NASCAR Pocono Results: Brad Keselowski Wins Despite Badly Injured Ankle

Ricky Rudd once taped his eyelids open so he could race. Denny Hamlin went to Victory Lane with a torn knee ligament. And on Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Brad Keselowski added his name to the list of NASCAR drivers who toughed out an injury for the benefit of their team.

Just five days after Keselowski was airlifted to a hospital following a crash in testing, the Penske Racing driver and his swollen ankle went to Victory Lane at Pocono with an inspiring drive.

Keselowski, who said he was motivated by the memory of American soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier in the week, came out with the lead after a three-wide battle on a restart with 17 laps remaining.

The win gave Keselowski new life in the Chase wild card race – it was his second win of the season – and it came thanks in part to a rain delay of one hour and 40 minutes that changed the strategy.

While most of the frontrunners – including race leader Joey Logano – stayed out, Keselowski and teammate Kurt Busch pitted in case the race went back to green.

NASCAR officials dried the track and the tandem of Busch and Keselowski were able to gain track position. Keselowski’s car was better in the end, and he held of a challenge from Kyle Busch at the finish.

Here are the results from Sunday’s NASCAR race at Pocono: