News

Brad Keselowski
No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger
AAA 400
Dover International Speedway
September 26, 2010

No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger News and Notes
• This Week’s Charger… The No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-726 during Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway (DIS). Keselowski last drove this chassis to a 34th-place finish at Michigan International Speedway in August.
• No. 12 Penske Dodge in 2010... After 27 events, Keselowski and the No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger team currently sit 26th in the Cup Series driver and owner point standings.
• Dover Rewind… After qualifying 18th for his first career NASCAR Cup Series start at DIS in May, Keselowski was able to bring his car home in the 20th position and move up one spot to 24th in the series standings. Keselowski, like may other competitors, struggled with the way that the track built rubber throughout the course of the event, but he was able to stay in contention for the “lucky dog” award by running some of his fastest laps late in the race.
• Keselowski NASCAR History at Dover… In addition to his one career Cup Series start at DIS, Keselowski has made seven career starts in the Nationwide Series at the “Monster Mile.” In those starts he has recorded one win, three top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes. Keselowski also has two career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at DIS with his top finish of 15th coming in 2005.
• Supporting Our Troops… Keselowski will join other NASCAR stars for the Sixth Annual NASCAR Tribute to the Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Thursday afternoon at the Washington, D.C. hospital. Keselowski will tour the hospital to meet with wounded troops, as well as taking part in an autograph session. 
• The Rest is History... Penske Racing made its first start at Dover International Speedway in the 1972 Delaware 500 with Dave Marcis driving the No. 16 entry. Over the next four decades, Penske Racing enjoyed a lot of success on the tough one-mile oval. In 69 starts, the organization has recorded six wins, nine poles and 20 top-five finishes. Penske Racing drivers have led 1,581 laps at the track. 

Brad Keselowski on carrying momentum from his first career Cup Series pole at New Hampshire
“I really think I am getting more and more confident on the Cup side. That’s probably the most important thing that having a year in Cup has given me. I feel like I can go out the first lap in practice and drive my car a lot harder than I used to. Everything just seems like it has become slower for me and that gives me a better feel for everything. Winning the pole last weekend at New Hampshire validated that for me, in my mind. The important thing now is to continue to progress and use the speed we’ve found over the last few weeks to make this team better.”

Brad Keselowski on the uniqueness of Dover International Speedway
“Dover is definitely a unique track for NASCAR. I love it. I think it’s one of the best tracks that we go to. We always see a good race there. Lots of side-by-side racing with drivers right on the edge. I personally like just being a fan at Dover and watching the racing from the infield because you can just see the speed there with the extreme elevation changes. I think we would all like to see more unique tracks like Dover on the schedule.”

Crew chief Jay Guy on preparing for two different one-mile ovals on consecutive weekends
“The pole last weekend at New Hampshire definitely gives us some positive momentum, even though we didn’t get the result that we were looking for. Now we have to prepare for a completely different, one-mile oval in Dover. The only similarity is the size of the track. Where New Hampshire has no banking, which makes it very hard to pass and get your car hooked up, Dover is just the opposite. It has plenty of banking but it’s a rough racetrack on equipment. Where you worry about braking and grip at New Hampshire, you need to focus on suspension at Dover. Momentum, however, can translate between any type of racetrack and I think we have some of that on our side after the last couple of weeks.”