Brad Keselowski

Two of NASCAR's Young Guns, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, spread holiday cheer and laughs to the troops and their families at the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of the USO tour, in December 2011, the visit, according to the NASCAR press release, was a way to help boost the morale of the U.S. troops and their families.

This was the first USO tour for the drivers, who are avid supporters of the military community. During the visit, Keselowski and Logano signed hundreds of autographs, ate dinner with the troops, and visited with the sailors, coast guardsmen, and their families. The pair also got to patrol the waters of the Bay with the service members.

"This was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so glad to be a part of it," said Keselowski. "I hope to go back on another USO Tour. After meeting the men and women in Guantanamo Bay, I cannot imagine the sacrifices and experiences they have to go through during their time there. It was an amazing experience and I am so grateful that I was invited to go."

After Keselowski broke his ankle in August and won the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway, he got out of the car and paid tribute to the Navy SEALS who had been killed in action that week by saying "I'm no hero. The heroes are the guys that died in Afghanistan this weekend and I want to spend time thinking about them. They were my inspiration this weekend and the things that those guys do. I'm glad that we could win today, but those are the heroes. I just drive race cars for a living."

Keselowski also started the Checkered Flag Foundation(CFF) in July 2010 to support present military, veterans, first-responders and their families. The foundation has hosted many events with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Armed Forces Foundation, The Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Detroit F.I.R.E benefit team, and the federal Veterans Administration.

"It was awesome to learn more about Guantanamo Bay and what the mission is down there and how it works," said Logano. "It was great to meet and talk to the troops, and it was one heck of an experience. We get to see a lot of troops at the race track, but to see them in action and doing their jobs. " I am so impressed and have such a high amount of respect for each and every one of them and what they do."

to the track week after week and we are honored to have two of NASCAR's biggest names join us on a USO tour," said USO President Sloan Gibson. "I can't think of a better, more suitable place for this tour to bring a touch of home than to NASCAR fans stationed in Guantanamo Bay.

"NASCAR and its drivers bring excitement to the track week after week and we are honored to have two of NASCAR's biggest names join us on a USO tour," said USO President Sloan Gibson. "I can't think of a better, more suitable place for this tour to bring a touch of home than to NASCAR fans stationed in Guantanamo Bay."

I don't know who enjoyed the visit more, the troops and their families or the NASCAR drivers who took time out of their off-season to spread some holiday cheer.

As a former military wife, it is great to see so many athletes, musicians, and celebrities team up with the USO. They really do put a smile on the troops and their families faces. You definitely feel like a piece of home has come to visit when they come. They really do care for the troops and their families.

Thank you Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and NASCAR for teaming up with the USO and spreading some holiday cheer to the troops and their families at Guantanamo Bay. I can't wait to see what is next for NASCAR and USO.

Picture credit: Mike Clifton/USO

Visit the USO here!

Brad Keselowski Rewarded with a Much Earned Extension - Fan's Summary

Dec 2, 2011

It was an almost magical year the 27 year old Brad Keselowski had while driving the 'Blue Deuce' #2 for the first time. Combined with great chemistry with crew chief Paul Wolfe, which obviously car owner Roger Penske was extra happy to see, Keselowski and Wolfe were rewarded with contract extensions.

With a great attitude toward the media and fans, a mouth full of teeth and a determination that will bite, Keselowski along with his crew chief had an excellent year winning three races, making the Chase and finishing in the top five in points. Not bad for a new pairing of driver and crew chief for a run through the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. Well, they're not exactly new to each other.

In 2010, the two of them were a championship duo in the Nationwide series for Penske Racing - grabbing the points lead in April and never relinquishing it all year while taking the title plus winning six races in the process.

Their Cup start for 2011 would not go as well though. Through the first quarter of the season, their best qualifying spot was a seventh and their best finish was 15th. Yeah, not exactly a winning combination as they wallowed around just inside the top 30 in points.

Things got better

They qualified on the pole at Charlotte but faded to 19th after a late race skirmish. The following event at Kansas saw fuel-efficiency win Keselowski's second NASCAR Cup race of his career and first in '11. After some mediocre finishes, August happened.

Wolfe helped Keselowski become Mr. August (see related articles) starting with a win at Pocono, then a second at Watkins Glen, followed by a third at Michigan and finally another first, this time at Bristol. In that span, he went from 21st in points to 11th and with three wins in his pocket for the season; he had essentially clinched a spot in the Chase. The two-some have combined for nine wins and 36 top fives in two years together at Penske Racing.

There are no other announced terms on the length of the contract extensions besides the multiple-year deals (source - Yahoo! Sports).

So it looks like one of the hottest young pairings in motorsports will be around to challenge for quite a while and as Keselowski said (source - Racer.com): "We've definitely built something special here with this team and we'll continue to get better to reach our goals. I'm already fired up about 2012 and the future with the 'Blue Deuce.'"

