If your favorite driver is Brad Keselowski, chances are you’ll see him make the completion of the race. In his 8 starts at the Virginia short track, Keselowski has missed a grand total of two laps. Yes, that’s right. Out of a possible 4,023 laps (including Green-White-Checkered finishes), BK remained on the lead lap for 4,021 of them. And if it wasn’t for getting punted and spun around in the Fall 2011 Chase race, Brad wouldn’t have missed a single one of them.

Martinsville Speedway is a special track for the 2012 Champion, as it was the track he made his NASCAR National Touring series debut at. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck series made their third stop of the 2004 Season at Martinsville, and the field was stacked with talent. Including Keselowski in his K-Automotive F-150, there were a total of 45 tough trucks vying for 36 positions. In his first ever attempt, BK qualified the race 26th, a very solid position considering his experience and the equipment given. Over 100 laps into the race, Keselowski was involved in an incident with former Cup Series winner Steve Park, that resulted in Keselowski losing a few laps. BK completed 231/254 laps in his first NASCAR race, or more importantly, he was able to obtain some crucial experience that would pay off in the end.

Simply put, Martinsville is a tough track. And in this week’s edition of Keys to Victory, you’ll see just that.

Keys to Victory

Respect the Car: the last few weeks I’ve made a big deal about tires. Well, here at The Paperclip, tires aren’t the most important aspect of the car. The brakes are. These 3400lb stock cars will fly into each end of the race track at well over 110mph, and quickly decelerate to under 65mph. Oh, and they will only do this twice a lap for 500 laps. By overusing the brakes, the heat can literally cook the tire, causing it to blow.

Getting Curby: we know it won’t take long for someone in the FOX booth to discuss this (we’re looking at you, Darrell). It happens to even the best of drivers, not just the rookies. You can try to have the perfect turn, but if the apex of the turn has your car in line to clip the curb, you are in trouble. A slight contact with the curb can shoot the racecar up the 12° banked track almost instantly.

Throttle Management: it is so easy to try to mat the gas pedal coming off the turn, but unless you want to spin out and destroy the racecar, don’t do that. To successfully exit the turn at Martinsville, you have to carefully feather the throttle. It’s hard to fathom how huge 900hp is until it shows you.

Holding the Bottom: Martinsville, and many short tracks are famed for their one lane race tracks. Unlike Bristol, at this half mile, you want to stay glued to the bottom of the track. If any car slides up just the slightest amount, there will be someone else behind them, and ready to pounce.

Navigating Through Traffic: Martinsville gets congested, and quick. In a matter of less than 50 laps, the race leader can have already knocked a few cars off the lead lap. There’s no way to prevent cars from falling off the pace, but there are ways to control your aggression as you maneuver through them. In the tracks 60+ years of operation, countless drivers have lost their race due to aggression through traffic.

The post Behind the Box: Brian Wilson appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

But, thanks to Brad’s luck in Las Vegas, that curse has been broken. I present to you, Curse of the Special Paint Scheme: Part 2!

The post Curse of the Paint Scheme: Part 2 appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

Since Brad is my favorite driver (since 08 Nationwide series), it got me all excited and amped up to get there. The night before, I could hardly sleep. I was so excited to meet Brad for the first time (first NASCAR driver i have met). When I got picked up for the ride to the show, it was hard to stay calm. When we got there and I saw the Blue Deuce sitting by where all the seats were for the autograph session it sank in that i was finally going to me my favorite driver.

It was about 1 pm and the autograph session wasn’t scheduled till 3:30 pm, so me and my friend walked around. At around 3, we got in the seats so we could be in line to meet Brad. I was so excited. I brought two of my favorite die-cast cars in my collection for him to sign. One was his 2013 standard Cup scheme and the other was a 2010 CFS Nationwide car of his. Then 3:30 came and went and still no sign of Brad. (I started to think  something came up and it was too good to be true.) Then an announcer came on the stage, and said he ran into traffic and was on his way. (Typical Philly traffic.)

At around 4, he finally arrived. I was so in shock that I was gonna meet him. As we waited in line, my friend started joking saying that if I passed out from the excitement, she would take pictures of me passed out. (Evil.)

As we got up on the stage, die-cast in one hand, I gave him the car for him to sign and shook his hand. I said I was a huge fan and supported him since 2008. He replied thank you and that he was glad to have a dedicated fan like me. Trying not to freak out, I thanked him. As I walked away, I silently celebrated getting to meet my favorite driver. He was a very down-to-earth guy and really cool. The day went on, and I added two new cars to my collection.

It was a great day, and I was so glad I went. I got to meet my favorite driver, spend time with my best friend and added new cars to my die-cast collection!

The post 2014 Brad Keselowski Experience at the Daytona 500 appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

Keselowski in the house tonight,

2013 was not a good time,

They almost made me lose my mind,

2014 is gonna be fine,

 

Keselowski in the house tonight,

2013 was not a good time,

They almost made me lose my mind, 

2014 is gonna be fine,

 

He’s a champ, cream of the crop,

Look for Brad, back on top,

Don’t stop cause of one bad year,

Guess what y’all, Brad is here,

 

Blue Deuce, y’all got to know,

Those Penske Fords will go on a roll,

Fast guy, fast car, out the door,

Champ again, he wants more,

 

He’ll run through those races like Earnhardt,

He’s got the win to win,

Twelve second pit stops,

 

He’ll win a lot!

Yeah, and the Fords will be reppin,

Gonna rise to the top, no Johnson or Kenseth,

 

Keselowski in the house tonight,

2013 was not a good time,

And Brad is gonna blow your mind,

2014 is gonna be fine.

The post Coming Soon: 2014 appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

The post A Look Back appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

Let’s just say, karma is taking care of him.

In the truck race on Friday, which Brad was also racing in in the number 19 Ford, Kyle’s engine expired after getting trash on the grill early in the race. While Brad was stuck a lap down the entire race after an early spin and not really a factor, he had the fast truck. The race was relatively clean and Brad never managed to get the lap back. Brad even admitted to “screwing up” in the truck race in his post race media after the Nationwide win. The important thing is both BKR trucks have shown awesome speed this season, and I look toward next year for that to improve even more. Tire wear in the Nationwide race was a major factor. A bad tire put Kyle Busch in the wall and several laps down. I don’t think Brad needs to do anything to retaliate.

The thing I love the most? Brad has been the highest finishing non-Chaser in four of the eight Chase races so far.

On Saturday, Brad Keselowski led the most laps en route to his first ever win at Texas Motor Speedway. Early on, it looked as though the car to beat may have gotten beaten when they took fuel only a pit stop. Keselowski proved the Discount Tire Dodge wouldn’t go down without a fight. It took some time, but toward the end, the 22 was the car to take it all. The major issue of the day was tire wear.

During the Nationwide race, you could tell just how much Brad was itching for the win. He wanted that cowboy hat for sure! After the race, when he walked into the media center with a regular sponsor hat, Brad commented that he knows his limitations on headwear. Texas has some of the coolest prizes that come along with the win. Not only the hardware, but a cowboy hat and a pair of six shooters. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Brad’s post race interview. He was candid about the truck race, and even commented on who he thought would win the 2013 Sprint Cup Series Championship: “Matt because he has the strongest pit crew on pit road.” I firmly believe that 22 will be in winner’s circle come time to award the Owner’s Title.

Sunday didn’t quite go as planned. The Blue Deuce was strong, as I thought it would be, especially after qualifying outside pole. Most of the day was spent in the top 5. It wasn’t until a misfire on pit road that Brad lost several spots and wasn’t quite able to recover back into the top 5, about where the car was meant to be. When questioned after the race, Brad said it was embarrassing the type of whooping Jimmie Johnson put on the field. Brad did lead some laps, but it was limited before Jimmie passed several cars and brought his 48 back out in front of the field. A top ten finish is good, especially with all of the stuff that’s gone down this season.

The thing I love the most? Brad has been the highest finishing non-Chaser in four of the eight Chase races so far. Several of those results, including the win, were top five finishes. I’m so proud of what the team has accomplished. As I said earlier when Brad missed the Chase: missing the playoffs is what the team needed in order to move forward and work on developing the cars so they could be more competitive for next year.

Keselowski is currently in a battle with Jamie McMurray for the 14th position in points—best of the non chasers. I believe he will get that 14th position in points after Homestead. I also believe he has as good a chance as anyone of winning one, if not both, of the next two races until the 2013 season is over.

The post Heating Up in Texas appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

My diecast collection all started by going to the local supermarket and purchasing toys off the shelf. It has lead to a lifelong passion, growing into the large plethora of cars pictured. I take much pride in my collection. These diecasts fuel my passion for the sport and my dedication to Brad. I am happy to say that my obsession with the Blue Deuce is a healthy one, and hopefully will last for a long time!

The post Wild, Wild West appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

It’s easy to say the most significant moment in Brad’s season was the win at Charlotte a couple of weeks ago. It was a big moment, for sure, but I don’t believe it was the most compelling moment of this season. The most powerful moment this season was when Brad’s car blew up at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which pretty much ended the campaign to get the Blue Deuce into the Chase for the Championship. There was still another race before the Chase began, Richmond, but the chances were slim.

It was this night that I realized it wasn’t in Brad’s future to make the Chase for 2013.

What was supposed to be a Sunday afternoon race at Atlanta turned into a night race—my favorite. I love night racing, and it seems to favor Brad as well (see Bristol in 2011 and Kentucky in 2012). Going into the race, I felt positive. I knew that if Brad had a chance of getting into the Chase, a win at Atlanta would do it. Midway through the race, the Blue Deuce took the lead, and showed the power beneath the hood of the Ford Fusion. Thirty laps later, it struck. Brad dropped a cylinder and fell back. He babied the engine until it couldn’t go anymore and that race became only his second DNF this season. You would think with all of the bad luck, there would have been more official DNFs.

When the engine dropped a cylinder, I felt so much disappointment. A season’s worth of anger and frustration turned into depression at the very real possibility that Brad would miss the chase. After the Blue Deuce was opened up in the garage area, smoke pluming in the background, Brad said, “We don’t dictate our own fate, which is never good.” This team has been trying to fight fate all year long. It was this night that I realized it wasn’t in Brad’s future to make the Chase for 2013.

It was this night that the year turned around. The car was flat flying the following week in the final race before the Chase at Richmond International Raceway. Brad was going to win that race and make the playoffs, against the odds. It was exhausting watching the numbers and worrying about which driver he had to be in front of to make the Chase. Then, as it were, pit strategy killed the night. Since, Brad has been leading laps at tracks and he managed to get the win at Charlotte. It was a win that all of Brad’s fans needed. Not that we doubted his skill nor the equipment beneath him, but I feel we needed that reassurance that the fight was still there, that fate wasn’t going to give Brad one glimpse of greatness as champion.

Mark my words, Brad Keselowski will become champion again, multiple times. I believe that missing the Chase this year got the metaphorical monkey off of his back. The pressure is gone and that is only proven further by Brad’s best finish this past weekend at Martinsville. While he has three more chances to win this season, I look forward to 2014, and what it will bring. Hopefully, it will start with our driver becoming a Daytona 500 Champion in February.

The best is yet to come for Brad Keselowski. 

The post Missing the Chase appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

The highest position for BK on Sunday was second. He went home with a fourth place finish after the 500-lap race, and this happens to be Keselowski’s career best finish at Martinsville Speedway. His finish at the Martinsville spring race was sixth, and Sunday’s finish shows that BK and the Miller Lite team keeps inching closer and closer toward getting a win at the Paperclip and taking home that coveted grandfather clock.

BK’s fourth place also did not go unnoticed by his fans on Twitter. Here are some tweets from after the race.

The post And So It Begins appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.

One thing I have always said about being a Keselowski fan is that I’m glad that Brad is not afraid to voice his opinion, whether people agree with it or not. It doesn’t matter even if I agree with that opinion, the fact that he isn’t afraid to criticize or question things only solidifies why he is my driver. He’s taken a lot of heat this weekend for comments reported by the media that he doesn’t feel this is a good solution. Just a normal day at the race track right?

The fact that Brad isn’t afraid to criticize or question things only solidifies why he is my driver. 

ImPACT (which stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) provides tools for trained medical professionals to measure an athlete’s ability to return safely to their normal activity. According to their website, ImPACT is currently used in sports in the MLB, NHL, and NFL. The ImPACT model has a five step process. Pre-season, a baseline is determined of an athlete’s brain activity. If a concussion is suspected, the athlete is then brought in for testing and measurement of activity in the brain, which is then compared to the baseline. The steps following are the healing process and testing for return back to the norm. It’s a pretty lengthy process, but it is meant to prevent athletes from further injury themselves or someone else. Only when the athlete is cleared by a medical expert would they be allowed to return to normal activity.

Friday, Brad went on Twitter to give his stance on this matter. What I got from his tweets is that they weren’t so much about the severe concussions, the ones that can be confirmed. His concern is more toward the milder ones. How fair would it be to hold a competitor back if it was a mild case and the test wasn’t 100% accurate? When asked if he’d ever experienced a concussion, Brad said he wasn’t sure because doctors have never been able to diagnose him. I understand his hesitancy on the subject. Again, I’m no medical professional, and I don’t pretend to know more about brain injuries than someone who is in the medical field. But he gives a good argument in why he considers himself on the fence on this subject.

Can this testing really measure the way a racecar driver’s brain works before and after some type of impact? NASCAR is a completely different playing field from stick and ball sports where the impacts are person on person. There are so many more factors in our sport. NASCAR is truly unique because it requires more than just the athlete to participate. I’m not sure if the ImPACT baseline testing is the best route to go. I feel like NASCAR is looking at all of the possibilities in this regard and, I hope, take the competitor’s concerns and questions into consideration.

All I know is, Brad isn’t going to be quiet when he feels as if all is not well in the sport. As a champion, he is looking toward the betterment of the sport, and when he questions something, I think we all should question it. He’s a smart guy, much smarter than people give him credit for. His honesty is something to be admired, in a world where sponsors and being politically correct rule.

The post An Outspoken Champion appeared first on BradRacing.com | The Official Web Site of Brad Keselowski www.bk30beta.www.bk30beta.bradracing.com.