Brad Keselowski is guaranteed a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with his three victories, no matter what happens at Richmond. Perhaps just as impressive is his current streak of consecutive top-10 finishes, which stands at six. It's the longest such streak for Keselowski, who first started competing full time in the Sprint Cup Series in 2010.
How does Keselowski's run of success stack up against champions of recent vintage? Here's a look at when the five other championship drivers of the past 10 years notched their first streak of at least six consecutive top-10 finishes.
Jeff Gordon, 2001 champion
Recorded 14 straight top-10 finishes in 1995, his third season of Cup competition.
Tony Stewart, 2002 and 2005 champion
Recorded seven straight in his first season (1999), though he came to the Cup Series as a 27-year-old—the oldest starting age of the six drivers mentioned here.
Matt Kenseth, 2003 champion
Recorded seven straight in 2003, his fourth season of Cup competition.
Kurt Busch, 2004 champion
Recorded seven straight in 2002-03, at the end of his second season and the start of his third.
Jimmie Johnson, 2006-2010 champion
Recorded eight straight in 2003-04, at the end of his second season and the start of his third.
By Roger Kuznia
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
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