Brad Keselowski Nationwide Champion: 10 Highlights of the Title Run

Roger Penske rolled the dice and signed Brad Keselowski to drive his No. 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup car and his new second team in the Nationwide Series, the No. 22 Discount Tire team. 

Penske Racing dominated the Nationwide Series, with Keselowski taking the top spot and the departing Justin Allgaier finishing fourth and first overall of the non-double-duty NASCAR drivers.

Keselowski Rattles Off Eight Consecutive Top Fives Including Two Wins

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TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 25: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 25, 2010 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Rusty Jarre

Brad Keselowski's first race was a 13th place at Daytona.  After that disappointing start, the No. 22 Discount Tire team put together an amazing eight-race run that ended with two wins back-to-back at Talladega and Richmond. That run set in motion the championship run.

Keselowski Prevails with Two Key Seventh-Place Finishes on Bad Days

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DARLINGTON, SC - MAY 07: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Ruby Tuesday Dodge, leads Josh Wise, driver of the #61 Ride to the Rock for Autism Ford, during the NASCAR Nationwide series Royal Purple 200 presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at Darlington Race

Finishing in the top 10 when having a bad day is a key to winning championships.  Keselowski and the Penkse Dodge team missed the setups badly at Dover and Darlington.  They kept their heads up and, despite being off the lead most of the day at both tracks, they managed seventh-place finishes on both tracks.

Keselowski Knocks Out Six Top-Fives in a Row at the Heart of Schedule

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, leads Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #3 Wrangler Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Toyota, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #33 Rheem Chevrolet, during the

Consistency wins championships and provides a cushion for possible trouble later in the year.  The No. 22 Penske Dodge was solid for six consecutive races and it would pay off, with trouble waiting on the horizon in the form of Carl Edwards.

First Road Race of Year at Road America Sets Tone for Championship Season

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ELKHART LAKE, WI - JUNE 19: Brad Keselowski, driving the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, moves through a turn during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bucyrus 200 at Road America on June 19, 2010 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Brad Keselowski learned his lessons for road racing, and although he was rough at times at Road America, he brought the No. 22 Penske Dodge home in fourth place.  A remarkable accomplishment for a driver that has little road-racing experience.

Daytona In July: Dale Jr. Steals Show but Keselowski Pads Lead

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 02: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #3 Wrangler Chevrolet leads the field near the end of the race during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Flor

The July race at Daytona was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s world and everyone was just living in it.  Learning when to go for it and when to lay back is one reason Brad Keselowski is the new Nationwide champion.

Gateway Crash Rings Keselowski's Bell but Strengthens His Resolve

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MADISON, IL - JULY 17: Brad Keselowski driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge wrecks on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway on July 17, 2010 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Dil

One of Brad Keselowski's worst finishes of the 2010 Nationwide season occurred after he nudged Carl Edwards out of the way, then Edwards retaliated by turning his steering wheel dead right on the front stretch as the two came to the checkered flag.  The resulting chaos saw Keselowski being bounced around the front stretch like a pinball.

Keselowski Tallies Two More Fourth-Place Finishes on Road Courses

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MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 29: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Ruby Tuesday's Dodge leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Napa Auto Parts 200 on August 29, 2010 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Jason

The Nationwide Series travels to three road circuits per year, and Keselowski finished fourth in each race.  Consistency is the key to a championship season, and road races are meant to trip up title contenders.  Keselowski came up through the short tracks of the upper Midwest and did not see many road courses, but has adapted well.

Keselowski Overcomes Adversity Late in the Season

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BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 20: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, spins out after an incident with Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2

Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski have had their dust-ups in the past, and their latest came at the Bristol August night race.  Keselowski gave Busch the bump-and-run, then Busch repaid the favor with a less gentle nudge sending Keselowski hurtling towards the outside wall.  Keselowski finished 14th in the Bristol race and would finish out of the top 10 in three of the next five races.

Keselowski Finishes Strong to Close In on His and Penske's First Title

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MADISON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge leads the field during the NASCAR 5-hour Energy 250 at Gateway International Raceway on October 23, 2010 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)

Brad Keselowski went back to the scene of the crime earlier in the year and he owned Gateway for the Nationwide Series' second visit.  Instead of a headache delivered by Carl Edwards after a massive crash, Keselowski gave his competition a headache, leading 83 laps and bringing home the hardware.  The win gave Keselowski the opportunity to wrap up the title with two or three races to go.

Keselowski Finishes Third in Texas and Gives Roger Penske His First Title

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 06: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, celebrates with Team Owner Roger Penske on pit road after winning the Nationwide Championship with a third-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Pa

Brad Keselowski delivered Roger Penske, "The Captain," his first NASCAR title by finishing third in the Texas race last weekend.  Ironically, Carl Edwards won the race but he deferred to the new champion and his recent nemesis, Keselowski.  "We've had our differences and our battles, but today is his championship day, and he beat us. So that's the way it is."