Checkers…Without Wreckers

Before Brad’s arrival at Penske Racing, legendary team owner Roger Penske — “The Captain” — never put much thought into running the Nationwide Series. It’s also said that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and in the case of the Penske Racing Nationwide Series program, that seems especially true.

Prior to the start of the 2010 season, Penske Racing had 100 starts in the Nationwide Series, accumulating three wins (one in 2001, two in 2006). Since Brad’s arrival to the team, the Nationwide program at PRS has evolved dramatically.

If it wasn’t for Brad choosing to go for the Nationwide title, none of us Penske fans would have anything to cheer for on Saturday’s. 

Before signing a contract with Penske Racing, one of Brad’s requirements was that along with running the Sprint Cup Series full time, he wanted one final shot at a Nationwide Series championship run. From there, the rest is history. Later in that season, Brad Keselowski was able to bring Penske Racing their first-ever NASCAR championship, clinching it several races before the season finale in Homestead. After going on to win six races that year — tripling the Penske win total — the Nationwide Series was in Roger’s blood.

Since the 2010 season, Penske Racing has visited victory lane 26 times with six different drivers: Brad Keselowski, Justin Allgaier, Kurt Busch, Sam Hornish Jr., Joey Logano, and AJ Allmendinger. The only thing more impressive than that is the varying styles of tracks the team has won on. Brad’s first win with the team came at the restrictor plate brawl in Talladega, using a last lap pass to capture the victory. Victories have also been recorded on the short tracks of Bristol, Richmond, Iowa, IRP, Loudon, and Dover; intermediate tracks such as Charlotte, Las Vegas, Chicagoland, Homestead, Kentucky, Nashville, Kansas; and not to mention the speedways of Michigan and Indianapolis. What may be the most impressive of all is the three-race road course sweep in 2013, with Brad playing a hand in the 82-lap thriller at Watkins Glen.

If it wasn’t for Brad choosing to go for the Nationwide title, none of us Penske fans would have anything to cheer for on Saturday’s.