Keselowski’s move to Cup with ??? team

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Keselowski’s Success Stirring NASCAR’s Rumor Mills

Rookie Brad Keselowski's success has everyone talking (Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brad Keselowski, running a part time schedule for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series this season, is running like a season, full time veteran.

But he’s only 25.

Keselowski has no doubt been the biggest surprise of 2009, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history when he took ho0me the checkered flag in the Aaron’s 499 several weeks ago at Talladega Superspeedway following the horrific wreck involving Carl Edwards and the outside retaining fence.

Since that victory, Keselowski has posted yet another top-ten finish, earning seventh place at one of NASCAR’s most challenging venues – Darlington Raceway.

But with the announcement that Mark Martin, showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, will return to the No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet next season, the question of what to do with Keselowski has arose.

While Keselowski is simply competing in a fifth, part-time Hendrick car this season – the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet – NASCAR had notified Hendrick Motorsports as well as Roush Fenway Racing in 2005 that they must each cut a team by the start of 2010 to comply with NASCAR’s newly instituted four-car limit.

While there is a slight possibility that Hendrick could appeal to NASCAR and be awarded a fifth team for 2010, that option is highly unlikely.

Several rumors have been floating around the garage as to where Keselowski will land next season. Hendrick has made it clear that it would like to keep Keselowski under the Hendrick Motorsports banner, as he is the likely pick to fill the seat in the No. 5 car when Martin does retire.

But Keselowski has made it clear that he would like to race in the Sprint Cup Series next season.

One possibility that has been mentioned is the idea of Keselowski racing in a third Stewart-Haas car next season. Stewart-Haas Racing is a satellite team of Hendrick Motorsports, receiving support on the technical and physical sides of the race team.

It is likely that if this was to happen, Keselowski would simply be “loaned” to Stewart-Haas, as in he would remain under contract with Hendrick Motorsports giving them the ability to retain the driver for the No. 5 car.

Another possibility is that has been mention is that JR Motorsports, the Nationwide Series team owned by Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the current Nationwide Series team of Keselowski, will move up to the Sprint Cup Series full-time to field a car for Keselowski.

Finally, a third possibility is that Hendrick Motorsports could release the slumping Earnhardt Jr. and put Keselowski in the No. 88 Chevrolet currently piloted by Earnhardt.

Interestingly enough, Mayetta, New Jersey driver Martin Truex Jr. seems to play a role in at least two of the possibilities.

It has been established that both Stewart-Haas Racing and JR Motorsports would like to add additional Cup cars to their program, and Truex has been mentioned as potential drivers for both.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Tony Stewart has a longtime connection with Bass Pro Shops, the sponsor of Martin Truex Jr. that is expected to follow him is he was to leave Earnhradt Ganassi Racing at the end of 2009.

And Truex has also been linked with Earnhradt Jr, as Earnhradt was co-owner of Truex’s 2004 and 2005 championship car in what is now the Nationwide Series.

Of course, Hendrick Motorsports could put a rest to all the speculation and leave Keselowski in the Nationwide Series for yet another season, a move Keselowski may not be willing to accept.

If this is Hendrick’s plan, look for Keselowski to leave Hendrick and hit the free agent market, opening the door for countless rumors.

http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/blogentry/49873-keselowski%E2%80%99s+success+stirring+nascar%E2%80%99s+rumor+mills

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Finally, a third possibility is that Hendrick Motorsports could release the slumping Earnhardt Jr. and put Keselowski in the No. 88 Chevrolet currently piloted by Earnhardt.

now that would be funny

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Keselowski meets with Penske? UPDATE: other options?: Monday, an anonymous tipster spotted driver Brad Kesolowski meeting with Roger Penske [at thier Mooresville shop?]. The 'tipsters' report: "was doing business at Penske this morning and saw Brad Kesolowski go into the building with a man who appeared to be his agent, the car was still there three hours later when i left.(jalopnik.com)(8-18-2009)
UPDATE: Brad Keselowski says there's a scenario that could keep him affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports in 2010 that nobody knows of. Turns out Phoenix Racing isn't his only option with HMS ties. Here are some possibilities:
Richard Petty Motorsports: Most of the speculation has RPM leaving Dodge for Toyota, but multiple sources said RPM has had discussions with HMS and Richard Childress Racing should they switch to General Motors. An HMS official, however, assured us that talks with RPM haven't gotten serious.
Furniture Row Racing: Furniture Row Racing could expand to two teams -- #78-Regan Smith will be in one car -- with Keselowski. But it's a huge risk for Keselowski to join a team that can't run a full schedule this season.(ESPN Insider)(8-19-2009)

Don't look for Brad to join Furniture Row. He actally has a future in NASCAR.

