Talladega, Ala. — Jason Keller avoided a wild pileup that involved most of the 43-car field, then held off a strong challenge from Stacy Compton to win the Aaron's 312 Busch Series race Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway.
Keller and Compton, racing at the front of a huge pack just 16 laps into the 117-lap event, were among only a handful of drivers who weren't caught up in the big crash.
Busch Series Drivers, from left, Johnny Sauter (2) on top of Randy LaJoie, Greg Biffle (60), Scott Riggs (10) and Joe Nemechek (87) crash on the backstretch of Talladega Superspeedway. Nearly half the field was damaged in the wreck Saturday during the Aaron's 312 at Talladega, Ala.
Only 21 cars were running at the finish, with third-place Tim Fedewa the only other car on the lead lap. The field was so spread out, the sixth-place car of Jimmy Kitchens was six laps behind Keller.
"We had actually followed the 59 car (Compton) up to second before the accident and had just cleared traffic," Keller said. "It was unfortunate for the fans that they didn't get to see the white knuckle, side-by-side racing they're used to see here. But they were going to give a trophy away after the race if one car finished or 43 finished, so I'm glad we won it."
The accident came on the backstretch of the 2.66-mile oval when Steve Hmiel banged into the rear of Scott Riggs, whose car turned into Johnny Sauter and sent Sauter flying into the air in front of the rest of the pack.
Before the crashing was over, 29 cars were scattered all over the backstretch pavement and on the infield grass.
Kenny Wallace, who was able to continue but later went out of the race with a hole in his radiator, shrugged off accusations that he caused the wreck.
"I really can't comment on it because it was behind me," Wallace said. "I'll have to look at the videotape."
Sauter, whose neck and back were covered in mud and gravel, said, "It was pretty much the most wild ride I've ever been on."
Sixteen drivers were checked at the infield medical center, with the only injury a cut on Scott Wimmer's tongue that took two stitches to close.
The race resumed after a 40-minute delay with only seven cars on the lead lap.
Compton led until the leaders made their final pit stops.
"My crew really won the race," said Keller, who now has two victories this season and eight in his Busch career. "They got me off pit road and I had the momentum to get by Compton on the next lap."
Keller's Ford led the last 50 laps and crossed the finish line 0.163 seconds ahead of Compton's Chevrolet.
Keller moved into second place in the season standings, trailing leader Jack Sprague by just 22 points and moving 68 ahead of two-time champion Randy Lajoie. Sprague finished 13th and Lajoie 17th.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.