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Sparta, Ky. • Brad Keselowski became the first three-time winner at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, overtaking Kevin Harvick on lap 201 and holding on for the Sprint Cup Series victory.

Matt Kenseth grabbed the lead with six laps remaining but soon pitted for fuel to hand the top spot back to Keselowski, who had just enough gas in reserve to edge Carl Edwards by .175 seconds in a tense finish for the 400-mile race. Keselowski's tank eventually ran dry and he needed a tow truck to get to victory lane.

Ryan Newman was third, followed by Kurt Busch and then Tony Stewart in fifth in his final Kentucky race. The three-time series champion is retiring after this season.

Keselowski led 75 laps on his way to his second straight win and series-best fourth of the season.

His latest triumph on the 1.5 mile tri-oval might have been his most impressive in terms of strategy.

The Penske Racing driver pitted just four times and made the most of his gas tank down to the last drop, withstanding one last charge from Edwards.

Keselowski clearly got a lot from his tires and setup, both of which were important on the resurfaced and reconfigured track featuring higher banking in turns and 1 and 2. He lamented the smoothing of front-stretch bumps he said added character to Kentucky, but quickly adapted to the improvements and new NASCAR rules that reduced downforce and sideforce.

Harvick, the pole-sitter, led for a race-high 128 laps and finished ninth.

Keselowski guided his Ford past Harvick's Chevy on lap 201 after the race record-tying 11th caution. The race then stayed green to the end.

Accidents were the story early on. Some notable names were collected, including Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and rookie Chase Elliott. —

Sprint Cup results

Quaker State 400

At Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.

Lap length: 1.5 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267.

2. (5) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 267.

3. (14) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 267.

4. (3) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 267.

5. (22) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 267.

6. (23) Greg Biffle, Ford, 267.

7. (16) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 267.

8. (11) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 267.

9. (1) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 267.

10. (7) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267.

11. (17) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 267.

12. (6) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267.

13. (13) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 267.

14. (18) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 267.

15. (10) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267.

16. (12) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.

17. (27) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 266.

18. (24) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 266.

19. (20) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 266.

20. (26) Aric Almirola, Ford, 266.

21. (36) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 266.

22. (31) David Ragan, Toyota, 265.

23. (25) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 265.

24. (40) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 264.

25. (30) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 264.

26. (37) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 264.

27. (39) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 262.

28. (38) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ford, 262.

29. (29) Landon Cassill, Ford, 261.

30. (28) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 246.

31. (8) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 210.

32. (9) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Accident, 208.

33. (32) Brian Scott, Ford, Accident, 151.

34. (33) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, Accident, 150.

35. (15) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 143.

36. (19) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 103.

37. (34) Chris Buescher, Ford, Accident, 92.

38. (35) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, Accident, 79.

39. (4) Joey Logano, Ford, Accident, 52.

40. (21) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Accident, 9.

Speed of race winner: 128.583 mph. Time of race: 3 Hrs, 06 Mins, 53 Secs. Margin of victory: 0.175 Seconds.

Top 16 in points: K. Harvick - 599; B. Keselowski - 595; Kurt Busch - 583; C. Edwards - 566; J. Logano - 533; Kyle Busch - 521; M. Truex Jr. - 514; C. Elliott. - 492; J. Johnson - 484; M. Kenseth - 477; D. Hamlin - 472; R. Newman - 463; D. Earnhardt Jr. - 461; A. Dillon - 460; J. Mcmurray - 439; T. Bayne - 429.