Brad Keselowski drops Nationwide race at Kansas

Keselowski goes into Sunday's race at Talladega, where he won in May, with a five-point lead over five-time champion Jimmie Johnson in the standings. He has won two of the first three Chase races, but knows he must be at the top of his game to claim his first Sprint Cup title.

He said Tuesday that he has dropped the Nationwide Series race at Kansas from his schedule and Ryan Blaney will drive for Penske Racing in his place. Further reductions to his schedule could be coming.

"I've made the decision this week to drastically limit the Nationwide races I'm going to run through the Chase," Keselowski said during an appearance to promote the Oct. 13 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "We're going to play it by ear based on those weeks go."

It's been going pretty good these days for Keselowski, and he credits some of his success to his sister, Dawn Nicholas, who has relocated from Michigan to North Carolina. Keselowski likened the relationship to the one Dale Earnhardt Jr., has with his sister, Kelley.