Photo Credit: Noel Lanier/OnPitRoad.com
Brad Keselowski has become known as one of the most outspoken drivers, determined on success at any level, and not willing to shy away from controversy in the process. Though in the process, he has a clear goal that he is set on accomplishing before the end of his career – win three championships in one season.
“My goal for the last two or three years has remained the same and that is – I want to be on the championship stage for the banquets, and I want to be on all three stages,” he commented after Wednesday night’s truck race. “I want to find a way possible, whether that’s an owner in the truck series, as a driver in the only championship that I can run for in the XFINITY Series – the owner’s championship, and of course as a sprint cup driver. Now-a-days, that’d be the ultimate accomplishment in the stock car world and that’s my goal.”
So far this season, he has qualified himself for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, completing step one of the road to winning a Sprint Cup Series Championship. He did state that they “still have a lot of work to do on the Cup side” if they want to accomplish their goal, and that’s certainly visible with the domination by Joe Gibbs Racing as of late.
In the XFINITY Series, the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford currently leads the XFINITY Series Owner’s Standings, 92 points ahead of Roush-Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Ford. Keselowski is sharing the Discount Tire Ford this season with Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Alex Tagliani.
To complete the trifecta, his driver Tyler Reddick currently leads the Camping World Truck Series standings, six points ahead of Matt Crafton with nine races left on the schedule. If Reddick is able to pull off the feat, it’d mark Keselowski’s first championship as an owner in the series. Keselowski stated on Wednesday night that he has been impressed by his young driver, stating the has shown poise.
“It’s great to see, especially with loads of talent,” Keselowski commented. “He’s in a really critical stretch and we know it as this is a three, four-race stran with tracks that he’s never been too, never raced and he has the points lead. You want to talk about pressure – that’s pressure. Never ran a road course in his life and he’s going to Canada with the points lead in the truck series.
“I give him a lot of credit. He’s a lot less nervous than I would be in his shoes, and he’s doing a great job along the way trying to take it to the next level.”
Keselowski also believes that it’s time for his organization to win their first championship based on the product that they’re bringing to the track.
“This is by far our best year as a company and I don’t think that’s by mistake,” he added. “We’ve grown, whether with people or resources with the help of Ford and time. He’s got a serious shot at winning the championship with the points lead right now. Our teams and trucks have never been faster or stronger, and I think he’s taking that in great stride.”
