his second race.

"It's definitely cool to get my first pole in the second try," Logano said before the race. "But it's what I expect of myself. I expect to win. This thing (qualifying first) here doesn't excite me too much. It's just a pole."

After bumping the Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer on the final lap, David Stremme claimed second place in a Monte Carlo.

David Reutimann was third in a Toyota, while Bowyer - who entered this event as the current points leader - recovered to finish fourth.

Scott Wimmer, who won the Pepsi 300 here in March, was seventh in a Chevy, while Carl Edwards, who won both races on this track in 2007 came in 13th in a Ford Fusion.

Kyle Busch, who has won four times on the Nationwide circuit and 10 times total in the three NASCAR series, was 20th.

Busch, who came in second in the Craftsman Truck Series Sam's Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, is attempting the historic feat of racing at three different tracks in one weekend. The Las Vegas native will compete in the Pocono 500 on the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday afternoon.