New ride, same style for Brad Keselowski?
Bob Pockrass
Bob Pockrass began covering NASCAR in 1992, primarily covering short-track racing and events. He has worked for Street & Smith's Motorsports Group since 2003.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Brad Keselowski makes his debut for Penske Racing this weekend as he takes over the seat in the No. 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup car.
Off the track, Keselowski always seems to be having fun, even when he’s being a little bit brash. On the track, he’s been as aggressive as anyone and, for the most part, unapologetic.
The big question for Keselowski is does he need to be more patient and less aggressive or should he stay the same? Sure, he’s ruffled some feathers, but this is racing and it doesn’t always pay to be polite. Then again, paybacks are probably coming and he will find out if he needs to tone down his aggressive style.
Keselowski can expect many of his competitors not to give him an inch of leeway (including new teammate Kurt Busch, whom he turned in the final laps at Talladega) after his hard-nosed racing in recent weeks. And how about the fans? Keselowski probably has gotten some benefit of the doubt driving for the sport’s most popular driver in Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But in three weeks, he officially will be an Earnhardt Jr. employee no longer. The Junior Nation probably won’t unconditionally have his back.
Part of me thinks Keselowski will need to change, that he just won’t make it past his current contract with Penske if he drives through others, even if it’s just late in races. And part of me doesn’t want Keselowski to change because this sport needs drama and needs guys who push the brink of over-aggressive driving, a line that is hard to decipher because racing, in its nature, is supposed to be aggressive driving.
Rubbin’ is racin’ and whether he rubs people or races people the wrong way remains to be seen. I’m looking forward to the ride.
