Driver Brad Keselowski Has Options to Consider

(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Decisions made by Brad Keselowski over the next few weeks have the potential to shape the rest of his young career in motorsports. He is to meet with Rick Hendrick this week to discuss opportunities for Keselowski to enter into a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup series with a Hendrick-associated team.  

Hendrick has spoken very highly of Keselowski and his abilities in the past. Its obvious he wants the young driver to stay in the Hendrick "family".

"I think that Brad's proven he's got the talent," Hendrick said. "He's done a lot for our organization both with JR Motorsports and the Nationwide car. He's the future of our company."

At the moment, though, Hendrick Motorsports doesn't have room for Keselowski.  Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are all locked into long-term contracts with Hendrick Motorsports, and Mark Martin is going to be around for at least another year. So, if Keselowski wants to drive full-time in Sprint Cup in 2010, he will have to look elsewhere.

Of course, Rick Hendrick wants Keselowski driving for a Hendrick satellite team. And Keselowski would like to stay under the Hendrick umbrella. But if a lucrative opportunity opens up to Keselowski that does not involve Hendrick, he may feel the need to take it.

JR Motorsports

A large majority of the success Keselowski has experienced in NASCAR's
top touring series has been with JR Motorsports. Getting that call from Dale Jr. was Keselowski's proverbial "big break" in the sport. 

Keselowski is already familiar with the crew members at JRM. He has a good relationship with crew chief Tony Eury, Sr. that could translate to success in a Cup car for JRM.  The concept of fielding a Sprint Cup car for Brad under the JRM banner has already been considered.

"That's something that Dale and Kelley are looking at," Hendrick said recently on the matter, "That's a possibility."

The negative side to this is that any Sprint Cup team fielded by JR Motorsports would be built from scratch. The team would naturally receive significant technical support from Hendrick in the same manner as Stewart-Haas Racing. 

But unless Dale Earnhardt, Jr. brought on some new personnel, JR Motorsports would be lacking of engineers and crew members with significant experience in building and setting up cars for the Sprint Cup series. 

The team would also have no footing in the owner's standings going into the 2010 season, meaning that if they wrecked during a qualifying session or found themselves unable to find the necessary speed early in the season, the team could miss races, placing Brad and his new team in a hole before they can even get started good.

Phoenix Racing

Brad Keselowski won his first Sprint Cup as driving for Phoenix Racing, a team run by longtime NASCAR owner James Finch. The deal came together because Finch was looking for someone to drive a part-time schedule in his No. 09 car and Rick Hendrick suggested Keselowski.  

Given the success Keselowski has had, it is possible that Rick Hendrick and James Finch may work together to run Brad Keselowski full-time in this car in 2010 in an attempt to achieve even more success.

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