News

Brad Keselowski
No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger
Pennsylvania 400
Pocono Raceway
Sunday, August 5, 2012
TV: ESPN at 12:00 PM ET   Radio: MRN/Sirius Channel 90

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-813 during Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Keselowski last raced this chassis to a second-place finish in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Since that race, the car has been updated to the current Penske Racing specification.
• No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in 2012… After 20 points-paying events, Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team are ranked ninth in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) driver and owner point standings. Winners of three races already this season, the team is coming off a ninth-place finish in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week.
• Defending Race Winner… Though the race distance is 100 miles shorter than in 2011, Keselowski returns to Pocono as the defending winner of the fall event at the venue. Only days after breaking a bone in his ankle in a testing accident at Road Atlanta, Keselowski displayed unquestioned toughness as he led 19 laps to score his second win of the season in last year’s Pocono race.
• Statistically Speaking… The Miller Lite Dodge has displayed impressive speed throughout the 2012 season, supported by the fact that Keselowski ranks at or near the top of the Cup Series in several key categories, including: Quality Passes (First), Laps In The Top 15 (Sixth) and Fastest Speed in Traffic (Sixth).
• New Punch Top Can… The featured tag line on the rear bumper of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge this weekend at Pocono is “New Punch Top Can.” With a successful legacy as innovators in the beer market, Miller Lite has unveiled a new innovation in the Punch Top Can. This new can features a second tab to be opened for a smoother pour with less glug. To help launch this new campaign, Keselowski is featured in a national television advertisement for the Punch Top Can.
• A Pocono Family Affair… Keselowski’s father, 1989 ARCA Series champion Bob Keselowski, made his only NASCAR Cup Series start at Pocono Raceway in 1994. Brad’s uncle, Ron Keselowski, picked up a win at the 2.5-mile triangle in the now-defunct USAC stock car division in April of 1974.
• Have a Beer with Brad… Keselowski will make an appearance at Shenanigan’s located at 98 Lake Harmony Road in Lake Harmony, PA beginning at 7 pm ET on Thursday, August 2.
• The Rest is History... Penske Racing has enjoyed considerable success at Pocono Raceway. In 83 combined Cup Series starts, Penske Racing drivers have recorded nine wins, five pole awards and 20 top-five finishes. The organization made its first start at the track in August of 1975 with Bobby Allison behind the wheel of the No. 16 entry. Both Penske Racing entries scored top-five finishes in the fall race last year, highlighted by Keselowski’s win.

Brad Keselowski on racing at Pocono Raceway
“I think everyone on the Miller Lite Dodge is anxious to get back to Pocono after our first race there this year. We had a good car, but different circumstances kept popping up that prevented us from getting a top-10 or top-five finish. It’s definitely a different racetrack after the repave, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s very fast and very smooth, but the new asphalt took away the outside groove in Turn 3. That was always an ideal place to pass. Even though it’s not the same racetrack as last year, we are still going back as the defending winner of this event. That always provides a level of confidence for any team.”

Crew chief Paul Wolfe on this weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway
“Pocono is definitely faster since the repave. It’s also significantly smoother. In the past we had to worry about mechanical grip to deal with all the bumps in the track. Now it’s more about the aerodynamic balance of the car because of the speeds we are running. One aspect that is still concerning to all of us – especially with the increased speeds – are the brakes. Turn 1 is a heavy braking zone after coming down that long frontstretch. And track position is still important. Obviously it’s hard to pass because the groove is narrower, but the race being 100 miles shorter also gives you less time to develop a strategy to get track position if you don’t qualify well. Qualifying is definitely important and it’s something we need to continue to work on with the Miller Lite Dodge. If we can improve on our qualifying just a bit, I’m confident in our ability to get back to Victory Lane at Pocono.”