Brad Keselowski Racing

No. 29 BKR Ram in 2010… Keselowski will make his third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start of 2010 this weekend at Gateway International Raceway (GIR). His other finishes are 18th (4/2 – Nashville Superspeedway) and 28th (5/21 – Charlotte Motor Speedway), respectively.

More to Come… BKR plans to make at least one more start in 2010 with Keselowski behind the wheel. That race will be at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on August 18.

Gateway History… Keselowski has two career NCWTS starts at the 1.25-mile GIR oval. He has completed all but one of the 334 laps contested on those two events, with one lap led. He owns an average finish of 17.5 at the track.

Exclusive Win… If Keselowski can find his way to Victory Lane on Friday night, he will join two exclusive driver groups. 19 drivers have won a race in all three touring series and Keselowski could join that group with a win. However, a smaller group awaits the 26-year-old. Keselowski can also join his father, Bob Keselowski, as the only father-son duo to win a NCWTS race.

Early Start to 2011… Miller Lite will adorn the No. 29 entry this weekend. Keselowski will drive the famous No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge next year in the Cup Series.

Follow Me on Twitter… Fans can now follow Keselowski on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/keselowski. Fans can get a glimpse inside his everyday life while keeping up-to-date on the latest news for the driver.

Brad Keselowski on what it would mean to win his first NCWTS race

“Not only would winning a truck race put me in a select group of drivers that have won a race in all three national series, but I would also join my father as a truck series winner. We would be the first father-son duo to win a truck race. That would be very cool and it would mean a lot to me. My father was my hero and, unfortunately, I missed his truck series win at Richmond (1997).

Joining him as a truck series winner would take a little of that disappointment away, I guess. We’re bringing the truck we raced at Charlotte and we feel really good about it. It ran great in May and I’m confident that it will this weekend too. I’m excited that Miller Lite came onboard for a few races this year. It gives us a chance to work together before next year, while hopefully having some success on track as well.

Crew chief Wayne Setterington on preparing for Gateway International Raceway

“Gateway is one of those tracks where you have to ‘pick your poison.’ It’s very difficult to get your driver comfortable at both ends of the racetrack because they are so different. You have to work on one end while putting the other in the hands of your driver. Having good drive off the corners is important because the straightaways are long. It’s a challenging racetrack, but this is a good team. We expect to have a solid run.”

- Brad Keselowski Racing Press Release

Brad Keselowski Racing

No. 29 Brad Keselowski Racing Ram News and Notes

2010 Truck Debut… Keselowski will make his 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 29 Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) Ram, the first entry of the season for the driver-owned team. His last start came at Bristol Motor Speedway in August of 2009.

More to Come… BKR plans to make three more starts in 2010 with Keselowski behind the wheel. Those races will be at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, respectively.

Racing a Ram… Keselowski has made 44 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but Friday night’s race will be his first behind the wheel of a Ram. A Penske Racing engine will supply the power for the new entry.

Nashville History… Keselowski has one NCWTS start at Nashville Superspeedway in his career. He led one lap and finished 30th in August of 2005.

Like Father, Like Son… Bob Keselowski made 86 NCWTS starts in his career. His 1997 victory at Richmond International Raceway is one of the crowning achievements in a respectable racing career.

Guitar Hero… In 2008, Keselowski picked up his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at the Nashville Superspeedway and the custom Sam Bass guitar trophy that goes to the winner.

Brad Keselowski on his first NCWTS start of 2010

“I love racing in the truck series. The shorter races mean that you have to race hard from the green flag to the checkered flag. That mentality fits my style perfectly. I have a lot of great memories of going to the track with my dad when he was running in this series. It’s a place where I cut my teeth in racing and I’m excited to get back there this weekend. My dad raced for his own team and I’m proud to own this BKR team today. We’re trying to grow it to see what it can become.”

Crew chief Wayne Setterington on preparing a truck for Nashville Superspeedway

“Everyone at BKR is excited to have Brad behind the wheel of our No. 29 Ram this weekend. Obviously he brings a lot of experience and talent to the seat. That’s what we need to turn this team into a contender. With the help of RAM and Penske Racing, we feel that we have built a truck that is capable of winning this weekend. Nashville is a fun place to race. Temperature change doesn’t seem to affect the concrete surface as much as it does asphalt. The groove usually stays pretty much on the bottom if you can keep your truck a little free at the beginning of a run it will pay off in the long run.”

- Brad Keselowski Racing Press Release

Chad Finley

Finley, whose part of the Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) Driver Development program, was just looking to close out his limited 2009 ARCA schedule with a solid finish on Sunday, October 12th. Little did he know that the day before would turn out to be pivotal and career changing for the DeWitt, Michigan teenager.