I think the Furniture Row option is reasonable. The 78 has been fast in the races they've run this year. I think that if they could expand to 2 teams with sponsors and move to Charlotte, they could grow into a competitive race team (especially with Hendrick support).

Looks like they'll have to find another driver. It appears Brad is headed to Penske.

Bires to the 88?

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Dale Jr. looking for Brad K's replacement: JR Motorsports President Kelley Earnhardt confirmed that Kelly Bires is on the list of possible replacements for Brad Keselowski should the company and the driver part ways. Many in the garage have called Bires, who turns 25 Tuesday, the front-runner for the #88 Nationwide Series ride.(FoxSports)(8-24-2009)

As much as I hate to see him going to Hendrick, this would be a great opportunity for Kelly.

+1

i would like for him move back to a ford, but above all i just want to see him succeed & compete in good equipment. rick can provide that.

Kelly deserves to have a strong, full-time ride. He can drive. Sounds like the Brad to Penske isn't a done deal though?

I hope Kelly gets the ride.
He deserves to be in a competitive car.

^ I'll second that. He's never been taken seriously in the Nationwide Series, despite showing a whole lot. If Kelly signs to drive the 88, it would be a great opportunity for him to let his presence be known.

DeeDee wrote:

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Finally, a third possibility is that Hendrick Motorsports could release the slumping Earnhardt Jr. and put Keselowski in the No. 88 Chevrolet currently piloted by Earnhardt.

now that would be funny

no- that would be hilarious

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Penske still courting Keseloski? Reports surfaced last week in Bristol that Brad Keselowski was set to replace #12-David Stremme in the three-car Penske Racing Sprint Cup stable next year. ESPN reported on its race telecast Stremme was informing people in the garage area he was out of the ride and looking for employment next season. However Stremme insists he never made those statements and that no one from the network bothered to ask him directly about his future. Stremme told Sirius NASCAR Radio's The Morning Drive he "feels good about his future and will discuss his plans when the time allows." Keselowski and his current Sprint Cup and Nationwide team owners Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have also declined to comment on what lies ahead for the Michigan driver.(CBS Sports) for earlier information on Keselowski replacing Stremme, see my #12 team page(8-27-2009)

The media or are they covering something up Someone is full of it.

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Stremme told Sirius NASCAR Radio's The Morning Drive he "feels good about his future and will discuss his plans when the time allows."

He really feels good about his future? I don't know why

If Penske even cares a small bit about the performance of his teams, he would send Stremme packing and take advantage of this opportunity to grab Brad!

I totally agree.

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Keselowski says announcement will come soon: Brad Keselowski remained noncommittal this weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on his future in NASCAR, though he did say an announcement on his plans will come "shortly." Keselowski, a full-time Nationwide Series driver for JR Motorsports and a part-time Sprint Cup driver for Hendrick Motorsports and Phoenix Racing, is rumored to be joining Penske Racing in 2010 - perhaps running both series full time for the team. Keselowski has said he wanted to drive full time in both series, and those plans remain in place. "I'm confident that I will run full time in both series next season," he said. If he joins Penske, he could be a teammate to Justin Allgaier in the Nationwide Series. Allgaier said Saturday he told Penske officials he didn't want to know about the team's plans until they were official.(SceneDaily)(8-31-2009)

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Discount Tire sponsoring Keselowski in 2010: Just days after announcing his move from JR Motorsports in 2010, Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing have signed Discount Tire as their sponsor for 26 Nationwide Series races next year. Keselowski will drive the #22 Dodge full time in the Nationwide Series next year along with a full-time Sprint Cup schedule. Discount Tire will also be an associate sponsor on Keselowski and teammate Kurt Busch's Sprint Cup Series cars. Additionally, the company will have a presence on all three Penske Racing cars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A full announcement is expected later this week. Discount Tire currently sponsors David Ragan's #6 Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide Series ride.(Fox Sports)(9-15-2009)

I'm glad Roger Penske is able to use this opportunity to expand his Nationwide program, but too bad that it's going to be with a driver who will also be running Cup next year.

I didn't think the 22 was his

Dog wrote:

I didn't think the 22 was his

It wasn't, but the Fitz Motorsports team (that used to run 22) has apparently shut down; they haven't been on track for some time.

o- ok- shows how closely i follow the busch series