Brian Keselowski
Encyclopedia
Brian Keselowski is an American
race car driver, currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A past winner in the ARCA Racing Series and competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he currently drives the #92 Chevrolet Impala
for K-Automotive Motorsports, and is competing for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie-Of-The-Year award.
, Michigan
in 1981, Brian Keselowski is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski
, and the son and nephew of former drivers Bob
and Ron Keselowski
.
He graduated from Rochester Hills High School in 1999, taking night classes
to allow him to work as a jackman for the family racing team, K-Automotive Motorsports; he flew to the racetrack directly from his senior prom
to assist in competition. He began his racing career competing in super late model events, winning rookie-of-the-year at Auto City Speedway in 2000.
in 2004. He made six starts that season, driving the #29 Competition Graphics Dodge for Bob Ducharme. He had three top-tens, including a ninth-place run in his debut at Kentucky Speedway
, and finished 34th in points. The next season, the team was purchased by his family, and he ran seven races including a string of five consecutive top-ten finishes. In 2006, Holloway Motorsports and Dusty's Collision became the sponsors of his car, and he won his first race at Berlin Raceway
. Keselowski also made his NASCAR Busch Series (later renamed the NASCAR Nationwide Series) debut that year at Phoenix
in the #23 Ridley Motorcycles Chevrolet
for Keith Coleman Racing
, starting and finishing in 43rd place. He had intended to compete at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
, but was not approved to run at the 2 miles (3.2 km) track; his brother Brad drove the race instead, jump-starting his career.
In 2007, he ran a career-high 12 races in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, splitting time with his family team and the #5 Lucas Oil
Pontiac for Bobby Gerhart
. He won twice and finished 22nd in points. In the Busch Series, he made four starts in the #19/49, including his first top ten finish at Memphis Motorsports Park
. The next season he made 11 starts, beginning in the #28 Jay Robinson Racing
Chevy four four races before moving to his family's #92, co-owned with Dusty Whitney, with a best finish of 15th at ORP, four spots ahead of his brother.
For 2009, Keselowski attempted his first full-time season for Whitney and K-Automotive Motorsports, which renumbered its car with the #26. The primary sponsor for Keselowski's car during the 2009 CarQuest Auto Parts 300
was the Detroit Red Wings
National Hockey League
team; Keselowski ran eighteen races, but stepped aside for twelve of the final fifteen events to act as crew chief while other drivers competed in the car. During the 2010 season, he successfully qualified for 26 of 35 events; he finished 11th in the season-opening event at Daytona, but had an average finish overall for the season of 34th.
, although he failed to qualify for any of these events.
at Daytona International Speedway
, however Andy Lally
stated his intention to run for the award while Speedweeks was underway. The decision to move up to the Cup Series was made on economic grounds; the costs of competing in the Nationwide Series were deemed to be comparable to a Sprint Cup effort.
In qualifying for the 2011 Daytona 500
, Keselowski posted the slowest time of the 48 cars that attempted to qualify, requiring that he finish in the top two of non-qualified cars in the second Gatorade Duel
to secure a position in the race. With a little help from brother Brad, Brian finished 5th in the second Gatorade Duel and started 12th in the 2011 Daytona 500.
Shortly after Keselowski's surprise finish in the Duels, he received help from a number of sources, including tires from Evernham Motorsports
(Keselowski driving a former Evernham chassis from 2006) and an engine from Penske Racing
. The engine Penske offered could not be fitted into the car in time. In addition, the K-Automotove Motorsports team received sponsorship from Discount Tire
. Keselowski ran as high as fourth, but was involved in a wreck on lap 29, finshing 41st. Keselowski failed to qualify for the next two races.
In March 2011, Keselowski had severe abdominal pain and needed gallbladder surgery. Dennis Setzer
filled in for those races. Keselowski took more time off to reevaluate his underfunded race team. K-Automotive switched to Chevrolet for Michigan and received a one-race deal with Melling Auto Parts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
race car driver, currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A past winner in the ARCA Racing Series and competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he currently drives the #92 Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
for K-Automotive Motorsports, and is competing for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie-Of-The-Year award.
Early life and family
Born in Rochester HillsRochester Hills, Michigan
Rochester Hills is an affluent city in northeast Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 70,995. The city of Rochester is bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1981, Brian Keselowski is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
Bradley Robert Keselowski is an American auto racing driver currently competing in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in the Sprint Cup Series and the #22 Discount Tire Company/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing...
, and the son and nephew of former drivers Bob
Bob Keselowski
Robert "Bob" Keselowski is a former U.S. race car driver. He owns K Automotive Racing and was a competitor in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, now called the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Racing career:In the ARCA series he had 24 wins, 26 poles, and a...
and Ron Keselowski
Ron Keselowski
Ron Keselowski was a NASCAR Winston Cup driver who raced from 1970 to 1974. He is the uncle of current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Brad and Brian Keselowski along with being the brother of retired NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Bob Keselowski.-History:As a driver, Keselowski would...
