In the absence of an 'official' race report we reproduce the best of the reports of Brad's famous debut Sprint Cup win.

Brad Keselowski a fast winner
David Goricki / The Detroit News

It was just another day at the race shop for Brad Keselowski on Monday afternoon in Mooresville, N.C.

But NASCAR fans across the nation know differently. So does Keselowski, the 25-year-old NASCAR driver from Rochester Hills. He knows his life never will be the same after he won his first Sprint Cup race Sunday in thrilling style at Talladega Superspeedway.

Keselowski returned home to North Carolina on Monday, preparing his car at JR Motorsports for the next Nationwide Series event. He drives full-time for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Nationwide Series, but he displayed the driving ability and swagger of Dale Jr.'s father at Talladega.

Keselowski made a name for himself Sunday when he was involved in a last-lap wreck that left Carl Edwards airborne and Keselowski in Victory Lane in just his fifth start in the top series.

"It was a huge statement," Keselowski said of his victory in a Chevrolet for owner James Finch. "I had to earn the respect of my competitors. He (Edwards) felt he could cut me off and get away with it. He challenged me. If I lifted up I'd give him the win and the whole field would have taken advantage of me from then on. It was a game of chicken and I wasn't about to give in (and go under the yellow line). You can't have somebody push you around."

When asked how he learned how to drive like that, Keselowski sounded like Dale Sr. in his prime, replying: "You don't learn it. You just do it."

Keselowski, who didn't have a top-10 finish in his previous four Sprint Cup starts, was running 11th on the re-start with four laps remaining. Ryan Newman and Earnhardt broke away from the field on the re-start and ran 1-2 on the bottom of the track.

"I fell back to 12th on the re-start before hooking up to draft with Casey Mears," Keselowski said. "We caught Edwards, who then put a block on Casey, sending him sideways, and then I went behind Edwards and drafted him.

"These cars work well in two-car drafts and you really get a good push that way. We (Edwards, Keselowski) ran the fastest lap of the day, more than 200 miles-per-hour, going 204 in a couple of spots. We gained a lot of speed and caught up with Newman and Dale Jr. on the final lap."

That's when things got real interesting. Edwards and Keselowski went past Newman and Earnhardt, and then started their own battle.

"I never thought about winning until the final lap," Keselowski said. "I knew I had to wait until the tri-oval to make a move on him. I made a move on him to the outside to bait him and he took it, then I went to the inside. I caught him off guard just like I wanted to do. Once I made it to his quarter-panel that's all I needed. I just held the wheel straight. He came across my nose and there was no where for me to go."

Edwards and Keselowski made contact, and Edwards went airborne, flying into the fence near the frontstretch. Edwards got out of his fiery Ford and ran across the finish line while Keselowski made his way to Victory Lane.

"I certainly didn't expect it," Keselowski said of the victory. "I just wanted to get my toes in the water. It's a huge confidence boost. It's a credibility boost, so many different things can happen from something like this."

Keselowski already is a star in the Nationwide Series, winning two races and finishing third in points last season, in which he was named the series' most popular driver.

Now, he's a star in Finch's eyes in Sprint Cup, earning the owner his first victory in the series. It was Keselowski's second race of the season for Finch. He also competed in one race for Hendrick Motorsports this season.

Keselowski will drive the No. 25 car for Hendrick Motorsports on May 9 in Darlington and Aug. 16 at MIS, and back in the Chevrolet for Finch on June 28 in Louden, N.H.

"I never thought about winning until the final lap. I knew I had to wait until the tri-oval to make a move on him. I made a move on him to the outside to bait him and he took it, then I went to the inside. I caught him off guard just like I wanted to do. Once I made it to his quarter-panel that's all I needed. I just held the wheel straight. He came across my nose and there was no where for me to go."

On winning at Talladega last weekend – “Man, that was an awesome race. You just never know going into Talladega what’s going to happen. It really is a crapshoot. I had such a strong car, especially when I was able to get behind someone and push them. I think Carl (Edwards) and I were going over 200 miles per hour there at the end with the two of us hooked up together. I had such a great time racing there with those guys, and I hope I was able to gain some respect from them in the process. The fact that I won really hasn’t completely sunk in for me, and I still can’t believe it happened. What a great day for Phoenix Racing and James Finch- I’m so pleased I could get that win for him and that team.”

On returning home after Sunday’s Cup victory – “I went straight into my house and turned on the TV so I could watch the replay of the race. I couldn’t wait. Up until that point I still hadn’t seen exactly how it all played out. It was really interesting hearing the reaction of the TV announcers when they realized I won the race. I still couldn’t believe it either.”

Brad Keselowski (born February 12, 1984) is an auto racing car driver currently competing in the #88 Chevrolet Impala SS
for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly known as the Busch Series).
He is also competing in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports.

He is the son of Bob Keselowski and the nephew of Ron Keselowski.
His older brother Brian also competes in the Nationwide Series.