No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger
Drive4COPD 300
Daytona International Speedway
No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger News and Notes
The No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger in 2011…
This weekend’s race marks the first of the season for Keselowski, the reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) champion.This Week’s Challenger… The No. 22 Penske Racing Discount Tire Dodge Challenger team will use chassis PRS-202 during Saturday’s Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). This chassis was last used by the No. 12 Penske Racing team in last July’s race at DIS.
Adding to the Record… By taking the checkered flag in the 2010 Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Keselowski extended his NASCAR record with his 102nd consecutive Nationwide Series race without a DNF (Did Not Finish).
New Car Smell… Penske Racing and the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge team proved to be the class of the field in the four NNS races where the new Dodge Challenger was used in 2010. With two wins, four top-five finishes and one pole – which came in the last race at DIS – it was clear that the new car suited Keselowski and the team. With full implementation of the Challenger for 2011, Keselowski has plenty of confidence that he can improve upon the banner year he enjoyed last season.
Keselowski Restrictor-Plate Stats… In 22 restrictor-plate starts in the Nationwide Series, Keselowski has accumulated one win, three top-five finishes, five top-10 results and one pole award. In addition, he has led the field for 92 laps at DIS and Talladega Superspeedway.
See Brad at Discount Tire… Keselowski will make an appearance at the Discount Tire store located at 1051 Beville Road in Daytona Beach, Florida on Tuesday, February 15 at 4:00 pm ET.
Brad Keselowski on heading to Daytona as the current Nationwide Series champion
“It will definitely be cool to walk into the Nationwide Series garage at Daytona as the series champion. It means a lot to have won a championship for Mr. Penske and everyone at Penske Racing, but we are not going to live in the past. We’re going to Daytona to win the race and start 2011 off in the right fashion. We had some very fast Dodge Challengers last year – we were on the pole for the last race in Daytona – so we have a lot of confidence that we can back that up this time. (New crew chief) Todd Gordon brings a new dynamic to the table. He is very talented and I have a lot of confidence in his ability to step in and make sure this team doesn’t miss a beat.”
Crew chief Todd Gordon on his new role at Penske Racing
“I know this team is capable of great things. They had an absolutely outstanding season in 2010. I just want to come in and make sure we don’t miss a beat. I don’t think there was an organization more prepared for the new Dodge Challenger than Penske Racing. All of that hard work that everyone put in last year should really pay big dividends this season. Brad and I have done a little testing in the off-season and I’m impressed with how he breaks down what the car is doing. He’s very specific in what he wants and that makes my job easier. It would be great to get a win right out of the box to show everyone that, although we can’t run for the driver’s championship, we are still going to fight for wins every week.”
- Penske Racing Press Release