Finley’s Rockingham weekend couldn’t have started any better as he won his first career Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell on Saturday afternoon, October 11th on Qualifying Day for the ARCA American 200 over the 46-car field as he posted a new track record of a 24.494 around the one-mile oval, which measured out to 146.975 mph.

“What a weekend. Never been here before or even seen this place. We unloaded and got on the track and this place is real slippery. Made a few adjustments and got a ton better,” He explained. “(Crew Chief) Wayne Setterington is just awesome, we made a long run in practice and he talked me through the car just getting so loose because this place just eats up your tires.”

As Finley was preparing to head out for one more practice session, Mother Nature intervened and forced cancellation of the rest of Practice. “Before the rains hit, Wayne just kept fine tuning it and we were getting ready to make a sticker run to see what we had and the rain came in, so to sit on the pole was huge for us and just shows what everyone at BKR is capable of.” Finley remarked.

In his three previous ARCA appearances in 2009, his last start prior to Rockingham, was way back on July 25th at the famed Berlin Raceway, located West of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan for the Wolverine Power Systems 200 Presented by Generac, Finley proved he belonged with an impressive third place finish.

His podium finish came on the heels of a sixth place showing in his ARCA debut at Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio back on May 17th and a ninth place showing at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on July 11th. Now he was going to be leading the field to the green in only his fourth career start and at Rockingham no less!

“I didn’t think we had enough to get the pole, but it was definitely a pleasant surprise.” He continued. “I finished ninth in an ARCA race at Iowa earlier this year and that is the biggest track I’ve been too so far other than Rockingham in ARCA. I ran the Milwaukee Mile and Bristol Motor Speedway last season though in an ASA Late Model Series race.”

Finley started on the pole next to 2009 ARCA title contender, Parker Kligerman, who’s been the man to beat this season in ARCA competition and was in a fight of his own for the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship with Justin Lofton, who was scheduled to start second, but went to the rear of the field at the start due to an engine change.

After Kligerman paced the field for the first two laps, Finley drove around the eight-time race winner on the outside coming out of turn four to complete lap three and retook the point. From their, Finley set a torrid pace around the Tar Heel State oval and would lead the next 42 laps until Steve Arpin took the lead using lapped traffic on lap 45.

Throughout the afternoon and even after pit stops, Finley maintained a top five standing during the first 3/4s of the 200-lap feature. Then a chain reaction incident on a late restart forced Finley into the back of nine-time ARCA Series Champion, Frank Kimmel, who was trying to avoid a slowing Arpin, who broke a transmission on lap 161.

Finley fought an ill handling race car the rest of the day and finished 15th. “To lead that many laps and run as well as we did all day is great. That last restart something happened up front that caused a chain reaction and we got into the back of Kimmel and hurt the front down force on the car.” Finley explained.

“The car just wouldn’t turn those last 25 laps or so, so we were just hanging on there to get to the end of the race. I honestly thought we had a chance at it or at least a Top Three finish. I am not disappointed though just heart broken for every one at BKR.”

As for the race itself, Kligerman won the ARCA American 200, his ninth victory of the year, but it would be Lofton who would clinch the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championships after starting 41st and finishing in third!

Finley’s impressive showing throughout the weekend didn’t go unnoticed as Car Owner, Brad Keselowski himself made the trip to North Carolina after finishing fifth the night before in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. “It was great to have him here and have him talk to me a little bit on the radio.” The appreciative Great Lakes State driver added. “It meant a lot to me.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity presented to me this year with these guys. Hopefully we can find some sponsorship to carry on next year. I believe we have showed that we can do it with this race team, we just need some financial backing to make it happen.” Finley ended.

Throughout the 2009 racing season, all of Finley’s cars carried sponsorship from Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com on his #29 Chevrolet in the ARCA RE/MAX Series as well as his #42 Outlaw Bodied Super Late Model.

In addition, more sponsorship comes from; NorthsideTowing.net, PassTimeUSA.com, Neal’s Truck Parts of Grand Rapids Michigan, Bayside Inn of Key Largo Florida, Nalett Trucking, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Velocity Graphix, M.P.H. Promotions, and Howe Racing Enterprises

To learn more about Chad Finley and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the 2010 racing season, log onto the teams website at: www.chadfinleyracing.com

- M.P.H. Promotions Press Release

Chad Finley

And that’s good news for Finley who’s helping contribute to the young news makers in 2009 in the no. 29 Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR)-prepared Chevrolet.

Finley, the son of ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran/winner Jeff Finley, has earned two top-10 finishes in his only two starts on tour – a solid sixth in his debut at Toledo Speedway back in May and a ninth place run last week at Iowa Speedway.

Next stop – Berlin Raceway for the Wolverine Power Systems 200 presented by Generac Saturday, July 25. And for once, the Lansing, Michigan local favorite finally gets to race at a track that’s familiar to him.

“We’ve been there (at Berlin) six or seven times,” said Finley. “We ran an ASA (late model) car there as well. We were running in the top-five in the ASA race before our tire went flat. We’ve also run our Outlaw (late model) car there, but the people who run there have been there forever so it’s been very tough. We’ve had a couple top-10s.”

But it also must have been tough last week at Iowa, a track that Finley had never seen before until he got there race weekend.

“Iowa was a huge learning curve for me. Wayne (Setterington/crew chief) and all the guys at BKR brought a really good car. When we got to the track we were struggling with the car being too tight in the center of the corner and we really didn’t get it cured till the end of the day; all the guys busted their backs to get the car where it needed to be. I really want to thank all of them for their hard work.

“We also drew a number one pill for qualifying and that made things really difficult. It was my first time qualifying. We managed to qualify 15th with a really loose race car. During the race we started off way too loose and quickly fell back. But Wayne just kept telling me to keep digging and that he would get it fixed up for me. We finally got the car tightened up at about lap 90 and started to pick are way back to the front; we just lost too much time in the beginning to ever make up. We also had a miscue on pit road and lost six spots. It’s tough to look out your window (on pit road) and watch cars drive by when you can’t do anything about it. But these things happen; it’s no one’s fault. We’re ready for Berlin.”

The event at Berlin marks Finley’s first ARCA RE/MAX Series start in his home state of Michigan and he’s had this race circled on his calendar ever since the deal was struck with BKR to race the #29 Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers Chevrolet.

“It’s (Berlin) definitely a driver’s track. Gotta be easy on and off the gas pedal and ready with the brake pedal when you need it. It’s a small track, but it’s a tough track. I mean, Kyle Busch came here with the CRA cars and finished sixth.

“I know it’s close to the lake (Lake Michigan) too. It gets really humid at night around here, especially when it’s hot, and the track really slicks up. It can be hard to find the set-up for; you’re always turning.

“We definitely expect to run in the top-10. I’ll be disappointed if we’re not in the top-five really. Our car is definitely capable with Brad’s (Keselowski) stuff. Do we have a chance to win? Yah, I think we do. If we have no mistakes on pit road and I can stay out of trouble.”

Finley, who has already earned outlaw late model victories at Spartan Speedway in Michigan, has plans to race in two more ARCA RE/MAX Series events in 2009 – again at Toledo in early September and the season finale at Rockingham Speedway.

Finley’s cars in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and in the outlaw late model ranks will sport prominent decals from Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com throughout 2009.

In addition, associate sponsors include NorthsideTowing.net, Neal’s Truck Parts of Grand Rapids Michigan, Bayside Inn of Key Largo Florida, Nalett Trucking, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Velocity Graphix, M.P.H. Promotions, and Howe Racing Enterprises.

To learn more about Chad Finley and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the remainder of 2009 racing season in the ARCA RE/MAX Series as well as other select events this season and in 2010, e-mail the team at biz@chadfinleyracing.com or visit the team’s website http://www.chadfinleyracing.com.

- ARCA Press Release

Chad Finley

Back on May 18th, the home base of the ARCA RE/MAX Series, the Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio hosted the Menards 200 Presented by Federated Car Care. Finley made his ARCA debut behind the wheel of the #29 Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers Chevrolet for Brad Keselowski Racing.

The DeWitt, Michigan teenager finished an impressive sixth after starting 27th due to Qualifying getting rained out. Finley ran inside the top five all day long and impressed many onlookers in the process.

Now Finley shifts his focus on his next scheduled start for Brad Keselowski Racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, which will be this Saturday, July 13th at the immaculate 7/8s (0.875) mile progressively banked paved oval of Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa for the Prairie Meadows 200.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Newton. Toledo was so much fun and the car drove really well. I know Wayne (Crew Chief, Wayne Setterington) and all the guys from BKR have prepared us another really good car.” The Great Lakes State teenager said. “The crew put a Pro Motor in it last week and I could tell in Wayne’s voice that it’s a real good piece.”

“This will be a challenge for me,” Finley continued. “We practice Friday and then go back and qualify on Saturday with no practice. I have never done that before so that will be really different. I’m ready though and I have the utmost trust and respect for Wayne and his guys in the car as well as our guys.”

