Keller Hangs in at Atlanta

It wasn't a race that Jason Keller will care to remember very much over the remainder of his NASCAR Busch Series driving career, but the driver of the Albertson's Supermarkets / Northeastern Supply Company Ford Taurus hung tough during the running of the Aaron's Rents 312 event Saturday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway to remain in the thick of the 2003 championship battle.

Keller, who started the race well back in the field (26th position) after a disappointing qualifying effort on Friday, stayed out of trouble and gradually worked his way up through the field to earn a satisfying 15th place finish, one lap down to the leaders.  With David Green finishing 8th, Scott Riggs 6th, Ron Hornaday 13th and Brian Vickers 31st, Jason remained third in the championship points race though Hornaday drew even with Keller with just three races remaining this season.

Keller and Hornaday are just 35 points behind the new leader, Green, while Riggs held on to the second position and is now just 13 points out of the lead.  Vickers, who was involved in an early race incident with Hank Parker, Jr., forced him into the garage to get some repairs made to his Chevrolet, lost a bunch of laps to finish well back in the pack and dropped all the way down to fifth place in the standings though still just 49 points out of the top spot.

Winston Cup Series regulars Michael Waltrip, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle dominated the day's racing with Biffle taking advantage of fresher tires to blow past Waltrip and into Victory Lane for the second time in three races just a couple of laps after the restart following the race's final caution flag.  Kenseth ended up second followed in order by red-hot Bobby Hamilton, Jr., a fading Waltrip and Parker, Jr. Hamilton, Jr., who won last week in Memphis, remained 6th in the points standing but is now just 173 points behind leader Green.  Four weeks ago, Hamilton, Jr., the leader by nearly 300 points before turning on the steam lately.

Keller will continue his surge towards what would be his first Busch Series crown next Saturday in Phoenix with the running of the season's 32nd race of the 34 scheduled in 2003.  Check your local TV listings for the starting time of the event and the broadcast outlet.