by Jim Hart/Contributing Writer
jimhartrealestate@gmail.com

RICHMOND—Brad Keselowski started from the pole position for the 57th Annual Federated Auto Parts 400 this past Saturday night and never looked back in taking the checkered flag at the end.

Keselowski relinquished the lead twice and then only to Kevin Harvick, who led for a total of 17 laps, thus allowing Keselowski to set a new record at RIR for the most laps led in a scheduled NASCAR 400 lap race at Richmond (383 laps led). This was Keselowski’s 14th win in 187 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. There were a total of four cautions during the entire event with one a scheduled competition caution at lap 52, two for debris on the track and one for security when one fan was attempting to climb the fence.

Jeff Gordon, who was also considered to be a favorite to win, qualified in second on the outside of the front row for the start and finished second with Clint Boyer, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top 5. Gordon has finished at RIR in the second position several times in the past and this second-place finish was his 28th time finishing in the top ten at RIR in 44 races.

Keselowski could easily be on his way to another NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. He has held this title once in the past and is now the official leader in the Sprint Cup Series “Race For The Chase” with a total of four wins for the season taking over the lead from Jeff Gordon following this win. Following closely behind Keselowski with three wins each are Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Joey Lagano.

There are a total of 16 drivers in the Chase with Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman securing their berths in the Chase this past Saturday at Richmond based on points with no wins.

The Race For The Chase lineup is as follows: Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Joey Lagano, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kayne, Aric Almirola, A.J. Allmendinger, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman.