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A little more on Keselowski
May 24, 2008
By Brenda Benedict
Dale Earnhardt Jr., in an article on ESPN.com, was explaining that he is considering changing JR Motorsports to a Sprint Cup team. He would eliminate the Nationwide Series team that he now owns. When Dale spoke of his driver, Brad Keselowski, he confirmed some suspicions that I have had about this young driver.
Brad Keselowski joined NASCAR in 2004. He is now 24 years old but Brad’s family has a long history in motorsports racing. His father, Bob, is a former Craftsman Truck competitor.
Keselowski's early career was marked with success. In his teens he won a score of races at several short tracks in Michigan and Ohio.
Brad moved to the Craftsman Series in 2004, driving for his father’s team. He made eight starts that year.
He continued racing throughout 2005 – 2006 -- teamed with several different teams, but his career seemed to blossom in 2007 when he started in 13 Busch Series races for Keith Coleman Racing. However, KCR suspended operations in July, 2007.
Brad rebounded from that setback and joined JR Motorsports, finishing the season with five top-10 finishes running for Junior’s team in 14 races.
In 2008, Brad is continuing with the JR Motorsports Team.
Brad is currently seventh in points in the Nationwide Series with two top-5's and four top-10's in twelve Nationwide races.
However, there have been signs that Brad is asking for respect that he has not yet earned.
The first red flag to me was Brad’s reaction to Mark Martin at the Las Vegas race. Martin, Carl Edwards and Keselowski were running closely at the head of the pack when Martin had inadvertent contact with Brad, causing him to wreck. Martin went on to win the race.
Mark Martin took responsibility for the wreck and as Mark climbed from his car after finishing in first place, he stated, “I’ve got to apologize before we do any celebrating,”
Mark Martin later phoned Brad and left a message expressing that he was sorry that he had caused Brad to lose this opportunity to win his first race.
Brad told the press he was angry and wouldn’t be returning Mark’s call.
What happened to respect for your elders, especially when your elders have the experience and respect that Mark Martin does?
My concerns about Brad’s attitude were further confirmed when I was visiting JR Motorsports recently and saw Brad in the garage area through the viewing window. When fans began waving to him, Brad did not acknowledge the fan appreciation but simply turned and moved out of sight, so as not to be bothered.
Now when Junior talked about Brad’s attitude difficulties, I was not surprised. Dale seems to think that a driver must earn respect instead of just expecting it.
Dale stated, “The problem I run into with Brad Keselowski is that he watches and sees how I act and thinks that’s how he can act. But I’ve earned the ability or the right to be a little bit of a jerk every once in a while and he thinks he can come in right off the bat and be one.”
Junior continued to explain that after only seven months with JR Motorsports, Brad is complaining a great deal and has not learned to “suck it up for a little while.”
These incidents from Keselowski seem to be a pattern. Brad would do well to listen to his elders in the sport, seek their advice and sit back and learn. A great racer is more than just a good driver and Brad needs to realize just how important attitude is in this sport and in life.
When NASCAR’s most popular driver tells you that you need to change, it is time to sit up and have a major attitude adjustment. You haven’t made it to the spot where you can simply write off everyone else because you are good.
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Just when I think you said the stupidest thing ever .....You keep talking
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