Page 66 - 2019_NPPG_digital copy

BRAD KESELOWSKI

Birth Date: February 12, 1984 Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
Team: No. 2 Ford Mustang / Team Penske

Brad Keselowski qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs for the seventh time in
his nine full-time seasons in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and
2018 featured drivers Things were going well with consecutive victories at the Darlington Raceway
he came into racing’s postseason as the hottest driver on the circuit.

and Indianapolis Motor Speedway to wrap up the regular season and a
third-straight win at Las Vegas, the first race of the 10-race playoff format.
Then things turned the other way. A 31st-place finish two weeks later at the
Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL, followed by a 14th-place effort after
being swept into a crash at Dover and a 27th-place finish at Talladega after
running out of gas in overtime, knocked him out of the playoffs after two
rounds – and it relegated the 2012 Cup Series champion to being teammate
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Joey Logano’s wingman in what proved to be his own championship drive.

The three-race winning streak accounted for all of his 2018 wins, and it
helped him settle into an eighth-place spot in the final point standings. @KESELOWSKI @BRADKESELOWSKI

“We were proud of what we got, not what we don’t,” he said.
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What Keselowski did accomplish was a victory at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. Some consider the Brickyard 400 to be one of NASCAR’s No matter the challenge, Keselowski has generally found a way to Victory
unofficial crown jewels, and crew chief Paul Wolfe used pit strategy late Lane. He’s won at least one race in each of the past eight years. He took
in the race to give his driver fresher tires for the stretch drive. From there, Dodge to a championship in 2012 in its final official NASCAR season.
Keselowski did the rest. Since then, he’s won 18 times with Ford, proving his ability to adjust to a
new car.
“It was kind of like he gave me the ball,” Keselowski said. “He gave me the
ball and I had to make a play. Paul and everybody executed an incredible Going from a Fusion to a Mustang is just another challenge to be met –
race.” and accomplished.
Like everyone else in the Ford camp, Keselowski will come into 2019 with “I’m kind of not too worried about bringing out the new Mustang,”
a new car – and the very real challenge of getting the Mustang quickly up Keselowski said. “The Ford team has done the best it can in design to
to speed. One of his biggest concerns is not knowing how NASCAR’s new make a robust car that can be adaptive to whatever the rules package
rules package will affect the car’s development. might be [this] year.”

“The big question mark for us is, when Chevrolet built a car [for the 2018 Wolfe, a former racer himself, isn’t afraid to push the envelope to give his
season] and Toyota built their car [for 2017], they pretty much knew what driver the best opportunity. Their union has produced 26 victories over an
the rules were going to be, for the next season,” Keselowski said. eighth-year span – as well as the championship.

NASCAR will have different specifications tailored to specific tracks, Buoyed by Logano’s championship and the energy and fresh ideas
including a tapered spacer to reduce horsepower and aero ducts as provided by teammate Ryan Blaney, Keselowski is confident that when
racetracks that measure more than a mile. Five races will have the smaller it comes to effort, equipment or preparation, team owner Roger Penske
spacer and no aero ducts. Cars also will be fitted with larger real spoilers won’t spare any expense. As an organization in 2018, all three Team
and front splitters, as well as a wider radiator pan to create more downforce Penske teams won at least one race and all three qualified for the
to enhance handling. NASCAR Playoffs.

Always opinionated and often controversial, Keselowski, who turned 35 just Despite starting over with a new car, the 2019 season provides promise.
five days before the 2019 Daytona 500, also knows Team Penske, along For all the ups and downs of ’18, including seven finishes of 31st or worse,
with Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Wood Brothers Keselowski still won three races and managed to make the playoffs. It was
Racing, have the resources to work with Ford engineers to put their learning a testament to the talent and hard work of those involved.
curve on the fast track.

66 THE OFFICIAL NASCAR 2019 PREVIEW & PRESS GUIDE