NASCAR BGN: Jason Keller Hopes To Continue Successful Ways At Indianapolis Track
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 26, 2001
BOISE, Idaho--- For Jason Keller, there is no place like Indianapolis Raceway Park. One of the few remaining short tracks on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit, IRP has played host to some of Keller's most successful runs. Keller has captured two of his five Busch Series wins at IRP. He also has one pole, three top fives and five top 10s in just seven starts at the .636-mile short track.
As the championship battle heats up in the Busch Series, Keller is only 178 points out of first place. It's that kind of success that Keller and the Albertson's Racing team are hoping for as they return to IRP on August 4.
"Indianapolis is one of those tracks that I enjoy running on because I have had a tremendous amount of success there," said Keller. "Even though it's not my favorite track on the circuit, it's one of those flat, slick tracks that reminds me of the tracks where I first started competing. It doesn't drive like those tracks, but you used to be able to run at the top of the track the entire race. It's still fun to drive on it even though the groove has moved down."
For Keller, the trip to Indy marks the return to one of his most memorable days in the Busch Series- his first career win on August 4, 1995. It will be five years to the day of that win when the team rolls the Albertson's Ford off the truck at IRP. He qualified his family-owned car third for the 200-lap race. There were only two lead changes in the event. Pole-sitter Elton Sawyer led the first 50 laps before Johnny Benson took over the lead. It was on lap 150 that Keller acquired the top spot from Benson. Keller went on to beat Sawyer by 1.41 seconds and earn his first trip to victory lane.
"That was a very emotional win for me," said Keller. "I was as emotional there as I was in Loudon this past May. My family had invested so much time and money to run that team because they believed in me. Benson spun out with 50 laps-to-go and I took over the lead. I knew the race was mine to win. I wanted it for my family and everyone that had supported me for so long. I just drove away from the field and found myself in victory lane. It turned out to be the only win for KEL Racing, but it was one of those moments you share with your family that no one ever forgets."
Keller's most recent win at IRP came in 1999 when he won from the pole. Only four NASCAR Busch Series races at IRP out of 19 have been won by the pole-sitter. Keller led 130 out of 200 laps that day, including the last 35. Keller took the checkered flag under caution after a two-car incident on lap 197 brought out the yellow flag.
"Our win in 1999 was one of those days that I knew I had a great car," said Keller. "We got through half of our final practice and I told Steve (Addington) that we needed to park the car because we were going to win the race. We ran up front all day long battling with Todd Bodine. The longer we ran though, the tighter the car got. By the end of the race our car was really tight and Bodine's car just seemed to keep getting better. With three laps to go and Bodine on my tail, Adam Petty hit the inside wall. I had enough left in the car to hold off Bodine as we raced to the caution flag. It was going to be a very close race if we had to run the final laps under green."
As the Albertson's team prepares for the one-day event, they hope that Keller can continue his successful ways in Indianapolis and move the team one step closer to the championship.
Text provided by Heather Kincel
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery .