Keselowski Has Series Best 6.5 Average Finish in Last 13 Heading into Martinsville

Keselowski just might win this Title if Roush drivers let up (Getty)is

Brad Keselowski
No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger
Tums Fast Relief 500
October 30, 2011Martinsville Speedway
TV: ESPN at 1:30 PM ET Radio: MRN/Sirius Channel 90 at 12:00 PM ET
No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger News and Notes

* · This Week’s Charger… The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-803 during Sunday’s Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. This is a new chassis to the No. 2 fleet.

* · No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2011… After 32 points-paying events, Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team are ranked third in the 2011 Chase for the Championship standings. Keselowski is just 18 points behind leader Carl Edwards following a fourth-place finish in the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway last Sunday afternoon.

* · Top-Five Leader… With four top-five finishes, Keselowski is tied for the most top-five results in the six races run in the 2011 Chase for the Championship.

* · Nothing “Average” About 6.5… Over the last 13 races, Keselowski has scored a series-best average finishing position of 6.5. During that stretch he has produced two wins, eight top-five finishes and he has led the field for a total of 142 laps.

* · Cheers To Chasing Greatness… The featured tag line on the rear bumper of the “Blue Deuce” this weekend in Martinsville will be “Cheers To Chasing Greatness.” Keselowski sits just 18 points out of the lead in the Chase for the Championship, which would be a “great” accomplishment in his first with driving the iconic car.

* · Deuces Wild… When Brad wins a race during the 2011 Chase for the Championship, two lucky fans will win their own “man cave,” compliments of Miller Lite. The man cave gear includes a “kegerator,” a dart board, Miller Lite neon sign, a basketball game and pub furniture. Visit MillerLite.com/Brad to enter.

* · The Rest is History… Martinsville Speedway is a track where Penske Racing has enjoyed its share of success over the years. In 86 starts, the organization has picked up six wins (all by Rusty Wallace), five poles, 19 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes at Martinsville. Wallace made Martinsville his personal playground in the Miller Lite car as he did not finish outside of the top-three in eight consecutive races from September of 1992 through April of 1996.

Brad Keselowski on his position in the Chase with four races remaining: “That was exactly how we needed to leave Talladega, with a strong finish. We gained points on the leader and gained points on really all the Chase cars. I’m very proud of the effort that everyone on this Miller Lite Dodge team has put forth thus far. We’re still in contention and we have a damn good shot at winning this championship. This weekend’s race at Martinsville is one that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. There is no part or piece of equipment that can substitute for just getting a bunch of laps under your belt there. I’ve learned a lot in my three races, and I know Paul (Wolfe) has as well. This is a race where I think we can really pick up some points on Carl (Edwards) and Matt (Kenseth).”

Brad Keselowski on racing at Martinsville Speedway: “Martinsville will always be a track that is hard on brakes. Yes, the braking systems have come a long way over the last 10 years or so. But if you give us more brakes or better brakes, we are going to use more brakes to the point that we will damage the sidewall of the tire. Overheating the brakes is something that is easy to do because you are going so hard every lap as passing is difficult at Martinsville. Managing your brakes is part of being a successful short-track racer.”

Crew chief Paul Wolfe on racing at Talladega Superspeedway: “Everyone on this team feels really good about going to Martinsville this weekend, especially since we were able to take part in the Goodyear tire test there last month. The good thing about Martinsville is that you don’t have to worry about aerodynamics. It’s the shortest track we visit and it’s all about mechanical grip. In the short time Brad has been at Martinsville, he has shown a great ability to get around the place. Hopefully we can get qualifying in – which is never a guarantee during this weekend – so that we can get a good starting spot. Then, if we can maintain forward bite off the corners, I believe we can gain more points on the Chase leaders to really make this thing interesting heading into the final three weeks.”

- Penske Racing, Press Release