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Nationwide
NNS: Keselowski Is Gracious Champ
Brad Keselowski celebrates storybook season in NASCAR Nationwide Series...
Full-time Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski poses with the 2010 Nationwide Series champion's trophy at the NASCAR Nationwide/Camping World Truck Series awards banquet. (Photo: Getty Images)
Brad Keselowski's storybook season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series came to a close Monday night as he celebrated his 2010 drivers championship at the season-ending awards ceremony.
The 26-year-old Penske Racing driver celebrated with a few stories that explained how he got to the top of NASCAR’s second-biggest series. His car owner, Roger Penske, told a story of a critical moment on his way to his first NASCAR title in 27 years of competition.
Keselowski’s fantastic season can be summed up pretty simply: Six wins, a record-breaking 26 top-five finishes and the completion of 6,488 of the 6,489 laps run.
When he stepped on stage at the Loews Miami Beach hotel, Keselowski told the story of how he once pulled into the wrong garage stall and chastised his crewmen for not paying attention, only to realize that he was in the wrong stall. He talked about a NASCAR official who stressed the importance of safety – a lesson that helped him walk away from a hard crash at Gateway International Raceway. And he talked about a crewman who saved his father’s life years ago when his father had a heart attack.
He used those stories to show the dedication of his team, the influence that others have had on his career and the importance of family.
“It’s been a long road to get in front of you here today. … There’s so many thank yous to say tonight that there’s more than my heart can pour out and my voice can carry,” Keselowski said. “This road has been longer than what I could ever ask. It was a road that was and still is full of trials and tribulations that are beyond my own comprehension.
“Some of them were really small. Some of them were large. Some of them were quick. Some were long. Some were happy. Too many were sad. Some were easy, and some were hard. But most importantly, all along the way, you were and still are here, and I appreciate that.”
Penske, who shared the stage with Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 team, which won the Nationwide owners championship with drivers Kyle Busch and Brad Coleman, told one big story. It was the story of how he was unsure of his future in NASCAR when Dodge, his team’s car manufacturer, was going through bankruptcy in April 2009.
“Eighteen months ago, I didn’t know if we were going to be in this sport,” said Penske, whose Penske Motor Group has more than 300 dealerships. “We had no [manufacturer]. It was in bankruptcy. The tide in Detroit was not good. The people at Dodge and Chrysler said to me, ‘Stand by Roger, we’re going to stand by you and your race team.’
“Guess what? Eighteen months later, we have a championship. … The dedication of those people in Detroit never let me down. I can tell you it’s terrific. I can tell you the lights are on back in Detroit.”
Crew chief Paul Wolfe didn’t tell stories. But when he addressed Keselowski, who won the title by 445 points over Carl Edwards, he said it all:
“Brad, your dedication and never give-up attitude is why you are the champion,” Wolfe said. “This is a year I will never forget.”
SceneDaily.com • Sam Hornish Jr. could end up in Nationwide Series for Penske Racing
The 26-year-old Penske Racing driver celebrated with a few stories that explained how he got to the top of NASCAR’s second-biggest series. His car owner, Roger Penske, told a story of a critical moment on his way to his first NASCAR title in 27 years of competition.
Keselowski’s fantastic season can be summed up pretty simply: Six wins, a record-breaking 26 top-five finishes and the completion of 6,488 of the 6,489 laps run.
When he stepped on stage at the Loews Miami Beach hotel, Keselowski told the story of how he once pulled into the wrong garage stall and chastised his crewmen for not paying attention, only to realize that he was in the wrong stall. He talked about a NASCAR official who stressed the importance of safety – a lesson that helped him walk away from a hard crash at Gateway International Raceway. And he talked about a crewman who saved his father’s life years ago when his father had a heart attack.
He used those stories to show the dedication of his team, the influence that others have had on his career and the importance of family.
“It’s been a long road to get in front of you here today. … There’s so many thank yous to say tonight that there’s more than my heart can pour out and my voice can carry,” Keselowski said. “This road has been longer than what I could ever ask. It was a road that was and still is full of trials and tribulations that are beyond my own comprehension.
“Some of them were really small. Some of them were large. Some of them were quick. Some were long. Some were happy. Too many were sad. Some were easy, and some were hard. But most importantly, all along the way, you were and still are here, and I appreciate that.”
Penske, who shared the stage with Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 team, which won the Nationwide owners championship with drivers Kyle Busch and Brad Coleman, told one big story. It was the story of how he was unsure of his future in NASCAR when Dodge, his team’s car manufacturer, was going through bankruptcy in April 2009.
“Eighteen months ago, I didn’t know if we were going to be in this sport,” said Penske, whose Penske Motor Group has more than 300 dealerships. “We had no [manufacturer]. It was in bankruptcy. The tide in Detroit was not good. The people at Dodge and Chrysler said to me, ‘Stand by Roger, we’re going to stand by you and your race team.’
“Guess what? Eighteen months later, we have a championship. … The dedication of those people in Detroit never let me down. I can tell you it’s terrific. I can tell you the lights are on back in Detroit.”
Crew chief Paul Wolfe didn’t tell stories. But when he addressed Keselowski, who won the title by 445 points over Carl Edwards, he said it all:
“Brad, your dedication and never give-up attitude is why you are the champion,” Wolfe said. “This is a year I will never forget.”
SceneDaily.com • Sam Hornish Jr. could end up in Nationwide Series for Penske Racing
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