AVONDALE, Ariz. — When the fighting stopped, the oil had dried, and the last of the wrecked cars had been towed away, Brad Keselowski found himself on the brink of a first Sprint Cup title for himself and team owner Roger Penske.

Only he wasn’t in a celebratory mood. He entered the AdvoCare 500 Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway trailing five-time champion Jimmie Johnson by 7 points and had the better car all day. And moments after Keselowski took the lead, a blown tire caused Johnson to crash and take his car to the garage for repairs.