RICHMOND, Va. — Brad Keselowski ducked underneath Kyle Busch to take the lead with 10 laps to go Friday night and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.
Keselowski had to hold off a final charge from Kevin Harvick, but after Harvick closed within a few car lengths, Keselowski kept him at bay.
NASCAR defends penalties
RICHMOND, Va. — NASCAR is defending the severity of the penalties levied against Joe Gibbs Racing for an illegal part in Matt Kenseth’s engine.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton says series officials aren’t charged with determining intent or if the infraction provided an advantage.
Joe Gibbs Racing was stripped of everything except the trophy from Kenseth’s victory Sunday at Kansas because one connecting rod in his engine did not meet the minimum weight requirement. Kenseth was docked 50 points, including the bonus points for the win.
Crew chief Jason Ratcliff was fined $200,000, and Ratcliff and car owner Joe Gibbs were suspended six races.
NASCAR qualifying
RICHMOND, Va. — Matt Kenseth didn’t wait long to get his pole award back.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver stripped of his pole award from last week at Kansas in a raft of penalties levied by NASCAR this week, set a track record with a lap at 130.334 mph Friday at Richmond International Raceway. Kenseth edged JGR teammate Brian Vickers by 0.005 seconds to claim only the 10th top starting position of his career in 481 starts.
Jeff Gordon qualified third, followed by Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer.
NHRA qualifying
BAYTOWN, Texas — Cruz Pedregon topped Funny Car qualifying Friday in the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway.
The two-time Funny Car series champion, the winner this month in Las Vegas, had a pass of 4.086 seconds at 310.41 mph in his Toyota Camry.
Doug Kalitta led the Top Fuel field, Jeg Coughlin topped the Pro Stock cars, and Hector Arana Jr. led in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Kalitta had a run of 3.791 at 321.65, Coughlin covered the distance at 6.569 at 211.20 in his Dodge Avenger, and Arana finished in 6.876 seconds at 195.39 mph on a Buell.
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