Photos: Keselowski Takes NASCAR Chase Lead

Posted Sep 16, 2012

JOLIET, Ill.—Brad Keselowski began the season with a bit of goofiness, posting on Twitter during a red-flag stoppage at the Daytona 500.
He’s ending the year with a far more serious pursuit—for his first Sprint Cup championship.
Keselowski is off to a fine start after an impressive victory over Jimmie Johnson on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. In the opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the 28-year-old Keselowski outlasted Johnson for the first Chase win of his career. Keselowski also took over the lead in the points standings for the first time.

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates with his crew in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates with his crew in victory lane after he won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, does a burn-out after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, drives towards the start/finish line to take the checkered flag and win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, lead the field to a restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet and Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 Farmland Ford, lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: (Lead cars) Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 Farmland Ford and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: (Lead cars from top) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet and Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 Farmland Ford, lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Jimmie Johnson(C), driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, stands with his wife Chandra and daughter Genevieve on pit road prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: (L-R) Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, lead the field on a restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, pits in the first pit box during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of race action during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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Brad Keselowski wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Autostock, Matthew T. Thacker) MANDATORY CREDIT
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Brad Keselowski celebrates the win in victory lane after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Autostock, Matthew T. Thacker) MANDATORY CREDIT
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Brad Keselowski celebrates the win in victory lane after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Autostock, Matthew T. Thacker) MANDATORY CREDIT
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Brad Keselowski does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012.(AP Photo/Tim Stewart)
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Brad Keselowski poses on his car in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Autostock, Matthew T. Thacker) MANDATORY CREDIT