Sources - NASCAR, ESPN, BradRacing.com

Keselowski grew up in an environment where spending time at the race shop and the track was just a way of life. His father, Bob Keselowski, was a 1997 race winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His uncle, Ron Keselowski, competed at the Cup Series level in the early 1970s.

At the age of 14, Brad Keselowski made the transition from turning wrenches for his family-owned team, K Automotive Motorsports, to racing. He started competing in the Senior Honda 120 Quarter Midget division in 1998. In his first season, he earned six feature wins. The next year, he moved up to the Senior Honda 160 Quarter Midget division where he won eight feature races and the championship.

In 2000:

Keselowski began racing stock cars in the Factory Stock division. That season, he collected nine feature wins as well as Rookie-of-the-Year honors at two Michigan tracks - Auto City Speedway and Dixie Motor Speedway.

During the next three years, Keselowski balanced his budding racing career with his full-time job working for his family's Camping World Truck Series operation. He advanced to the Limited Late Model and Super Late Model divisions and continued to rack up wins, despite competing on a limited basis.

In 2001:

Brad earned five fast qualifier positions, one feature win and five top-five finishes. In the next two seasons, he collected 11 fast qualifier positions, two Super Late Model wins, two Limited Late Model wins and nine top-five finishes.

In 2004:

Keselowski began competing in NASCAR in 2004, when he began racing in the Craftsman Truck Series, driving the #29 for his family-owned K Automotive Racing team. He made his debut at Martinsville Speedway, where he started 26th and finished 33rd. He made seven more starts that season, his best finish coming at Mansfield, where he finished 16th.

In 2005:

Keselowski began competing in the Truck Series full-time with backing from SUBcrews.com and Samson Stone. He opened the season with a career-best seventh-place finish at the Florida Dodge Dealers 250. Running every race that season, he finished 21st in points. He ran the first two races of 2006 for K-Automotive, finishing sixteenth at California Speedway, before a lack of sponsorship caused the team to temporarily suspend operations. Keselowski then drove a pair of races filling in for the injured Kelly Sutton, where he had a seventh-place start at Memphis Motorsports Park. He returned to the Trucks in August, where he finished 33rd at Bristol Motor Speedway driving the #63 for MB Motorsports.

In 2006:

Keselowski continued to gain more NASCAR experience as he ran a partial schedule in both the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. He earned valuable seat time as he competed in 13 combined races - seven in the Nationwide Series and six in the Truck Series. That experience prepared him for 2007, when he caught the eye of Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports

Bradley Keselowski:
Birth Date: Feb, 12, 1984
Birth Place: Rochester Hills, Mich.
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Primary Sponsor: Miller Lite, Dodge, (Sprint Cup Series)
Discount Tire, (Nationwide Series)
Residence: Mooresville, N.C.
Crew Chief: Roy McCauley

In 2007:

Keselowski began running in the NASCAR Busch series full time and for Rookie of the Year honors with Keith Coleman Racing, but the team suspended operations in July. During the 2007 racing season, Keselowski was tabbed by Germain Racing to replace Ted Musgrave at Memphis Motorsports Park after Musgrave was suspended for an in race scuffle with another driver in Milwaukee. He qualified first for the Saturday night race, and led a majority of the race, but got bumped by Travis Kvapil with about nine laps to go. Keselowski finished 16th. Shortly afterwards, he was called by car owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr to drive his #88 United States Navy Chevrolet for JR Motorsports for the rest of the year in the Busch Series, posting five top-ten finishes

Though Earnhardt was aware of Keselowski's talent, he really became intrigued as he watched the young driver win the pole position, lead 62 laps and compete for the win that day in Memphis. But what struck Earnhardt the most about Keselowski was how he handled himself on the track, especially after being spun out with 10 laps to go by eventual race winner Travis Kvapil. Keselowski still salvaged a 16th-place finish after the incident. The race was the turning point in Keselowski's NASCAR career. Realizing how much Keselowski had to offer, JR Motorsports signed the young gun to drive the No. 88 car full-time in the Nationwide Series.

Keselowski made his debut for JR Motorsports in the July 2007 Nationwide race at Chicagoland Speedway. He earned a 14th-place result - the first of eight top-15 finishes he would score during the season. Keselowski competed in 27 races in all, but earned his best results driving the No. 88 entry, recording five top-10 and eight top-15 finishes in 14 starts.

In 2008:

Keselowski re-signed with JR in 2008, and got his first win came June 7, 2008 at Nashville Superspeedway, overcoming Clint Bowyer after the final caution in the closing laps of the race. His second Nationwide career win came in the same fashion at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 22, 2008. He ended the season third in the points standings, the highest finish by a full-time Nationwide Series-only driver. Late in the season, Keselowski was hired to drive the #25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for two races with Hendrick Motorsports. Keselowski was on stand-by for an ill Jeff Gordon in Kansas and for expectant father Casey Mears at Talladega that season as well. Keselowski made his Cup series debut at Texas after failing to qualify twice due to rainouts. He finished the Dickies 500 in 19th position, and 23rd in the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.

