Leaving Hendrick camp would likely mean end for Brad Keselowski at JR Motorsports
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, August 14, 2009
Brad Keselowski competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports.
Jeff Robinson
NASCAR Scene
If Brad Keselowski goes to a non-Hendrick Motorsports organization to drive in the Sprint Cup Series, he likely won’t drive for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. says.
Keselowski has been mentioned as a candidate for a variety of Cup rides but also has said he would like to return to JR Motorsports, if possible.
“He has to decide what he wants to do,” Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday during an appearance in Atlanta to promote the Labor Day race weekend there. “We don’t control his situation. We don’t control the direction he goes next year. … If he does [go Cup racing], it likely will change the opportunity that he has to drive our car because we wouldn’t be able to work in a conflicting relationship if he’s driving for X car owner and we’re a Hendrick car owner and building this new [car of tomorrow] car [for Nationwide].
“I think a lot of the information that we would not want anyone else to know, so we would have to look in new directions.”
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who also co-owns JR Motorsports, has been trying to work on a deal to get Keselowski to one of its affiliates next year. This year, Keselowski is running in seven Cup races for Hendrick and about 10 for Phoenix Racing.
In his second full season as the driver for JR Motorsports, Keselowski is third in the Nationwide Series standings and has two wins in that series this year to go along with the Cup win at Talladega in the Phoenix Racing car.
“Brad is a really good guy,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Our program means a lot to him, and he has a good feeling about his relationship with [crew chief] Tony [Eury] Sr. and the entire team and what they’ve done for him and what he’s done for them.
“They all sort of built this together and made this competitive together, and that is important to him. He’s struggling really what to do. [He thinks about,] 'Should I stay where I’m at, where I enjoy what I’m doing, where I’m winning, where it’s working and where I’ve built branding with my sponsors, or do I try to try to go into the Cup series with several unknowns and make it from there?'”
Earnhardt Jr. said he has confidence that Keselowski will perform well in Cup. So why not just go Cup racing with Keselowski? It’s not that easy, especially because Hendrick would have to divest himself from the team and sponsorship costs would at least double from what Keselowski has in the Nationwide Series.
“It’s really about sponsorship,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Somebody has to be willing to sit down and fund your program with anywhere from $15-20 million, and that’s just not happening. They’re not walking in the door every day with that kind of money.
“There is no other variable. … How fast or slow we want to do it really has no effect on it because when somebody comes in the door, you’ve got to be either ready to do it or not to do it. We’ve had a couple of conversations with some sponsors, but we haven’t gotten to the next level yet.”
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25 responses to "Leaving Hendrick camp would likely mean end for Brad Keselowski at JR Motorsports". Post a Comment.
jrsbiggestfanbt said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 7:53 AMI hope you can stay with Jr. You two are a great fit!!!! Let's see you both get a WIN this weekend!!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBUSCH18FAN said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 9:03 AMA face only a mother could love. Would you want him on a cereal box if you were a sponsor? Not even JR almighty can get him a sponsor. Put Brad in the 88 and maybe the car will win!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportqnquier said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 9:29 AMBusch18 says Brad has a face only a mother can love. PULEEZE! You're a Kyle fan, for God's sake. He was at the back of the line when they handed out "looks."
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» Confirm Abuse Reportcathyrrooks said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 9:41 AMONQUIER now that is funny! LMAO
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBUSCH18FAN said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 9:49 AMAt least Kyle has a hott girlfriend. This guy lives with a JR. lol
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBUSCH18FAN said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 9:52 AMNICE LIPS, ARE THEY injected with BOTOX???
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJGR_P1 said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 11:33 AMmaybe he can split time between #78 and the #09 since they have the same HMS deal as SHR. and then go NW with #88. I guess they would have to get rid or Regan Smith except for the races both #09 and #78 want to run at the same time.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdirtcar26 said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 12:21 PMKryle has a girlfriend only because money, and in his case lots of it, trumps looks.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBuschfan09 said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 12:39 PMHe should run the NNWS next year win the title because Busch will not be running the full schedule then take over the 5 when grandpa Martin retires.....
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» Confirm Abuse ReportShort-Track said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 12:45 PMGo to the Nascar superstore and look at the new ladies shirts for the fall.They have a black ladies tee with a driver's face on it in gray shadow they look cool.They have Smoke,Jr.,Jeff,Jimmie,Carl,and even Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth.Then you get to Howdy's shirt and they put an M&M ,with shades and a scanner on it's head,on the shirt.What is that about?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportShort-Track said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 12:54 PMWhich M&M is Kyle?Oh that's right he's the pink one.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportShort-Track said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 12:55 PMNOS stands for Not On Sunday!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBuschfan09 said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 1:10 PMEven when the article is about someone elese you cant stand not to talk about him.......must be really in your head.....
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCarol-88-fan said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 1:50 PMSHORT-TRACK, I thought you were kidding, so I checked it out. If you go to individual driver stuff, nothing has his picture. There is a real nice one with Jr on his page. BUSCHFAN, you started it with your comments about looks.Do you really expect to make comments like that about any driver and not have his fans go after yours?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMs_Conduct said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 2:17 PMdont bite the hand that feeds you brad!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdirtcar26 said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 2:17 PMthe only thing, Buschfan, is at this rate Mark "the stud" Martin might race for 2 or 3 more years.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportddmusgrave said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 4:01 PMI said it before and I'll say it again, Brad your good that's why everyone is after you. Be it with JR or some other team, take your time and make the right decision for YOU. I know you will always be grateful to Jr. but you have your career and he has his.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSheilaLovesNASCAR said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 5:21 PMI say go for the Nationwide Championship before moving on to Cup. I love you in the Nationwide series. If the Cup guys were only part time, like when Jr. and Truex, Jr. and Vickers won their Championships, you would have had two of them. Get those Cup drivers out of Nationwide full time. There's no excuse for it. And Carl, you already have one. Move on. Let someone actually in Nationwide win the championship. No one wants to see you racing both Series.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjbracerx said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 6:40 PMMS CONDUCT,....Exactly what I think ! Ever since he won Talladega he has this thing about being a Cup driver. Dega is about being at the right place at the right time. I think he's making a mistake exspeacilly if he goes to a under funded team.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjulie28 said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 6:55 PMIf the sponsors agree put Brad in the 88 then Junior could race the 88 in Nationwide since it is on his side. He may do better but they are getting the car of terrible next year.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 7:45 PMis it the equipment or Brad?...stay in NW and wait for the right ride...more rides available after 2010...maybe even the 24...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMotorsportsPhotography said:
Aug 14, 2009 at 10:47 PMThe only ride he has in a Chevy next year is with Phoenix or Ganassi if Ganassi goes to HMS power.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmare said:
Aug 15, 2009 at 9:29 AMBrad should stay with Nationwide for at least another year. Concentrate on the Championship there and then move on. I think once you WIN a chamionship in N/W you should not be allowed to race there anymore. That is like the pros going back to the amatures. Brad can win a championship for sure. Also Brad does not
Report as Abuse"live" with Jr. He lives (or did) in/on property of Jr's but not "with" him. Get your story straight #5.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportannmyers said:
Aug 15, 2009 at 3:39 PMFirst of all, ain't no way no how that Kes is gettin' the 24!!!!!!!! I'll donate him to NASA to ship to the moon first! Second, can't somebody give Smitty a decent full-time ride? The poor guy won rookie of the year, got screwed out of his ride at Chip 'n Dale- and still has managed to finish every race he's been allowed to get in. He has talent and no one cares. Hey, Tone- give the guy a ride.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg43293388 said:
Aug 15, 2009 at 8:08 PM# 24 ANNMYERS! JG. has already said he would sit out a race if the doctor said it was the best thing for him! If his back does'nt get better,he will vacate the seat! Do you think for one minute that they won't put someone else in that car,and fast? Hate to ruin your shuttle flight,but it ain't going to happen! I can see Brad in the 24! I would'nt like it,but if he(JG.) can't go the distance,he said himself he will get out! If your in the chase and say I'll do what the doc. say's,like skip a race,then if the doc. say's you need to retire,he will!
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