Nascar Race Today

Brad Keselowski celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nationwide auto race Saturday at Iowa Speedway. (Photo: Charlie Neibergall, AP)

Story Highlights Keselowski took control with 35 laps left to take home the checkered flag Defending Sprint Cup champion has won in his last three Nationwide starts

NEWTON, Iowa -- His engine was overheating Saturday night and there was a point during the U.S. Cellular 250 when you had to wonder if Brad Keselowski was red-lining as well.

After two round-trips from Pocono to Iowa in two days, a pit violation and a temperamental motor, the Sprint Cup champion found himself in the middle of the pack at Iowa Speedway, surrounded by drivers he already passed a time or two and so far back he couldn't smell Austin Dillon's exhaust.

But past experiences at Newton galvanized Keselowski's patience and taught the 29-year-old Michigan native the value of persistence.

"It's not easy, that's for sure," Keselowski said after claiming his second Nationwide Series victory at Iowa. "As a driver, those are some of the most difficult moments, knowing you have a fast race car and knowing circumstances are playing against you. ... Those are the moments where you have to really tough it out and make something happen."

Keselowski's defining moment Saturday came with measure of fortune.

Dillon was pulling away from the pack, much like he did in June when he led 207 laps, only to watch Trevor Bayne race around him with 12 to go and drive down victory lane.

But Travis Pastrana spun Saturday night on Lap 199 and smacked the wall on Turn 3 and turned the conclusion into a chess match on pit road. Bayne, Vickers and Elliott Sadler were part of a group that rolled the dice on two tires and track position. Keselowski, Dillon and a handful of others opted for four tires.

Keselowski charged from seventh toward the front on the restart and passed Brian Vickers for the lead with 35 laps remaining. It was hardly a contest the rest of the way.

"He was able to toy with us a little bit," said Keselowski's Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr., who finished second, ahead of Vickers, Dillon and rookie Kyle Larson.

"The whole pack started catching him at the end and I thought we were all going to be racing for the win," Larson said before jogging through the infield to catch a ride to Knoxville to race his sprint car in the A-Main of the 360 Knoxville Nationals. "But I'm sure he was just messing with us a little bit."

It was quite a plot change from the first half of the race when Keselowski shuffled up and down the grid and Dillon drove away from the field.

Keselowski's problems started during the first caution when a tire got away from his crew and rolled outside the box, forcing the No. 22 Ford to move to the back of the line on the restart - 32nd in the order and 22nd on the grid.

During his battle through the field, rubber built up on Keselowski's grille and caused the engine to overheat.

"Tonight for us was a perseverance night," No. 22 crew chief Jeremy Bullins said.

Keselowski said it reminded him of the first Nationwide race at Iowa in 2009 when he dealt with adversity early and came from behind late to beat Kyle Busch for the win.

"To beat him, despite adversity and with it being so early in my career, it was very much a defining moment, especially with it being the inaugural race here," Keselowski said before boarding a jet back to Long Pond, Pa., for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Pocono.

"It was a win that, at that time, was certainly the biggest of my career."

Andy Hamilton writes for the Des Moines Register, a Gannett property.