TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 26: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Claritin Ford, goes airborne as Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Steweart-Haas Racing Chevrolet suffers damage and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet drives at the conclusion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2009 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Carl Edards;Ryan Edwards;Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He's a Sprint Cup champion now, but in 2009 Brad Keselowski was a 25-year-old driver making just the fifth Cup start of his career at Talladega when he won in dramatic fashion.
It was Keselowski's first career Cup win in, remarkably, his first restrictor-plate run at the treacherous 2.66-mile superspeedway.
Keselowski has since won twice more at 'Dega since going to Victory Lane in that Aaron's 499 spring race. But that day when he led just one lap and was driving for Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch involved an incredible crash that took out then-leader Carl Edwards, who subsequently got out of his demolished car and jogged across the finish line in true Ricky Bobby style.
It was, in short, an unforgettable day -- not only for Keselowski and Edwards, but for everyone who was in attendance or watched on television.
Check out the video of the finish and Keselowsk's subsequent celebration, as well as photos of the wreck and Edwards' memorable jaunt to the finish line.
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