Edwards wins Nationwide in wild finish

Associated Press

MADISON, Ill.

Carl Edwards prevailed in a wild final lap, nudging Brad Keselowski out of control on the final straightaway to take the Nationwide Dodge Dealers 250 on Saturday night.

Keselowski was on the inside and had appeared to take the lead before Edwards’ car drifted into him. Keselowski spun into the wall and was struck head-on by another car.

Edwards, of Columbia, Mo., won for the third time at Gateway International Raceway, which he considers his home track. Reed Sorenson was second and pole-sitter Trevor Bayne third, while Keselowski finally rolled across the line in 14th.

Keselowski was runner-up in the Camping World 200 truck race earlier Saturday, and led much of the Nationwide series event.

Trucks

Kevin Harvick took the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader with a near wire-to-wire victory in the Camping World 200.

Harvick won for the third time in four NASCAR truck races this season, leading for 143 of the 160 laps at the 1.25-mile Gateway International Raceway. He led by up to 8 seconds and the margin of victory was more than 5 seconds.

“That was the hope coming here, that the day was going to go like it did,” Harvick said.

Before qualifying for the Nationwide Dodge Dealers 250 on Saturday night, he traded barbs with runner-up Brad Keselowski.

“The only way we were going to win the race is if he made a mistake, and I felt like he did. He passed the pace car pitting and you’re not supposed to do that,” said Keselowski, while acknowledging that Harvick had the best truck all race. “He got away with that one, so we didn’t catch that break.”

Harvick’s response: “I’d have complained if I got beat that bad, too.”