Keselowski needs a full-time gig and the Busch brothers need some tough love

By Mike Smith (contact)

Monday, July 13, 2009 | 9:07 a.m.

I’m looking forward to seeing Brad Keselowski behind the wheel of a full-time ride in Sprint Cup. This kid is fun to watch and probably hasn’t received the amount of attention during the race broadcasts that he deserves. Keselowski, who won his first Cup race in dramatic fashion at Talladega earlier this season, doesn’t qualify well, but he performs well on the track once the race gets going. I love watching a driver who can drive to the front regardless of his qualifying position.

He qualified 29th for Saturday’s race but managed to make it into the top 10 before an altercation with Clint Bowyer put him two laps down. He was also in the top 10 at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona before an accident ruined his run. At some point in the last five Cup races he has entered, he has managed to make it into the top 10.

Keselowski has been in talks with Hendrick Motorsports about securing a full-time ride that could be affiliated with that organization, but nothing has been finalized. Keselowski is ready for a permanent seat in Cup, but NASCAR’s upcoming four-car limit will keep Hendrick from adding another team in 2010. Hopefully Keselowski could become the third car at Stewart Haas Racing. Stewart’s organization has an association with Hendrick Motorsports. Keselowski’s direct, no-nonsense personality and charge to the front-driving style make him the type of driver I would expect Tony Stewart to be looking for if he wants to add a third team.

Reports also suggest that Keselowski could be in the No. 12 Dodge, a Red Bull Racing machine or a car from JR Motorsports next season.

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Jeff Burton may not appreciate the double-file restarts, but I sure like them. Burton, who expressed his displease about the double-file restarts to a reporter after a wreck, has been a victim of wrecks during a double-file in the last 4 races. If I were a driver who experienced a wreck as a result of the new rule, I would hate the double-file restarts too. But the new procedure adds some much needed excitement to races like we saw at Chicago that would otherwise be uneventful. Is it unrealistic to hope that the yet-to-be announced changes Brian France suggested will be coming to the COT can make the rest of the racing more exciting?

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Why is it that when drivers like Burton express their displeasure I listen intently, but when either of the Busch brothers complain I get the sense that it’s just another whine fest? Maybe it’s because Burton doesn’t have a reputation for complaining while the Buschs always seem to be pointing fingers at others or throwing fits when their cars aren’t in top order. Kyle, as he usually does when his car isn’t perfect, complained about his ill-handling car on Saturday and Kurt didn’t hesitate to question three-time champion Jimmie Johnson’s ability as a driver after they tangled on the track. Early in my career as a very young editorial cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun, I used to get a little wound up when things didn’t go exactly my way. My editor at the time, who was a former Marine, used to say to me: “ Don’t get your panties in a bunch!” Maybe the Busch brothers could use a pep talk from a former Marine.

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