Brad Keselowski confident about sponsorship for JR Motorsports in '09
Sponsorship for the No. 88 JR Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series team has yet to be announced, but driver Brad Keselowski said he isn’t worried about the future.
The U.S. Navy decided to end its NASCAR involvement at the end of the 2008 season, leaving Keselowski without a backer for 2009. Team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had to cut back JR Motorsports’ No. 5 entry to a limited schedule because of a lack of sponsorship, but the No. 88 team remains full time.
Keselowski said his team will use a combination of sponsors for ’09.
“We’re pretty good,” Keselowski said. “I think we’re going to be in good shape. Actually, we feel like we’re going to be stronger [financially] than we were last year with the package we have now, which is good.
“My team has gotten better. Some of the changes we’ve made internally are going to pay off. I’m as excited as ever.”
The team’s engineering department has been reworked some, Keselowski said.
Keselowski, who finished third in the Nationwide standings last year in his first full season with the team, said he hopes to contend for the series title next season.
Veteran Tony Eury Sr. returns as Keselowski’s crew chief, a year after being persuaded by Earnhardt Jr. to take on the added role.
“I think he had mixed emotions about it,” Keselowski said. “He might still to this day, but either way, it’s a good working relationship.”
