CONCORD, N.C. – Brad Keselowski extended Jimmie Johnson's losing streak to 102 races, holding off the seven-time NASCAR champion in overtime early Monday in the Coca-Cola 600.
Keselowski started in the back of the field, worked his way to the front at Charlotte Motor Speedway and gambled in not pitting when caution stopped Chase Elliott from winning with two laps left.
The race went five extra laps from the scheduled 400, making it 607.5 miles — the longest race in NASCAR history.
Elliott pitted and Keselowski led a train of eight cars that stayed on the track. He lined up in front of Alex Bowman on the inside line with Johnson — retiring from Cup racing at the end of the season — on the bottom ahead of Keselowski teammate Ryan Blaney.
Keselowski got the push to get into clean air and denied Johnson a victory. Keselowski celebrated as he usually does by waving a giant American flag out his window during his victory burnouts.
"I feel like I have thrown this race away a handful of times and I thought we were going to lose it today," Keselowski said. "I have lost it the way Chase lost it, and it really stinks. And today we finally won it that way."
It is the first victory for Keselowski this season, his first Coca-Cola 600 victory and the first win at this event for Ford since 2002.
Johnson had to settle for second in a Chevrolet, while Elliott, who had the victory snatched away just two laps from the finish, rallied to third for Hendrick to take two podium positions.