.
He graduated from Rochester Hills High School in 1999, taking night classes
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
to allow him to work as a jackman for the family racing team, K-Automotive Motorsports; he flew to the racetrack directly from his senior prom
Senior Prom
Senior Prom is a still-classified United States Air Force program to develop a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance purposes , designed to be launched from a Lockheed DC-130, B-52 Stratofortress, or B-1 Lancer.-Origin and development:The program began in the late 1970s after the...
to assist in competition. He began his racing career competing in super late model events, winning rookie-of-the-year at Auto City Speedway in 2000.
ARCA and Nationwide
Keselowski made his stock car debut in the ARCA RE/MAX SeriesARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
in 2004. He made six starts that season, driving the #29 Competition Graphics Dodge for Bob Ducharme. He had three top-tens, including a ninth-place run in his debut at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
, and finished 34th in points. The next season, the team was purchased by his family, and he ran seven races including a string of five consecutive top-ten finishes. In 2006, Holloway Motorsports and Dusty's Collision became the sponsors of his car, and he won his first race at Berlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway is a 0.438 mile long paved oval race track in Marne, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. It opened in 1950. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as ARCA...
. Keselowski also made his NASCAR Busch Series (later renamed the NASCAR Nationwide Series) debut that year at Phoenix
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
in the #23 Ridley Motorcycles Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
for Keith Coleman Racing
Keith Coleman Racing
Keith Coleman Racing was a NASCAR Busch Series team. It fielded the #23 and #26 cars for three seasons. The team was formed in 2004 by New Orleans native, Keith Coleman and at the time bought the team's equipment from Holigan Racing and later from Bill Davis Racing.KCR debuted in 2004 at the Mr....
, starting and finishing in 43rd place. He had intended to compete at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
, but was not approved to run at the 2 miles (3.2 km) track; his brother Brad drove the race instead, jump-starting his career.
In 2007, he ran a career-high 12 races in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, splitting time with his family team and the #5 Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil Products is a manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives, and lubricants. It was founded by trucker Forrest Lucas and his wife Charlotte in 1989....
Pontiac for Bobby Gerhart
Bobby Gerhart
Bobby Gerhart is a driver on the ARCA Re/Max Series. He has won eight times on the circuit, seven of those victories coming in the season-opening ARCA Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway . Presently, he drives the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet owned by his brother on a part-time basis...
. He won twice and finished 22nd in points. In the Busch Series, he made four starts in the #19/49, including his first top ten finish at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
. The next season he made 11 starts, beginning in the #28 Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Currently, they field the #28 MAXelence Chevrolet Impala for Derrike Cope. Formed in 1995, they moved to the Nationwide Series in 2000, where they have attempted both full-time and part-time schedules.- Car #28...
Chevy four four races before moving to his family's #92, co-owned with Dusty Whitney, with a best finish of 15th at ORP, four spots ahead of his brother.
For 2009, Keselowski attempted his first full-time season for Whitney and K-Automotive Motorsports, which renumbered its car with the #26. The primary sponsor for Keselowski's car during the 2009 CarQuest Auto Parts 300
Carquest Auto Parts 300
The Top Gear 300 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is held the day before the Coca-Cola 600 on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend...
was the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
team; Keselowski ran eighteen races, but stepped aside for twelve of the final fifteen events to act as crew chief while other drivers competed in the car. During the 2010 season, he successfully qualified for 26 of 35 events; he finished 11th in the season-opening event at Daytona, but had an average finish overall for the season of 34th.
2010
During the 2010 season, Keselowski attempted to qualify for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, starting with the August race at Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
, although he failed to qualify for any of these events.
2011
Keselowski has declared his intention to compete for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie Of The Year title; he was the only driver to do so as of the start of SpeedweeksSpeedweeks
Hershey's Milk & Milkshake Speedweeks is a name given to a three-week series of auto races held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States of America in early February...
at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, however Andy Lally
Andy Lally
Andrew Lally is an American race car driver and Street Luge racer. Although Lally has driven partial schedules in all three of NASCAR's premier series he is best known for his road racing expertise in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series as well as the American Le Mans Series...
stated his intention to run for the award while Speedweeks was underway. The decision to move up to the Cup Series was made on economic grounds; the costs of competing in the Nationwide Series were deemed to be comparable to a Sprint Cup effort.
In qualifying for the 2011 Daytona 500
2011 Daytona 500
The 2011 Daytona 500, the 53rd running of the event, was held on February 20, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps on the 2.5 mile asphalt tri-oval. First race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season, it was won by the Wood Brothers...
