KESELOWSKI ROLLS WITH CHANGES 2012 champ says format part of new reality
NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski didn’t look out of place wearing a personalized Winged Wheel sweater recently at Joe Louis Arena.
Keselowski is going to be busy soon driving the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, so he wanted to get in one last visit to the hallowed hockey site before it closes.
Keselowski, a Rochester Hills, Mich., native who drives for Team Penske, was presented a personalized jersey by former Red Wings defenseman and Hockey Hall of Famer Larry Murphy before watching the Wings host the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Keselowski talked about an offseason of change for NASCAR that included a new title sponsor for the top series and the implementation of a new points system.
“At least for my team, not a lot of changes,” Keselowski said. “Team Penske’s been pretty solid. We’ve got a foundation to really continue to enhance and feel we’re in a great position to enter the Daytona 500 in the next few weeks and hopefully make a run at our first victory. We’ve been right there knocking on the door for not only a victory in the Daytona 500, our biggest race of the year, but also a second championship. Just ready to see it come to fruition.”
Keselowski won the series championship in 2012.
Asked about the changes to the points system, Keselowski mentioned the sport’s past.
“The sport was built in the ’40s and ’50s off the premise that running a car at its ragged edge for 500 miles is an incredible feat. It’s not anymore. And so the format needs to be reflective of what motor sports is now, which is 40- some drivers willing to put their life on the line, willing to make daring moves that test your agility, speed and et cetera, to the limits to win.”
Keselowski said the format change is also a reflection of the desire of the modern sports fan.
“Shorter attention spans, bigger bursts of action and less of endurance overall,” Keselowski said. “I think in the longer term, what you’re going to see is fans are going to gravitate towards the race.
“The action in the middle (of the race) is going to be too compelling to want to miss.”
NASCAR has experienced a decline in TV ratings and attendance over the last few years, so a shake-up was needed.
“We want to see as many fans enjoying our races as possible and we want to put on the best show possible,” Keselowski said. “It’s something we work on all the time.
“I think the ratings away from the racetrack rely on an outdated, archaic system that isn’t deserving of trust, but still we want to continue to work on it and make it the best we can.”
One goal Keselowski has this season is to win at Michigan International Speedway.
“So frustrating because we’ve been so close to winning it so many times,” Keselowski said. “There and Daytona feel pretty equal to me, with respect to how close we’ve been and the level of significance to win there personally.
“Huge, huge checklist for me is being able to win a Cup race there. Hopefully we can bring it home this year.”
Keselowski scored the 100th NASCAR victory in Team Penske’s 50th year at the Coke Zero 400, one of his personal highlights last season.
“To be the guy that’s able to get a hundred and to add to the legacy that is Roger Penske and his racing efforts — unique, amazing experience,” Keselowski said. “You can’t help but look at it, enjoy it, celebrate it and think to yourself, ‘Boy, I hope I can get him 200.’ ”
One offseason change that caught Keselowski by surprise was the decision by Carl Edwards to stop racing.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Keselowski said. “I don’t know the entire scenario, so it’s kind of baffling in a lot of ways. A lot of us inside the sport believe that he’s going to take a year off and come back.
“He never used the word retirement. He just said he was taking a step away. It’s what he didn’t say, not what he did say.”
Keselowski also said it was an honor to be at the Joe.
“I’m not going to get to come back here in the time period that’s left,” Keselowski said. “This will be my last opportunity to see it. I’m going to cherish that for a long time.
“It’s hard to grow up in Detroit, and especially in the ’90s, and not have been a Red Wings fan.”
Keselowski said he can remember being in school for a Stanley Cup parade and getting “that whole hour off of science class.”
“There’s a lot of kids rooting for another Stanley Cup to take another hour off of class,” Keselowski joked.
Keselowski is also a fan of the Michigan Wolverines and the Detroit Lions. He said he’s met Lions general manager Bob Quinn.
“He and I have kind of struck up a friendship,” Keselowski said. “He loves motor sports, and I’ve got a lot of respect for the Lions. That’s kind of a growing relationship. Real proud of him to see the success they had this year.”
Keselowski said it was “amazing ” what Jim Harbaugh has done to turn around the Michigan football team.
“He turned the program back into a marquee program across the nation,” Keselowski said. “That’s not something ( just) anyone can do.”
“We want to see as many fans enjoying our races as possible and we want to put on the best show possible.” Brad Keselowski, on ongoing changes within NASCAR