No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Daytona 500 Race Preview

February 15, 2011


Brad Keselowski
No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger
Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
February 20, 2011

 

No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger News and Notes
• This Week’s Charger… The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-635 during Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). This is a brand-new chassis to the No. 2 team.
• No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2011... This weekend’s 53rd running of the Daytona 500 will be the first race for Keselowski behind the wheel of the iconic No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge.
• Keselowski at Daytona International Speedway… In addition to his three career Cup Series starts at DIS, Keselowski has raced in six career NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events at the 2.5-mile oval. In those races, he has recorded one pole, two top-five finishes and he has completed all 669 laps contested, with 53 laps led. Keselowski has also made two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at DIS, with his best result of seventh coming in 2005 while driving his family-owned, K-Automotive entry.
• Have a Beer with Brad… Keselowski and several Miller Lite crew members will appear at the Ocean Walk Shoppes on Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 pm ET. Ocean Walk Shoppes are located at 250 N. Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
• The Rest is History... In 81 combined Cup Series starts at DIS, Penske Racing drivers have recorded one win, 19 top-five finishes and 28 top-10 results. The lone win came in the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008 as Penske Racing finished first and second with drivers Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch.

 

Brad Keselowski on his opportunity to drive the “Blue Deuce” this season
“The opportunity to jump behind the wheel of the ‘Blue Deuce’ is something that is still pretty surreal for me. Only two drivers have ever been lucky enough to drive Mr. Penske’s flagship ride. Rusty Wallace and Kurt Busch are two champion drivers of the highest caliber. There is definitely pressure that comes with following those two guys, but I’m ready to tackle it head on. This is a pressure sport and we, as drivers, put just as much pressure on ourselves as anyone. There is an old saying in racing – you know you’ve made it in racing if you are sponsored by beer, motor oil or tobacco companies. It’s an honor to represent Miller Lite and Penske Racing.”

 

Brad Keselowski on the new surface at Daytona International Speedway
“I’m really happy with the new surface at Daytona. It was something that I was a proponent of for a long time. It will definitely lead to a different Daytona 500 than we have ever seen. The two-car draft is going to be the key to winning the race. I feel like Kurt (Busch) and I have picked up on that style of racing pretty quickly. We’ll try to stay hooked up together as long as we can. Kurt, obviously, has a fast car and has already visited Victory Lane once during Speedweeks. Now I hope it’s my turn.”

 

Crew chief Paul Wolfe on his first NASCAR Cup Series race
“This has been an exciting off-season as both Brad and I, along with several crew members, transition over to the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge. Brad and I have a lot of confidence in each other and I think that showed last year with the Nationwide Series championship. We want to bring that same chemistry and communication over here to the Cup Series side and see if we can continue the proud tradition of this car. Brad is an extremely talented restrictor-plate racer and the Daytona 500 would be a great place to start our own tradition in the ‘Blue Deuce.’”