Brad Keselowski to Join Penske Racing NASCAR Lineup
September 1, 2009
Keselowski, a 25-year-old native of Rochester Hills, Mich., will drive the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the NASCAR Cup Series next season. He will also run a full-season schedule in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series, where he will compete for a championship with the team.
"We are very excited to welcome Brad to the Penske Racing family," said Roger Penske. "Brad has shown terrific success on track the past several years and has quickly established himself as one of the top young stars in racing. He comes from an impressive family background in motorsports. He is a proven winner and a welcome addition to our team."
A third-generation driver, Keselowski has won at every level in which he has competed. He is currently ranked third in the Nationwide Series standings with three wins to his credit in 2009, including a dramatic victory in August at his home track at Michigan International Speedway. Keselowski also scored his first Cup Series win earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway and he has produced three top-10 finishes in just eight Cup Series starts this season.
"Penske Racing is one of the top teams in all of motorsports and I am honored to join Roger Penske's organization and compete for wins with his Cup and Nationwide Series teams," said Keselowski. "This is a great opportunity for me to continue competing in the Nationwide Series and to run my first full season in the Cup Series with a strong and experienced team."
Growing up working for his family's team, K Automotive Motorsports, Keselowski followed in the footsteps of his father Bob, a 23-year veteran driver who won more than 50 races and the 1989 ARCA Series championship. The younger Keselowski joined NASCAR in 2004, racing for his family's team in the Truck Series. Expanding to Nationwide Series competition in 2006, Keselowski's career began to blossom.
He finished third in the 2008 Nationwide Series championship, the highest standing for a regular series racer, earning a pair of wins while also being named the Most Popular Driver in the Nationwide Series. After making his Cup Series debut in Texas last season, Keselowski has continued to shine. He has posted Nationwide Series victories at Dover, Iowa and Michigan in 2009, along with his first Cup Series win in April at Talladega. His performances have made Keselowski one of the most sought-after talents in NASCAR this season.
About Penske Racing
In 2009, Penske Racing competes in the NASCAR Cup Series with former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, former three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. in the No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge and David Stremme in the No. 12 Penske Dodge. The team also competes in the Nationwide Series with Justin Allgaier, the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series champion, in the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced more than 300 major race wins, over 350 pole positions and 22 national championships.