After to Iowa, Finley is scheduled for three more starts in the ARCA RE/MAX Series beginning at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan on July 25th. Then it’s back to Toledo Speedway over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend on Friday, September 4th. Finally, Finley will complete his 2009 limited schedule in ARCA with the season finale at Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina.

“I just have to thank Auto Value Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers and Northside Towing.net as well as Baysidekeylargo.com for all there support to make all this happen. Also Brad Keselowski; His kindness and support is just really very much appreciated.” He ended.

Throughout the 2009 racing season, all of Finley’s cars will sport prominent decals from Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com on his #29 Chevrolet in the ARCA RE/MAX Series as well as his #42 Outlaw Bodied Super Late Model.

In addition, more sponsorship comes from; NorthsideTowing.net, Neal’s Truck Parts of Grand Rapids Michigan, Bayside Inn of Key Largo Florida, Nalett Trucking, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Velocity Graphix, M.P.H. Promotions, and Howe Racing Enterprises

- Brad Keselowski Racing Press Release

ARCA RE/MAX Series Logo

Yes, the Westlake, Louisiana driver, in search of more seat-time, also plans to race in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events for BKR in 2009; but first and foremost in his mind is ARCA’s prestigious Superspeedway title.

“The speedway challenge has been our goal right from the start,” said Kile, who’s entered for Michigan in the no. 29 Brad Keselowski Racing Greased Lightning Products Chevrolet.

The Hoosier Racing Tire Superspeedway Challenge, a championship within a championship, combines points from each of ARCA’s superspeedway events throughout the year.

Mikey Kile

“Every time I go out, I find a new favorite place to race,” added Kile, in reference to Pocono. “I absolutely loved that track. Felt like we had a fourth place car but someone missed a shift in front of me on that last restart, and I had nowhere to go. If that race had been five laps shorter, or five laps longer, we could have finished fourth.”

Along with Pocono, each track on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour is new to Kile, including Michigan. “We tested really well at Michigan. Think we ended up fourth or fifth quick. It took me a good hour to get used to it, but once I got more comfortable, I felt like I gained a pretty good understanding of the place.

“Main thing was getting used to the speed – how the car wants to feel in the corners at that speed. Feel like we have a shot to run the top-five.”

Kile certainly has some noteworthy resources to work with, including Brad Keselowski, whose stock in this business rises daily.

“Brad and I talk about once a week. And, I see him every time I go to Mooresville.”

Kile met Keselowski through Wayne Setterington, who crew chiefs for BKR.

“He’s (Setterington) more than a crew chief to me; he’s one of my closest friends. We understand each other’s personality and have a lot of respect for one another. He was a driver before he was a crew chief, so he can visualize what I’m trying to tell him. I’ve always felt confident in him and he feels confident in me, and the rest is history.”

It probably doesn’t hurt that Kile is working with some of the resources available to Brad Keselowski, including Hendrick Motorsports motors and chassis.

However, Kile will need all the resources he can muster up given the superspeedway competition in the ARCA RE/MAX Series these days.

Current championship point leader Justin Lofton also leads the Superspeedway Challenge standings. And, eighth in points as Kile is, he’s got veterans’ Frank Kimmel, Patrick Sheltra and Bryan Silas also in his way, not to mention a solid line-up of rookies like Craig Goess and Joey Coulter shooting for the same title.

Regardless, it’s full-ahead for Kile and the BKR team.

“This series is so much fun, and you get big track experience. When I raced in the Hooters deal, you couldn’t get that mile-and-a-half experience. You get plenty of that here.”

Kile also announced a seven-race program in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he has one start already at Martinsville Speedway, earning a 12th place finish in his series debut.

“We’re running the Milwaukee Mile next weekend with the Trucks; but right now it’s all about Michigan. I think we can run the top-five; I really do.”

Superspeedway Challenge champions are honored on stage every December at the championship awards banquet with healthy cash prizes and trophies. Past Superspeedway champions include Davey Allison, Bill Venturini, Bob Keselowski, Jeff Purvis, Mike Wallace, Tim Steele, Mark Gibson and Frank Kimmel to name a few.

On-track activity for the Racing for Wildlife 200 at Michigan Int’l Speedway begins Thursday, June 11 with practice from 10:00 AM to 12 noon. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell follows at 3:00 PM. The Friday afternoon Racing for Wildlife 200 is live on SPEED at 5:00 PM.

In addition, the ARCA Racing Network will carry live streaming audio coverage and live timing & scoring of all the on-track activity for the Racing for Wildlife 200 at ARCAracing.com inside the ARCA Nation.

- ARCA Press Release