Brad Keselowski takes wait and see approach concerning future at Hendrick Motorsports
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, June 26, 2009
LOUDON, N.H. – Brad Keselowski said he will find it easier to be patient in waiting to find out if Hendrick Motorsports can find sponsorship for him for a 2010 Sprint Cup ride with one of its affiliate teams.
Team owner Rick Hendrick met with Keselowski this past week.
“It just takes time,” Keselowski said Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “This is not an easy process and the rope is being pulled, but everybody wants it to pull faster. It’s just weighing all the options and waiting for things to fall into place and there are some things that are out of both of our control. Obviously the economy is a large piece of it and sponsorship fits in there.
“We’re happy working together, we’re going to continue to work together but we don’t have a clear-cut plan forward other than to continue to review our options. I feel like we’re going down the right path. It’s not in concrete right and that’s just the way it is.”
Keselowski is driving seven races for Hendrick Motorsports and about 10 for Phoenix Racing this year. He won the Cup race earlier this season at Talladega Superspeedway driving a Phoenix car.
The 25-year-old Keselowski finished third in the Nationwide Series standings last year and is third in the current standings. He has three career victories in the Nationwide Series.
“I’m happy right now, and I’m focused in the right things, which is running up front in Nationwide and the Cup car and not necessarily the contract stuff,” Keselowski said.
Miss Sprint Cup | On Twitter Now
Popular News
-
Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards avoids suspension, placed on probation for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski at Atlanta
Comments (254) -
Angry Carl Edwards causes frightening crash when he retaliates against Brad Keselowski at Atlanta
Comments (178) -
MONDAY MORNING CREW CHIEF: NASCAR faces a big question – what to do with Carl Edwards?
Comments (152) -
Brad Keselowski calls for Carl Edwards to be suspended as NASCAR considers penalty for crash
Comments (146) -
Hendrick’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls 16th-place finish 'not too good'
Comments (133)
Recent Headlines
-
Speedway Motorsports revenues drop nearly 10 percent in 2009; ticket revenue down 13 percent
Comments (1) -
Michael Waltrip gets ride for Sprint Cup race at Talladega
Comments (8) -
After Carl Edwards-Brad Keselowski incident, paybacks on the track are more acceptable, NASCAR drivers say
Comments (129) -
NASCAR, top teams creating new licensing agency to handle merchandise, apparel
Comments (11) -
Jeremy Mayfield’s former brother-in-law among those suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy
Comments (19)
Poll PositionView All
How should NASCAR penalize Carl Edwards?
Promotions
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
Comments
28 responses to "Brad Keselowski takes wait and see approach concerning future at Hendrick Motorsports". Post a Comment.
motorsportsphotography said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 5:21 PMThey are looking for big sponsorship and it just isn't there. Top top drivers like Jeff with DuPont, Kevin with Shell, and Mark with Car quest are having sponsor problems already for next year. Plus a big part of sponsorship isn't your driving. It is the way you look and project yourself for advertising and Brad is lacking there. They will have to put together a package of at least 3-4 sponsors for him to get a Top ride. It would be nice if something happened soon because teams like to finalize deals by Aug so that merchandise is available for Daytona in Feb. I don't see it happening unless Rick pulls off a miracle.
gwen_susie388 said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 5:56 PMThat is right about how sponsors look at the way you look. Kasey Khane really doesn't have the look that Budweiser was looking for according to a Budweiser article, but they are with him. I just hope Budweiser remains with NASCAR in Cup! Sponsorship is so hard for a lot of people right now. I want to see Brad come to Cup. I hope they can get those sponsor's he needs. I am sure they will look for Jeff and Mark a big sponsorship before they do Brad.
Dale88fan said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:01 PMI hope they find sponsorship for him. 20 or more million dollars is alot of money for a unproven driver in cup. The veterans are having problems, I read that about Gordon. you have to wonder if hendrick found some money why he wouldn't take care of his top driver instead of Brad!
lilmofishin said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:04 PMIt will be tough, I wish him luck. good drivers are looking for sponsors.
buckshot88 said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:52 PMit's all economics right now, if things dont turn around soon there will probably be quite a few established cup drivers losing thier sponsorship.
SS396Chevelle said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 7:33 PMI see it as Rick has 3 options which are all possible. 1st is SHR who can add a third car. The second is JMS, who can move up to the sprint cup, and 3rd is Red Bull who can add a 3rd Red Bull car. They have the money to do so. Go Daddy can fill in part of the year for SHR or JMS. The rest can fall in place.
