Brad Keselowski slipped by Mike Bliss on the last lap of the last NASCAR race at Gateway International Raceway for his sixth Nationwide victory this year.
Only that’s just half the story. Pole sitter, Justin Allgaier, Keselowski’s teammate, was pulling away with ten laps to go when Steven Wallace turned Danica Patrick, bringing out a caution. The Penske teammates dove into the pits for four tires, while Mike Bliss took only two. Algaier’s crew was a little bit slower than his teammates costing him some track position. When the track went green with five laps to go, Reed Sorenson, who had not pitted, held a tenuous lead. But, as Sorenson’s tires faded, Bliss was able to get by. Then, four fresh tires versus two made all the difference. “We definitely knew we needed (four) tires to get it,” said Paul Wolfe, Keselowski’s crew chief. “I knew it would be close,” said Keselowski. “When Bliss took the lead, I thought he was gone. I knew he had the best short run car.” A dejected Allgaier, who has an uncertain future because Penske hasn’t obtained a sponsor for 2011, finished third after starting from the pole and led the most laps. “We knew we had a good car, sat on the pole,” Allgaier said, explaining his race: “The team couldn’t get off pit road (fast enough).” The race was red-flagged near the halfway mark for a 10-car collision on the front straight. Patrick had almost cleared the blockage but was tagged in the right rear costing her extra time in the pits. She ended up 22nd. With three races to go, Keselowski has a 485-point lead over Carl Edwards in the Championship. NASCAR previously announced that it would not return to the 1.25 mile in 2011.
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