Keselowski visited Penske but says he was never extended an offer
FONTANA, Calif. - Brad Keselowski said he visited Penske Racing last week but did not have an offer on the table to drive the NASCAR Sprint Cup No. 12 car next season.
“I just went down and said, ‘Hi,’ and checked everything out, looked at their beautiful building,” Keselowski said Friday at Auto Club Speedway. “I only live like a mile from the place. I heard it’s a cool shop, and I had to check it out.”
Keselowski said the Penske officials asked him what his contract situation was, and Keselowski said he was committed to JR Motorsports. Penske Racing is looking for a replacement for Ryan Newman. Penske test driver David Stremme is considered one of the candidates for that ride.
“I basically told them flat out that I have a contract to drive for JR Motorsports, and I’m committed to it,” Keselowski said. “The biggest thing is I’ve got a good ride. We won last week, so it has to be pretty good. We’re winning races and we’re happy, so why [mess] with that?
“That’s not to say anything bad about their organization. It’s just that where I am at right now is going pretty good so why would you change that?”
Team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Keselowski did ask him for advice.
“He came and told me he’s having a couple of meetings with Roger and he didn’t know what to do and he just needed somebody to chat with, tell him what was right,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I told him I could tell him what I thought but Rick [Hendrick] would be the best person to talk to. Sometimes with me, when you talk to Rick, even if he wants you to work for him, he’ll sort of help you and he takes the agenda out of it. I know he would give Brad good advice.
“I think Brad did the right thing. He’s got a great opportunity where he’s at. He’s running great with the Nationwide team. I basically said, ‘Would you want to trade where you are and the opportunities with Rick in the future at the Cup level for where you could be with Roger? Do you want to trade that? Would you trade it? Does that feel comfortable to you?’ I guess he made up his mind.”
And what if JR Motorsports wanted to go Cup racing?
“If he could get the deal with Rick, he would have a chance to run better,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I would hope that that happens for him. I told him that if I was building a Cup team, that I would tell him to go drive for Roger.”
