TALLADEGA, Ala.: A race car driver never forgets his first win —particularly when the victory was as life-changing as Brad Keselowski’s initial NASCAR Cup triumph at Talladega in 2009.
Just 24 at the time, the third-generation racer was driving a limited schedule for Phoenix Racing—a single-car operation based out of Spartanburg, S.C. and owned by Floridian James Finch. In his fifth Cup start, Keselowski held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 0.175-seconds for the win.
On Sunday, five days short of the actual anniversary, Keselowski will celebrate 15 years of winning in NASCAR and at the 2.66-mile track.
“Winning here in 2009 put me in a spot to where…there weren’t many seats in Cup at that time, and it was really hard to break through,” Keselowski said. “It put me as a key candidate to take whatever seat came up next.”
Two years earlier, Keselowski was “discovered” by Earnhardt. The team owner was impressed by Keselowski’s performance in underfunded equipment on the NASCAR Busch Series tour and offered him the No. 88 ride at JR Motorsports. Keselowski made the most of the opportunity.
While having a stellar season at JRM in 2008, Keselowski drove a fifth car for Hendrick Motorsports in two races at season’s end. He was on the short list for the Hendrick stable. Although there was “no room at the inn” in 2009, particularly with three seats occupied by Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Earnhardt, Keselowski picked up 17 Cup starts between Hendrick and Phoenix Racing.
With 56 cars entered for the 2009 Daytona 500, Keselowski failed to qualify for the Great American Race in the No. 09 Phoenix Racing Chevy. He qualified at Las Vegas two weeks later with HMS in the No. 25 Chevy but finished 38th. In his fourth attempt of 2009—his second start with Phoenix—he qualified ninth at Talladega.
Although Keselowski led just one lap—it was the money lap. When the Aaron’s 499 went into overtime, Carl Edwards had the lead coming into the tri-oval. Keselowski held his line as Edwards came down on the No. 09 Chevy. The contact between the two drivers sent Edwards into the fence and Keselowski drove on to take the checkered flag.
“I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t win that race. It changed my career with opportunities and doors that opened. I’m very thankful for that. It was a phenomenal. It was a core memory that I will carry with me until the day I die.
“I feel blessed to have that opportunity and for the stars to align the way they did.”
Roger Penske hired Keselowski to replace David Stremme for the 2010 Cup season. Keselowski struggled during that transitional year in Cup but delivered The Captain his first NASCAR title in what is now the Xfinity Series. Two seasons later, Keselowski locked down Team Penske’s first Cup title.
Now, as an owner | driver with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, the 39-year-old has brought a renaissance to the storied organization. Although he’s experience the longest winless drought of his career—107 races—Keselowski is looking to score his seventh Cup win at Talladega on Sunday.
Still, after 16 seasons on NASCAR’s Cup tour, Keselowski has few regrets.
“There are things I wish I’d done better—like bought Bitcoin,” Keselowski says with a smile. “Is that a regret? No, but I wish there were things I would have done better.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