Kyle Newton said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 8:27 PMI think Jr. Motorsports will move to cup, and Kahne might be third at SHR!
motorsportsphotography said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 8:35 PMBrad can go where ever but no one wants him without a big sponsor. Go Daddy is not coming to Cup.And he cant go to cup with JRM or SHR without a sponsor. GM has cut JRM off so their is no funding there for anything.
debra bates said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 7:40 AMI see Mr."KNOW IT ALL" has all the drivers lifes figured out.
gwen_susie388 said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 7:48 AMHey Debra....Long time no see. I am glad you went back to your name so I can recognize you now!
debra bates said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 7:55 AMHey Gwen Just had to pop on and speak my piece. Sorry
debra bates said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 7:59 AMYes I know what you mean Gwen. There are just a few on here now that I know. I wish SceneDaily would take it back the old way.
MrWalleye2U said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 11:29 AMKellogs sponsors Mark Martin and they signed on for another year. So nothing to worry about with him. Brad would learn more from Tony then any on else and Jr did said say when he left DEI that moving to cup down the road is possible,but i don't see him jumping up this fast. JMO.
motorsportsphotography said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 12:32 PM#13, That isn't so. Rick said a couple of weekends ago that Kellogg’s and Carquest may not return in their full capacity in 2010. Right now they split the deal. Kelloggs use to be the main sponsor for the #5 but it hasn't been that way for a couple of years now. and #9, Why dont you figure your own life out!
JR88fan said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 12:42 PMI think they should take Jr out and put Brad in. I hate to say it but after watchin practice yesterday and today. Jr doesnt have the car again.
Anonymous said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 3:13 PMmotorsportsphotography WHO are you really?You sound full of it most of the time,It said today Kellogs and Carquest signed to be on the #5. If you are so Hooked in Nascar how do you find time to write in ALL the Race Blogs and still be so important to all us lowly race fans?
gwen_susie388 said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 3:39 PMWhat I don't understand, JR88FAN is why they would put Dale, Jr. in a car where he finished 27th in Richmond. I don't understand that.
Anonymous said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 5:46 PMit doesn't matter what you put jr in ,brad will outrun him or wreck
Anonymous said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 5:47 PMwhat is wrong with the names again
rmdunn3 said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 6:46 PMI like Brad, but I don't want him going to SHR, I want Kasey there, and I'm sure that Kasey could find more sponsorship that Brad can. Money is the bottom line in this business, and next year is going to see a lot of people out of a car/job.
Maybe Brad can stay with Jr. in Nationwide next year, until the economy turns around and then they can both move up to Cup. If Brad is ALL THAT, then he can make money for Jr. to move up.
rmdunn3 said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 6:48 PMAs far as the names go #19, I had a problem logging in and had to change mine too. I don't know if they were having a problem that day with the site or what, but I'm still me, just a different name. LOL
Werner said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 7:11 PMfrom the beginning i sensed an attitude from BK and it's apparent the sponsors are also cautious about him...
motorsportsphotography said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 8:22 PM#16, Its more like who are you? I like to know where you read this stuff because its not reliable. Marks sponsors are not full year sponsors, Car Quest is only sponsoring 16 races, Kellogg's 13 races, Cheez It 4 races, and Pop Tarts 4 races. Next year no one knows how much that will be cut down. Its been said that Car Quest might not be back.
cmd122 said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 9:13 PM#20, I'm with you. Kasey can't do much where he's at. He has a good sponsor, but think the money is being used to keep other things going and not Kasey's car. Also think he and Tony get along real well.
sweetthings88 said:
Jun 28, 2009 at 7:24 AMIf SHR is a branch off of Henricks. I don't see Kasey going to SHR with Bud sponsor.If thats the case Bud would of went with Dale Jr. to Henricks. If any thing Kasey could go to RCR with Bud. Good sponsor with $$$$ are hard to get right now. But who knows. Any thing is possible now days.JMO Debra Bates
gwen_susie388 said:
Jun 28, 2009 at 11:21 AMSWEETTHINGS88, That was exactly what I was going to say, until I read all the comments and see you have already said it! And you are right, even Hendrick might welcome Budweiser now!
gwen_susie388 said:
Jun 28, 2009 at 11:44 AMThe race is about to start in about 40 minutes. I just want to say, GO DALE,JR!!!!! I am as much of a fan of yours as ever!!! You can do it!!!!! GO JR!!!!! May GOD SPEED!
Anonymous said:
Jun 28, 2009 at 8:39 PMgwen your sic