Keller approaches another milestone with start at RIR

Another race. Another milestone. When you are in your 18th season of racing in the Nationwide Series, milestones are hard to avoid.

But this next one is special to Jason Keller. It'll happen Friday night when he takes the green flag for the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway.

Fast facts

What	Emerson Radio 250
When	8:14 p.m. ET Friday
TV	ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio	MRN (Sirius Ch. 28), 8 ET

• Track Page | Tickets | Travel

"It's hard to believe I'm at another milestone in this series with start No. 450," said Keller, 38, who has the most starts in Nationwide history. "It's been a whirlwind couple of years, and the accomplishments I have made in my professional career mean a lot to me. I'm hoping for many, many more years in this sport and to setting a few more records/milestones along the way."

A solid run at Richmond also would provide a moving tribute to Keller's longtime, close friend and car chief, Steve "Big Guy" Helwig, who died last month after battling leukemia. Keller, along with Helwig, won at Richmond in 2002.

"He was one of the guys that could organize and wear a lot of different hats," Keller told NASCAR Scene. "He came in and is the reason that this team is where it is and how it is and he'll be missed a lot. He already is."

Keller, driving the No. 11 CJM Chevrolet, is 11th in points, 27 behind 10th-place Marcos Ambrose. Keller's current mission is to return to the top 10, where he finished each year from 1999 to 2005. He finished second in 2000 and 2002. He didn't race full time in 2006 and 2007.

Keller has had much success at Richmond. He has 12 top-10s in 26 races, tying Bristol, another short track, for most top-10s in his career at one track.

"Richmond has always been one of my favorite racetracks," he said. "I truly enjoy racing there. The nonstop action [and] side-by-side-racing under the lights makes for an exciting race not only for me as a driver but for the fans also. It's just an overall great experience racing at Richmond."

Keller also made his Cup debut at Richmond in 2003, filling in for injured Jerry Nadeau.

Notes: Austin Dillon, son of Richard Childress Racing vice president and former Nationwide Series driver Mike Dillon, will attempt to make his series debut Friday. He must qualify the No. 21 Chevrolet on speed. Dillon is also the grandson of car owner Richard Childress. The 18-year-old has one win in the Camping World East Series. ... Denny Hamlin, who won the spring race at Richmond, will drive the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for the second time this season. He won in the No. 18 at Dover. His victory at Richmond came in the No. 20.

Entry List
• Emerson Radio 250