In 2009:

Keselowski was driving the 88 for JR in 2009 as well as competing in a limited Cup schedule. He also drove the #25 in seven races, and is drove the #09 Phoenix Racing in ten races, but so far he has only attempted the Daytona 500, where he did not qualify and the Aarons 499, where he won in just his fifth career Cup start.

Keselowski pulled off an upset and earned his first Sprint Cup win during the 2009 Aaron's 499 at Talladega. He and Carl Edwards were dueling for the win on the final lap, with Keselowski running second until the final stretch when Edwards, who had been trying to keep Keselowski behind him by blocking, hit the front of Keselowski's car as he attempted to keep the block on and crashed, becoming airborne and hitting the catch fencing surrounding the track. Keselowski won in his fifth career start (third start in 2009) and led his first career Sprint Cup lap, Lap 188 (in fact the only lap he led the entire race). It was the first time since May 2007 a driver had won his first career win in a major, and the first win in the Aaron's 499 by a first-time driver since Phil Parsons 21 years ago. It was also the first time a driver's first ever lap led was to win the race. In the pass through the tri-oval, Brad went high to try and fake Carl Edwards out. When Edwards went high to block, Brad went low to pass. Edwards went to block thinking that he was clear, however, Edwards' left rear quarter panel hit the right front of Keselowski's car. Brad Keselowski did not go down due to the circumstances at the race last year involving Regan Smith and the yellow line (Smith passed Tony Stewart below the yellow line to finish first, but lost the win, even when he was forced to go down). Edwards went spinning and Keselowski won the race.

It appears that his win in Talladega has earned him more seat time in the James Finch-owned Chevy. Originally scheduled to appear next in the 18th race of the season, at Daytona International Speedway, is now scheduled to appear in the upcoming race at Richmond International Raceway. Keselowski will now race the Sprint All-Star Race as well. He was forced to pull out of the Richmond race due to commitments to his Nationwide series team.

Keselowski got his third Nationwide victory at Dover. Kyle Busch cut a tire on the restart, second-place Joey Logano rammed Busch and Keselowski passed them both.

After taking a gamble and staying out past his "pit-window," Keselowski garnered his fourth win at the first ever Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway after battling Kyle Busch to take over and maintain first position. Keselowski finishing first over Kyle Busch made Busch tie his record of nine consecutive top 2 finishes.

Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch dominated Michigan, but Keselowski came on top when momentum broke between the two, allowing Keselowski to pick up a victory in his home state.

Keselowski got his third Nationwide victory at Dover. Kyle Busch cut a tire on the restart, second-place Joey Logano rammed Busch and Keselowski passed them both.

After taking a gamble and staying out past his "pit-window," Keselowski garnered his fourth win at the first ever Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway after battling Kyle Busch to take over and maintain first position. Keselowski finishing first over Kyle Busch made Busch tie his record of nine consecutive top 2 finishes.

Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch dominated Michigan, but Keselowski came on top when momentum broke between the two, allowing Keselowski to pick up a victory in his home state.

Reports had surfaced that Keselowski would leave JR Motorsports and Phoenix Racing after the 2009 season to drive the #12 Dodge for Penske Racing. NASCAR.com reported that the deal had gone through but no confirmation has been made yet. Keselowski announced on August 27, 2009 that he would be leaving the #88 Nationwide car at the end of the season, but refused to comment on whether the reports of him going to Penske were true or not. Those reports were confirmed days later as Penske announced that not only would he drive full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but also in the Nationwide series

Penske Racing announced today that Brad Keselowski, one of NASCAR's rising stars, will compete for the team full-time, beginning with the 2010 NASCAR season.

Keselowski, a 25-year-old native of Rochester Hills, Mich., will drive the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the NASCAR Cup Series next season. He will also run a full-season schedule in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series where he will compete for a championship with the team.

" We are very excited to welcome Brad to the Penske Racing family," said Roger Penske. "Brad has shown terrific success on track the past several years and has quickly established himself as one of the top young stars in racing. He comes from an impressive family background in motorsports. He is a proven winner and a welcome addition to our team.

" Penske Racing also thanks David Stremme for his contributions to the team. We are looking forward to a strong finish to the 2009 season with David and the No. 12 Penske Dodge team."

A third-generation driver, Keselowski has won at every level in which he has competed. He is currently ranked third in the Nationwide Series standings with three wins to his credit in 2009, including a dramatic victory in August at his home track at Michigan International Speedway. Keselowski also scored his first Cup Series win earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway and he has produced three top-10 finishes in just eight Cup Series starts this season.

" Penske Racing is one of the top teams in all of motorsports and I am honored to join Roger Penske's organization and compete for wins with his Cup and Nationwide Series teams," said Keselowski. "This is a great opportunity for me to continue competing in the Nationwide Series and to run my first full season in the Cup Series with a strong and experienced team."

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