Dale Earnhardt Jr. expects to name sponsor soon for Brad Keselowski
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. says that an announcement will be forthcoming concerning a new primary sponsor for next season on the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Brad Keselowski in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
JR Motorsports is looking to replace the Navy, which announced in July that it would not continue its sponsorship beyond 2008.
“We’re very close on being able to announce something on our programs for next year,” Earnhardt Jr. said at Kansas Speedway. “We’re really excited about how good that looks right now. But everything that Brad does in a positive way, whether it be in [the Sprint Cup] garage or the Nationwide garage, certainly helps our program. And he’s dedicated to it - he really is - and I appreciate his efforts.
“We give him a good opportunity and he’s repaying me by his loyalty and his energy toward that program.”
Keselowski has two wins in his first full season with JR Motorsports, which fields two Nationwide cars in partnership with Rick Hendrick.
The 24-year-old driver will attempt to qualify for his first Sprint Cup race in a fifth Hendrick Motorsports car at Lowe’s Motor Speedway next month. He will also attempt to qualify for the Nov. 2 Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Keselowski participated in last week’s two-day Cup test at Charlotte, driving the No. 25 Hendrick car in which he will try to make his series debut.
“I didn’t really talk to Brad too much [during the test],” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He’s got a lot of pressure and he’s in a very high-pressure situation coming into the deal like he is and trying to learn like he is. I’m basically just standing on the sidelines for anything he needs. I think that’s for him to work directly with the crew chiefs and engineers.
“Get to know all the people at Hendrick and forge and build those relationships early. I’m afraid to try to give him too much advice, really. I think he’s smart enough to understand and know what he needs. He’s on his way.”
