News

Brad Keselowski
No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger
Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400
Michigan International Speedway
June 19, 2011

No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger News and Notes
• This Week’s Charger… The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-755 during Sunday’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). This is a new chassis to the No. 2 fleet.
• No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2011... After 14 points-paying events, Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team sit 22nd in the NASCAR Cup Series (NSCS) driver and owner point standings. The team is coming off a 23rd place finish in the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway last weekend.
• Race2Recovery… On Monday, June 20, Keselowski will hold his inaugural Race2Recovery event at MIS. The Race2Recovery program is an incentivized program designed to help wounded military members, veterans and first responders get back on their feet at an accelerated rate. The Brad Keselowski Checkered Flag Foundation will host the event and Keselowski will give ride-a-longs to those in attendance. Lunch and a meet and greet with Keselowski will also be provided. For more information, please visit www.checkeredflagfoundation.org.
• Michigan Triumvirate… The names Penske, Dodge and Keselowski carry lots of weight in the state of Michigan. All have deep roots running through the Wolverine State. The three will come together this weekend as Keselowski will drive the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger for Roger Penske at MIS.
• Home Sweet Home… The featured tag line on the bumper of the “Blue Deuce” this weekend at Michigan will be “Home Sweet Home.” This is a nod to Keselowski’s ties to the state of Michigan. His family is from Rochester Hills, Mich., and his father, Bob, and uncle, Ron, both competed at MIS in NASCAR and ARCA competition.
• The Rest is History... Penske Racing has enjoyed considerable success at MIS, a track that used to be owned by Roger Penske. In 86 combined Cup Series starts at the venue, Penske Racing drivers have recorded six wins, two pole awards and 23 top-five finishes. The organization made its first start at the track in August of 1972 with Dave Marcis behind the wheel of the No. 16 entry.

Brad Keselowski on returning home to race at Michigan International Speedway
“I always have a lot of fun when it’s time to head to Michigan. It’s one of those tracks that mean so much to me and my family. I remember going there watching my dad race back when I was a little kid and can remember coming through that tunnel amazed at how big this place was to me. It’s cool to be back home to race in front of family and friends. It’s in Dodge’s backyard and we certainly know how important of a race it is for them. They’ve been a tremendous help to our program and to get them, along with Miller Lite, in Victory Lane would be awesome.”

Brad Keselowski on how he developed the Race2Recovery program
“I really began putting together an idea for the Race2Recovery program after visiting the Walter Reed Army Hospital last year as part of a great trip with NASCAR. I wanted to find a way to help these soldiers – those who have sacrificed greatly for our freedom – and try to provide a way to help them get back some semblance of a normal life. But I wanted them to push themselves. I wanted them to see what they could accomplish by making themselves get out of bed and going through their rehab. We set the bar high and those that achieved it will be rewarded. I’m proud of what we have put together and I hope that it is something we can grow into a larger objective for our service men and women, as well as first responders.”

Crew chief Paul Wolfe on Michigan International Speedway
“Michigan always provides great racing. Its surface is very wide, which gives you a chance to run a lot of different grooves. So it’s not the end of the world if you miss the setup a little bit because the track is very forgiving. Aerodynamics are important as well, but your motor is probably the most important part of your car. You need a lot of horsepower because it is a two-mile oval, but your motor has to stay together too. Drivers are not off the gas very long during a lap a Michigan and that puts the motor under extreme stress.”