Sprint Cup drivers flex their muscle at local Nationwide race

GLADEVILLE, Tenn. – With young hot-shoe Brad Keselowski leading the parade, NASCAR big-leaguers swept the first three spots in the second-tier Nationwide Series race Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway.

“I really enjoy coming here,” said Keselowski who was followed across the line by fellow Sprint Cup regulars Carl Edwards and Paul Menard. “I think the track gets better every time we come here.”

Keselowski, who two years ago notched his first career Nationwide win on the 1.3-mile concrete oval, has six top-10 finishes in eight races on the track.

With an announced crowd of 17,500 looking on, Keselowski passed Edwards on a re-start with 22 laps left in the 225-lap race and went on to a 1.6-second triumph.

“It’s not a win but my guys worked hard and I led a lot of laps, so it was a good day for us,” Edwards said.

Menard, asked about the Cup double-dippers’ 1-2-3 sweep, said: “It shows that we have good teams and good resources.”

Keselowski, who led a race-high 98 laps, said his decision to come in for Friday’s practice session gave him a winning edge. Edwards and Menard elected to remain in Pocono, Pa., where they prepared for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.

“That extra practice was important,” Keselowski said. “If I hadn’t come in (Friday) I don’t think I could have won the race.”

The Cup drivers departed immediately after the race for Pocono to get a few hours’ rest before Sunday’s Sprint Cup event. Keselowski said pulling such double duty is demanding, but he’s not complaining.

“Sometimes it’s not the easiest or the most fun thing to do,” he said. “But then I feel privileged to get the opportunity.”

Keselowski, who started 24th in the 43-car field, said he wasn’t sure his Dodge could hold off Edwards’ Ford.

“I think Carl’s car was a touch better than mine, but I got a great-restart and got around him,” Keselowski said.

Edwards led 52 laps, third behind pole-sitter Justin Allgaier’s 58.

Keselowski’s third Nationwide victory of the season kept him solidly in the points lead. He has a 196-point edge over Kyle Busch who skipped Saturday’s race and does not plan to defend his 2009 Nationwide title. Kevin Harvick, another dominate driver who won the Superspeedway’s April event, likewise skipped the race.

Keselowski said he was disappointed that Busch wasn’t in the lineup, “because I like to beat him. I want to beat the best. If I win the championship I don’t want an asterisk beside it.”

Edwards, expected to be Keselowski’s main challenge for the Nationwide title, was asked if Saturday night’s battle was a preview of their championship fight the remainder of the season.

“I hope it’s kind of a preview,” Edwards said, “but I hope it doesn’t turn out like it did tonight.”

It was a rough night for Nashville-based Baker Curb Racing. Scott Wimmer and Scott Lagasse finished 21st and 33rd, respectively. Both were running strong when they were caught up in crashes.

Another area driver, Willie Allen of Bon Aqua, was penalized two laps at the start of the race because his crew made a minor but unapproved adjustment on his car. Allen rallied back to finish an impressive 15th, the best showing of his career.

The track wraps up its 10th anniversary season with a NASCAR Camping World Series race on Aug. 7.