Kentucky NASCAR: Penske's Brad Keselowski stretches fuel for win

The Kentucky Speedway event became a race against fuel after the penultimate caution on lap 172 of the 267.

Keselowski, who remained up front for the majority of the race and led 75 laps, stayed out when other contenders began to systematically pit with less than 10 laps to go.

Edwards had been conserving fuel for the longest of all the leading drivers and closed the gap with two laps left.

He threatened to steal the win when Keselowski thought he was out of fuel but the leader squeezed just enough out of the tank to get over the finish line.

Ryan Newman brought his Childress Chevrolet in behind Edwards to finish third.

Furniture Row Racing's Martin Truex Jr had the most eventful race of all after losing his consistently frontrunning position due to a penalty for speeding in the pitlane at the final caution.

He dropped back from the lead to 22nd, but benefited from a full tank and new set of tyres. Looking like a real threat for the win, he charged through the pack, making it as far as sixth place before his team cautiously pitted him and ended his race in 10th.

NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart, a recent winner at Sonoma, managed to take home fifth place in his 600th Cup start.

All drivers struggled with oversteering cars thanks to the low downforce package in use on a newly resurfaced track that included increased banking on the first two turns.

With 11 cautions, the race narrowly avoided setting a new record for most cautions at the track.

AJ Allmendinger will require precautionary x-rays after hitting the wall on lap 172, the JTG Daugherty driver having rejoined the race following extensive repairs after being caught up in the night's biggest crash - a seven-car pile-up - 83 laps earlier.

RESULTS - 267 LAPS:

CURRENT CHASE FIELD

On wins: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart

On points: Chase Elliott, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Austin Dillon, Jamie McMurray