Brian Keselowski plans to join brother in running full Nationwide Series slate
Brian Keselowski will try to join his younger brother, Brad, as a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series driver this season.
Brian Keselowski said Monday in a phone interview that he hopes to be able to run all the Nationwide races in 2009 for his own K Automotive Motorsports team.
“It’s something I’ve been wanting to do,” Keselowski said. “I’ve never gotten to run a full season in a heavy stock car my whole career. The last time I ran a full season was in a Late Model in 2003. I’ve always felt like I’m a better driver if I could just run more. … I know I run better if I keep getting in the car.
“And I’m just trying to make a living.”
Keselowski, 27, ran seven Nationwide events last year for K Automotive. He’s the older brother of Brad Keselowski, a Nationwide regular who drives for the powerhouse JR Motorsports team.
Brian, however, is working on a shoestring budget as he takes over ownership of the team his family has owned for years. His father, Bob Keselowski, will serve as crew chief this year.
The team will again run Dodges in the Nationwide Series, getting engines from Ernie Elliott. Keselowski will use the No. 26, he said, after NASCAR swapped numbers among other teams.
K Automotive would like to run a second car as a start-and-park effort to help pay for Keselowski to compete in all the races. Keselowski said Dennis Setzer, who drove for K Automotive in the Truck series in past years, would likely drive the second car.
The No. 26 entry doesn’t have a primary sponsor, and Keselowski said the team would do a quick re-evaluation after the third race of the season at Las Vegas to make sure it has enough cars to continue running.
“There’s an opportunity to get locked in, because while there may be a lot of start-and-park guys, once you get in and race, you can beat all them in points, and you might get yourself locked in,” Keselowski said. “Once we get to that, maybe we can start making some money and can afford to be able to do all this.”
