SPENCER: Stop Trying So Hard

Sprint Cup

SPENCER: Stop Trying So Hard

Brad Keselowski is an extremely talented race car driver, but he has been trying way too hard to impress the media and fans with clever remarks...

Jimmy Spencer | Posted August 16, 2012 Charlotte, NC

Brad Keselowski has won two of three races in the Chase. (Photo: Getty Images)

Do you know anyone who spends most of their time trying to impress other people?

Sure, we all do. And the number one offender in NASCAR right now is Brad Keselowski. What? The same Keselowski who has morphed into a media darling and makes headlines whenever he opens his mouth? Yep, that Keselowski and for that very reason.

He is an extremely talented race car driver, but he has been trying way too hard to impress the media and fans with clever remarks. In fact, he reminds me of a politician running for office.

Think back to a few weeks ago when he held court in the media center and animatedly discussed NASCAR’s substance abuse policy, saying drivers shouldn’t be allowed to take anything – not even “Flintstones pills.” That statement was way over the top, which was exactly his intention, and made him the story of the week, especially since he was AJ Allmendinger’s teammate at Penske Racing.

The kid seems to be trying to position himself as a great speaker, the next superstar and the “hot topic” each weekend. But he’s slowly turning into a less-than-likeable guy. Let your driving do the talking for you, Keselowski – not your mouth. His approach reminds me of a middle school student trying too hard to appear cool and be liked by his peers.

Following Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen, Keselowski said the No. 18 was leaking oil and spun out. Although he corrected himself later in the evening, he incorrectly assumed the oil was coming from Kyle Busch’s car, but more importantly, he didn’t initially admit to spinning Busch out. But BK was as guilty as he could be. Keselowski should have gotten out of the car and spoken the facts – not twisted the story to make himself look better.

This has an all-too-familiar ring to it.

On Aug. 2 last year, I said on NASCAR Race Hub that Keselowski needed to do less talking about how great his team was and show us with wins on the track. He had fallen into a pattern of climbing out of the car after races and saying he had the best car but didn’t win because of a variety of excuses ranging from botched pit strategy to the other competitors’ doing something to spoil his day.

I wasn’t too complimentary of him, saying he was trying to “sell his superhuman abilities to the fans and sponsors. Pipe down – if you’ve always got the best cars, why aren’t you winning all the time?” I finished up by suggesting he should do less running his mouth and more driving. I never questioned his ability, though, because there is no denying the kid is awesome behind the wheel.

I only wanted him to listen to himself in his interviews and avoid going down the same road Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch ventured down early in their careers. They made enemies not only on the race track but in the grandstands because of what they said when they didn’t win. I saw him starting to make the same mistakes in his post-race interviews. Instead, I wanted Keselowski’s driving and stats to speak for themselves.

Well, he went out a couple of days later and broke his foot in a test session at Road Atlanta, and then to everyone’s astonishment, not only drove his Cup car the next weekend at Pocono, but won the race. Talk about impressive! Then he qualified for the Chase a few weeks later, a huge feat because he was 21st in points before the injury. It was during this time that the media fell in love with him. His toughness, tenacity and dedication to the sport and his team were beyond impressive. Keselowski was a superhero. And he was still humble.

That’s the guy I’d like to see again, not the one who has an opinion on everything and offers it despite whether it’s any of his business; not the one who tries too hard to impress with his words and “cool” attitude; and not the one who tries to be so suave every time a microphone is thrust in his face. He just needs to be genuine and let his driving speak for itself. If he can return to what made everyone fall in love with him one year ago, he’ll be loved the NASCAR world over … once again.

Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED. He retired from driving with two NASCAR Sprint Cup, 12 NASCAR Nationwide and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, putting him in an elite group of drivers who have logged wins in all three of NASCAR’s premier divisions. In 478 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Spencer amassed 28 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes. He won back-to-back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships in 1986 and 1987 on the heels of 15 victories, becoming the first driver ever to earn consecutive titles in the series. He earned the nickname “Mr. Excitement” for his flamboyant and aggressive driving style early in his racing career.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jimmy Spencer

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