March 29, 2024

Twice is nice for Keselowski at Iowa Speedway

Not many drivers have won back-to-back races at Iowa Speedway. Brad Keselowski put together a dominating run Saturday night at the sixth annual NASCAR Nationwide Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by New Holland to do just that.

But it came down to the final three laps because of a fifth caution flag. Keselowski was the leader going into the caution. The restart came on Lap 247 and it was Michael McDowell getting the jump on Keselowski.

McDowell’s lead was short lived. Keselowski made the move to get around McDowell to lead the final two laps right into the Pizza Ranch Victory Lane. Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and 2010 Nationwide Series champion, drove the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford to victory for Team Penske for the second year in a row.

Keselowski flew in to Newton just before Saturday’s qualifying rounds. He is pulling double duty as he did a year go, driving in the Nationwide Series race here and in Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania.

McDowell finished second while pole winner Trevor Bayne ended up third but had a big payday.

Bayne was one of four Nationwide Series drivers eligible for the final Nationwide Dash 4 Cash bonus. Earlier Saturday Bayne was paired with James Dennis of Henry, Ill., who was one of four racing fans winning the fan sweepstakes contest. Bayne and Dennis each walked away from Iowa with a $100,000 check.

Sam Hornish Jr., who won May’s Nationwide Series race at Iowa, was fourth and Ty Dillon was fifth. Nationwide Series points leader Chase Elliott ran eighth and maintains a two-point lead over Regan Smith, who was sixth in Saturday’s race.

More on the race in Monday’s Newton Daily News.

Contact Sports Editor Jocelyn Sheets at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.