Brad Keselowski Wins the Final Race at Gateway, Winning the 5-Hour Energy 350

When Brad Keselowski started the race, the only concern everybody had was if he'd able to make his way through the field. Keselowski proved that as he was in the top five before the halfway point.

With nine laps to go under caution after Danica Patrick spun, Keselowski took the gamble and took four tires on pit road, passing Mike Bliss for the win with two laps to go.

"You make the right adjustments, you give him the right car, he can get to victory lane," Crew Chief Paul Wolfe said after the race.

Keselowski started at the back of the pack as a result of missing Nationwide Series qualifying earlier that day due to being in Martinsville practicing his Sprint Cup Series car.

"When Bliss got the lead, I thought he'd be gone," Keselowski said of the race at the end. "He had the best short track car and got a break and got to him, was able to get him loose. I thought our teammate Justin was going to win, though he had some issues on pit road, but good job to him."

In the spring, Keselowski led the race right down to the final lap coming out of the final corner when he was turned by championship rival Carl Edwards for the win. In a way, the victory was redemption for that.

‎"I try not to hold grudges and that was key today," Keselowski said. "You can't be panicked about the past, you got to be able to move on with your life and we did that today."

Bliss finished second after starting fourth.

‎"We were alright today, we weren't as good as I expected in long runs," Mike Bliss said. "With taking two tires, we got a good finish out of it."

Allgaier, who had the dominant car and started on pole, finished third after having multiple issues on pit road today.

‎"We knew we had a good car, we sat on the pole," Allgaier said, who doesn't have a ride for next season. "I had the dominant car of the race and we just couldn't get off pit road and we made the wrong car at the end.

"I just want to say that I love this Nationwide Series and thank Nationwide for what they do for the sport."

The race was held up with a 20-minute red flag after a wreck blocked the front straightaway involving over 10 cars.

"You're going to get a lot of depressed drivers, but I'm not going to be one of them," Sean Caisse said afterwards. "I am thankful for the opportunity.

"There's just a lot of guys who aren't respectful out there. Brendan Gaughan being one of them as he took me three wide, Danica being another as she took me four-wide. It's too early to be going three and...four wide. A lot of guys talk about being respectful, but being in my fifth start, I saw people make stupid mistakes and making unneeded moves."

With the win, Keselowski extends his points lead over Edwards to 485 points, pretty much having the championship locked up.

"13 months ago, Discount Tire called me and told me they wanted to drive this car and I knew it'd be something special." Keselowski said.