Could A Clinch Be In the Cards For Keselowski?

In order to capture his first NASCAR Nationwide Series title – and also the first NASCAR national series championship for the legendary Roger Penske – Brad Keselowski has to leave Texas with a 390-point lead over the second-place driver, who happens to be his archrival, Carl Edwards.

If Keselowski finishes 21st or better, 22nd and lead at least one lap, or 24th and leads the most laps, he would clinch no matter what Edwards does. He comes to Texas leading Edwards, the 2007 series champion, by 485 points.

Keselowski’s average finish at Texas in eight career series races is 14.0. He ranks 20th in Driver Rating at the track at 84.1, but has top-five finishes in his last three races. Reigning series champion Kyle Busch leads all drivers with a 125.9 Driver Rating there. Edwards has a 97.4 Driver Rating at TMS, 10th-best among all drivers at Texas. His average finish is 13.0, one spot better than Keselowski.