Hendrick sees big future for Keselowski

[Schwartz Fan]

Rick Hendrick sees big future for Brad Keselowski
By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 23, 2008


CONCORD, N.C. - Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick calls Brad Keselowski “the future of our company."

As for what exactly that means in terms of Keselowski’s status as a possible successor to Mark Martin in the group’s No. 5 Sprint Cup car when Martin's contract expires at the end of 2010, Hendrick declines to speculate.

Keselowski, whom the team announced on Monday would compete in two Cup races for the group – at Charlotte and Texas – before the end of the season, is also considered a likely candidate to share seat time with Martin in the 2010 season when Martin goes back to partial schedule after a full season for the group in 2009 when he replaces Casey Mears.

“As far as our plans go, everything’s on the table,” Hendrick said prior to Tuesday’s Cup test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “Everything’s open. I think as sure as I told you what our plans would be next year and beyond, they’d change.”

Keselowski is in his first full season driving the No. 88 Nationwide Series car for JR Motorsports, which fields both its No. 88 and No. 5 Nationwide cars in partnership with Rick Hendrick. Keselowski is currently third in the Nationwide season standings, with wins earlier this season at Nashville and Bristol.

“I think this is my chance to realize a dream,” the 24-year-old driver said. “There’s a lot of young drivers out there who have gone through the Nationwide ranks and have got a lot of opportunities, but I can't think of many that have got a better opportunity than I have with Hendrick Motorsports.

“ &hellip It’s a dream come true. The last year and a half has been a dream come true. I didn’t think it could get much better than that, and it just continues to, so I’m looking forward to it and have got a lot of great things to come.”

Hendrick praised Keselowski for his contributions to Hendrick Motorsports this season as a test driver for the organization’s research and development program and said Keselowski has been equally impressive in working with Jeff Gordon and crew chief Steve Letarte in several tests with Gordon’s No. 24 team.

“Everyone in our organization has been blown away by his talent and his feel for the car, the time he’s been in the [car of tomorrow] just doing the testing with the R & D teams and then with Letarte in Jeff’s car,” Hendrick said. “And as he’s developed in the Nationwide Series here with two wins and running for the championship, we think it’s time to give him some seat time in the real deal.”

Hendrick said he became more convinced Keselowski was ready to make his Cup debut after sitting down and talking with the driver about his philosophy.

“He’s mature way beyond his years,” Hendrick said. “I was more impressed when I had an opportunity to sit down with him. This has kind of been in the works for a good period of time.”

Keselowski will drive a No. 25 Hendrick Chevrolet sponsored by GoDaddy.com at Charlotte and Texas, where he will be paired with former Hendrick crew chief Lance McGrew, who currently works in the team’s R & D department.

“I think that Brad’s proven he’s got the talent,” Hendrick said. “He’s done a lot for our organization both with JR Motorsports and the Nationwide car. He’s the future of our company. We don’t want there to be any pressure.

"This is a learning seat-time experience for Brad and our organization. We want to take our time and him have some fun and get some experience, and we’re just looking forward to it.”


Rick Hendrick sees big future for Brad Keselowski - Sprint Cup Series | SceneDaily.com - NASCAR News