MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Travis Kvapil nudged Brad Keselowski into a spin to take the lead with nine laps remaining and went on to win the O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Kvapil’s Roush Fenway Racing Ford ran a couple of truck lengths behind Keselowski’s Germain Racing Toyota in a 40-lap chase on the .75-mile track. In turn four on the 191st lap of the three-quarter-mile track, Kvapil’s truck hit Keselowski’s left rear and sent him into a 180-degree spin.
It ruined a storybook race for Keselowski, who was subbing for the suspended Ted Musgrave. Keselowski finished 16th.
Kvapil won by 2.320 seconds over runner-up Jack Sprague, who passed Ron Hornaday for second with three laps remaining. It was Kvapil’s second victory of the season and the seventh in his truck career.
Point-leader Mike Skinner was fourth and rookie Aaron Fike fifth, both driving Toyotas.
“I definitely didn’t intend to spin him (Keselowski) around,” Kvapil said. “His truck was having trouble getting through the corner. I had to go. I had to make something happen. It’s part of racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It’s definitely not the way I do business.”
Keselowski started from pole and led the opening 19 laps. He was third for a restart on lap 120 and passed Skinner for second five laps later.
Keselowski closed on Kvapil and took the lead on the inside in turn four on lap 148. Keselowski opened up a 1.1-second lead in four laps, but the Ford driver began gaining and was within a few truck lengths for the next 40 laps.
“It was a great race,” Kvapil said.
Keselowski had to run his tires hard to get into the lead.
“I was trying to save something, but I wasn’t catching up,” Keselowski said. “I used everything up getting to him. I used up the rear tires, and that led to getting run over. I don’t think I’m angry. I’m not sure what I am, a little surprised, shocked. Angry, I don’t think that’s the right word. It’s definitely the best I’ve run.”
Keselowski’s best finish in 42 starts was seventh at Daytona in 2005.
Sprague started his night from 13th on the grid.
“It started horrible,” Sprague said. “It got better after the first stop and came to life after the second. I wish we’d have had 25 more laps. I’d have had something for Travis.”
Skinner leads Hornaday by 103 points with 12 of 25 races completed.