Keller breaks through for Busch victory

Melissa Trujillo

Monday, June 30, 2003 | 9:32 a.m.

WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- Jason Keller won the GNC Live Well 250 under the yellow flag on Sunday for his first Busch series victory of the season.

Keller went back and forth for the lead with teammate Scott Riggs for about six laps before taking the lead for good on the 231st lap at The Milwaukee Mile.

Keller, who drove the No. 57 Albertsons Ford, said neither he nor Riggs wanted to harm each other.

"It was the first time I ever had to battle my teammate like that for the win and it was pretty nerve-racking," Keller said. "I knew I had a better race car, but I couldn't just go up there and drive by because I didn't want to rough him up."

Brian Vickers finished second and David Stremme was third. Riggs dropped off to seventh place.

Riggs said the race for first was exciting because the drivers are friends.

"We were still driving aggressively," Riggs said. "That's how respectable drivers are supposed to race."

Vickers, who led for 43 laps, also had his best finish of the season. He said he couldn't overtake Keller before the final caution because he was forced to conserve fuel.

Five-time series champion Michael Schumacher became the first Formula One driver to surpass 1,000 career points. He was bumped off the track in the 43rd lap, but rallied to finish fifth.

Ralf Schumacher started third and beat Juan Pablo Montoya by 16.9 seconds for his first win since the Malaysian Grand Prix in March 2002.

Dixon won his second consecutive race and third in seven tries as a first-year competitor in the IRL. No one else in the series has won more than once.

Del Worsham (Funny Car), Ron Krisher (Pro Stock) and Geno Scali (Pro Stock Bike) also won their divisions in the $1.8 million event.