SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Brad Keselowski overcame a late-race mistake after a restart to reclaim the lead from Erik Jones with eight laps remaining, holding him off to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series race Friday night at Kentucky Speedway.
Keselowski earned his third series victory on the 1.5-mile oval and second 300-mile win in three starts. He had to bounce back from a hiccup after a Lap 169 restart that appeared to hand the race to Jones. Unfazed, the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion regrouped and guided his No. 22 Ford Mustang past Jones’ Toyota on Lap 192 and went on to the win after finishing second last year.
Kyle Busch (Toyota) was third after leading a race-high 88 laps, with Daniel Suarez (Toyota) fourth and Elliott Sadler (Ford) fifth.
Chris Buescher remained atop the standings and has a 36-point lead on defending series champion Chase Elliott after finishing 11th, two spots ahead of Elliott.
Keselowski led three times for 72 laps for his 33rd career series win and one that matched Team Penske teammate Joey Logano for the most wins at Kentucky (three). He will start second in Saturday night’s 400-mile Cup race that he’s won twice.
More rain earlier in the day washed out qualifying and set the grid according to Thursday’s practice speeds. J.J. Yeley started first alongside Ty Dillon, whose good start quickly pushed him past Yeley and in front for 15 laps before Busch asserted himself for the first of two leads for 62 of the first 100 laps.
Keselowski started fourth but was in the hunt and soon established himself as another contender when he overtook Busch on Lap 79 and set the pace from there. He eventually yielded the lead upon pitting to Darrell Wallace Jr., who led briefly before giving the lead back to Busch as he pitted for tires and fuel to prepare for the stretch run.
Keselowski was soon stalking Busch and caught a break on Lap 163 when John Wes Townley hit the Turn 2 wall to bring out a caution and send the leaders down pit road. Keselowski beat Busch out of the pits and led the restart before allowing Jones to surge ahead for 22 laps.
