JOLIET, ILL. - Brad Keselowski got some real-time practice for his NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship debut by winning the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday in the No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge.

Keselowski took the lead when Carl Edwards had to pit for gas in the No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.

Edwards came back to finish second.

Keselowski said that he wanted to use the Nationwide race to make a statement that even though he’s the only rookie among the 12 Chase Cup drivers, he is ready to challenge Jimmie Johnson’s five-year stranglehold on the title.

“It is a great booster going into our first Chase race (on Sunday),” Keselowski said in Victory Lane.

Polesitter Brian Scott came home third, followed by Aric Almirola and Sam Hornish Jr.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. kept his points lead in the series with an eighth-place finish.