Keselowski Locks Up 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series at Texas

Photo Credit: Autostock via Penske Racing


As Carl Edwards won the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speeday through a green-white checkered run to the finish, attention to the NASCAR Nationwide Series quickly shifted to the 3rd place #22 Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski. Leaving the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge with a 465-point lead over Carl Edwards, Keselowski clinches the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship with two races still left to be run.


On the way to his first NASCAR overall points title, Brad Keselowski's efforts were helped by 24 top-5s along with 27 top-10 finishes. Running at the end of every race, the worst result for the #22 Dodge this season was 21st at Chicagoland Speedway. Accumulating 6 wins on the 2010 season, Brad Keselowski's dedication to a full season in NASCAR Nationwide Series made was pivotal him only 1of 12 drivers have carried out a full Nationwide Series schedule.



Photo Credit: Jonathon Ferrey/ Getty Images for NASCAR

Remembering just 4 seasons ago, Brad Keselowski was an unproven talent without a permanent stock car ride. Keselowski's future changed at O'Reilly Raceway Park when a truck team needed a substitute driver to replace their recently suspended wheelman. Taking pole and leading a considerable number of laps, the performance was enough to attract JR Motorsports to the Michigan native. Entrusted to the #88 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for two full seasons, Keselowski won 6 races but was no match for the division's championship. Finishing 3rd in the points both 2008 and 2009, Brad Keselowski was bested by NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars in previous seasons. For 2010, Keselowski entered the ranks of full-time Sprint Cup Series by signing with Penske Racing but still had unfinished business inside of the Nationwide Series. This year with the support of Penske Racing's farm team, it was the Michigan state driver's turn to claim superiority.


A first title for Brad Keselowski, this championship is also the first in NASCAR for mega owner Roger Penske.

New Attitude for Team Penske 2010 IndyCar Effort

Photo Credit: Steve Swope/Penske Racing

For 2010, Penske Racing's IZOD IndyCar team will have an all-new look for their full-time three car racing effort. Sporting a matching black and white appearance, Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power have shown off the popular team's colours as IZOD IndyCar teams are attending an open test at Barber Motorsport Park.

The familar red and white paint scheme was worn for the first time by one of Roger Penske's race cars in 1990 when Emerson Fittipaldi brought Marlboro cigarettes sponsorship from Patrick Racing. Having become ingrained in Penske's racing efforts for two decades, the iconic paint rode on cars propelled to 8 Indy 500s including Rick Mears speedway record-tying 4th victory and 4 open wheel championships with the most recent occurring in 2006 Sam Hornish Jr with the IRL/IndyCar championship. The Marlboro/Penske livery was also a all to familiar sight in the 1994 CART championship where a three-car Penske team dominated much of the season, winning 12 of 16 events.

Since 1990 however, the sponsorship of tobacco products at sporting events was more than ever a hot-button issue in motorsports. Often lucrative supporters of auto racing in the decade before the 21st century, concerns that tobacco advertising could attribute to poor health caused the governments of many countries to crack down on the tobacco industry's influence. At the end of 2006, the Marlboro name disappeared from the Penske Racing Indy cars in accordance to a Tobacco Settlement Agreement. The livery remained on the Team Penske vehicles for 3 more IndyCar seasons with the race team receiving sponsorship money from the Tobacco company for at least part of brand name's departure.

Regardless of team colours, the 2010 Penske Racing squad are going to be eager to again contend for the IZOD IndyCar championship crown. As the series prepares to start in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 14th, it's unfair to bet against any one of the Penske Racing drivers.




Photo Credit: Steve Swope/Penske Racing