, Keselowski posted the slowest time of the 48 cars that attempted to qualify, requiring that he finish in the top two of non-qualified cars in the second Gatorade Duel
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
to secure a position in the race. With a little help from brother Brad, Brian finished 5th in the second Gatorade Duel and started 12th in the 2011 Daytona 500.
Shortly after Keselowski's surprise finish in the Duels, he received help from a number of sources, including tires from Evernham Motorsports
Evernham Motorsports
Richard Petty Motorsports is a two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, Douglas G. Bergeron and financial company Medallion Financial. The team was founded as Evernham Motorsports in 2000, was renamed Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2007 after...
(Keselowski driving a former Evernham chassis from 2006) and an engine from Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
. The engine Penske offered could not be fitted into the car in time. In addition, the K-Automotove Motorsports team received sponsorship from Discount Tire
Discount Tire Company
Discount Tire Company is a tire and wheel retailer headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the largest independent tire retailer in the United States, and sole retail outlet for the Arizonian brand of tires....
. Keselowski ran as high as fourth, but was involved in a wreck on lap 29, finshing 41st. Keselowski failed to qualify for the next two races.
In March 2011, Keselowski had severe abdominal pain and needed gallbladder surgery. Dennis Setzer
Dennis Setzer
Dennis Setzer is a NASCAR driver. He has driven in all three of NASCAR's top series. He currently splits time between the #23, #49, and #70 cars, all for Jay Robinson Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
filled in for those races. Keselowski took more time off to reevaluate his underfunded race team. K-Automotive switched to Chevrolet for Michigan and received a one-race deal with Melling Auto Parts.
Complete Sprint Cup Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)| Year | Team | No. | Sponsors | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | NSCC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 63rd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. The season included 36 races and two exhibition races, beginning with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The... |
K-Automotive Motorsports | 92 | Discount Tire Company Discount Tire Company Discount Tire Company is a tire and wheel retailer headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the largest independent tire retailer in the United States, and sole retail outlet for the Arizonian brand of tires.... |
Dodge Dodge Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide.... |
DAY 2011 Daytona 500 The 2011 Daytona 500, the 53rd running of the event, was held on February 20, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps on the 2.5 mile asphalt tri-oval. First race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season, it was won by the Wood Brothers... 41 |
43nd | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| none | PHO 2011 Subway Fresh Fit 500 The 2011 Subway Fresh Fit 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on February 27, 2011 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps, it was the second race of the 2011 season. The race was won by Jeff Gordon for the Hendrick Motorsports team... DNQ |
RIC Crown Royal Presents the Your Name Here 400 The Crown Royal Presents the Your Name Here 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2007, race title sponsor Crown Royal names the race after the winner of an essay contest during Daytona Speedweeks... DNQ |
DAR DNQ |
DOV |
CHA 2011 Coca-Cola 600 The 2011 Coca-Cola 600, the 52nd running of the event, was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series motor race held on May 29, 2011 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 400 laps on the 1.5-mile asphalt quad-oval, it was the twelfth race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season. The... |
KAN |
POC |
MIC |
INF |
DY2 Coke Zero 400 The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually, beginning in 1959, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the second major stock car event held at Daytona on the Sprint Cup circuit... |
KEN |
NHA |
IND |
PO2 |
GLN |
MI2 |
BR2 |
ATL |
RI2 |
CHI |
NH2 Sylvania 300 The Sylvania 300 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.The Sylvania 300 has traditionally held in mid-September, however, the race has been rescheduled once in its history... |
DV2 |
KA2 |
CH2 Bank of America 500 The Bank of America 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that is hosted annually at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States. The race is usually held in the month of October, as part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and is 500 miles long... |
TL2 |
MA2 |
TX2 |
PH2 |
HOM 2011 Ford 400 The 2011 Ford 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series motor race that was held on November 20, 2011, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. It was the thirty-sixth and final race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The event aired on ESPN and Motor Racing Network. Carl Edwards... |
|||||||||||||
| MGM Grand | LSV 2011 Kobalt Tools 400 The 2011 Kobalt Tools 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on March 6, 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. Contested over 267 laps, it was the third race of the 2011 season. The race was won by Carl Edwards for the Roush Fenway Racing team... DNQ |
BRI Food City 500 The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races... |
CAL Auto Club 500 The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race... |
MAR |
TEX 2011 Samsung Mobile 500 The 2011 Samsung Mobile 500 was held on April 9, 2011 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. It was the first spring night race for Texas Motor Speedway in its 15-year history of hosting NASCAR races and was the seventh race in the 2011 Sprint Cup season. Matt Kenseth won the race for Roush... |
TAL 2011 Aaron's 499 The 2011 Aaron's 499 was the eighth race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season out of thirty six total races. The race was held on April 17 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. Jeff Gordon won his 70th pole position, leading a Hendrick Motorsports sweep of the top four starting... |