SALON

Tuesday, Oct 2, 2012 7:30 PM UTC

Brad Keselowski drops Nationwide race at Kansas

By

Topics: From the Wires,

Brad Keselowski drops Nationwide race at KansasBrad Keselowski performs a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)(Credit: AP)

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Brad Keselowski is doing some basic math to focus on his bid for the Sprint Cup championship: He has added his older sister to his support group and scaled back his schedule.

Keselowski goes into Sunday’s race at Talladega, where he won in May, with a five-point lead over five-time champion Jimmie Johnson in the standings. He has won two of the first three Chase races, but knows he must be at the top of his game to claim his first Sprint Cup title.

He said Tuesday that he has dropped the Nationwide Series race at Kansas from his schedule and Ryan Blaney will drive for Penske Racing in his place. Further reductions to his schedule could be coming.

“I’ve made the decision this week to drastically limit the Nationwide races I’m going to run through the Chase,” Keselowski said during an appearance to promote the Oct. 13 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We’re going to play it by ear based on those weeks go.”

It’s been going pretty good these days for Keselowski, and he credits some of his success to his sister, Dawn Nicholas, who has relocated from Michigan to North Carolina. Keselowski likened the relationship to the one Dale Earnhardt Jr., has with his sister, Kelley.

“Dale Jr. was kind of a role model for me in that sense, with how he has Kelley and the things she does for him – and keeps him straight in some ways,” Keselowski said. “Sometimes, you’re just looking for somebody that’s got your back. I do have other people who have got my back, but it’s different when it’s family.”

Keselowski believes his performance has improved since his sister moved in with him and began helping him run his foundation. She’s 10 years older than he is, and he joked that she is his “mind coach” — a riff on what the Carolina Panthers recently said they’ve obtained to help quarterback Cam Newton.

Since Nicholas moved in, Keselowski has finished in the top 10 in 12 of the last 13 races. He opened the Chase with a win at Chicago, finished sixth at New Hampshire, and won Sunday at Dover.

“Maybe she’s my good luck charm,” he said.

Jenna Fryer

More Jenna Fryer.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 0 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Video of the Day

Watch More Here »

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations