If the start of the NASCAR race weekend has been any indication for Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski, it’s likely to be a great day at Watkins Glen International in his No. 2 Miller Lite/Luke Bryan Ford Fusion. Over the past four years, he’s been knocking on the door for his first road course win in the Sprint Cup Series, finishing second in 2011-’13.
Seemingly, Keselowski has battled Kyle Busch for the win during that time period only Marcos Ambrose to prevail in ’11 and ’12 while Busch bested him a year later. Still, the Rochester Hills, MI native is a strong prospect to win today’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen.
This weekend is a bit special as he’s carrying the colors of not only his regular sponsor Miller Lite, but he’s also got his friend “on board” his No. 2 Ford, as country music superstar Luke Bryan joins the party to promote his new album “Kill The Lights.”
Brad Keselowski and Luke Bryan team up for a second time! (Photo Courtesy of Olson)
Keselowski’s car, carrying the normal white base and blue deuce numbers on its side and roof, has Luke Bryan looking rather comfortable on the hood of the car with a picture of the album cover alongside his likeness.
It’s not the first time that Keselowski and his Team Penske peers have carried Luke Bryan’s likeness on the No. 2 car, as they last collaborated during the August 2013 race at Michigan International Speedway.
While it was about crashing a party then, today, it’s going to be about eliminating the distinction of being a bridesmaid at Watkins Glen and going for a second win in 2015. The number two seems to be popping up everywhere for Keselowski, Penske, and Bryan, but maybe it’s a good omen.
Kesleowski expressed confidence for today’s race, tweeting earlier today, “Think we can get to the front and do you proud Luke. We like @WGI.”
Brad Keselowski’s Luke Bryan Ford from atop. (Photo Courtesy of Olson)
To say the least, Keselowski and the No. 2 team, led by crew chief Paul Wolfe, have been making a solid case for a pivotal second victory this year during the race weekend at Watkins Glen. Posting the eighth and 15th fastest times in the two practice sessions held on Friday, Keselowski posted the 11th fastest time in qualifying yesterday.
Although Keselowski has yet to score a Coors Light Pole Award in 2015, he’s been having a steady year with a win earlier in the year at Fontana, four additional top-fives, and 13 top-10 finishes overall heading into Round 22.
Essentially a lock into this year’s Chase Grid by virtue of starting the remainder of the regular season races from today’s 90-lap event through the checkers at Richmond next month, the 31-year-old racer has a great shot to score – you guessed it – a second NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.
As if that wasn’t enough for numbers fans, Keselowski started second and placed runner-up in yesterday’s NASCAR XFINTIY Series race.
Brad Keselowski takes Luke Bryan’s likeness for a spin at WGI!
Overcoming a brief summer slump at Sonoma and Daytona, Keselowski scored a sixth at Kentucky, 10th at Indianapolis, and runner-up results at Loudon and Pocono. Sixth in the regular season points standings and currently seventh in the Chase Grid, it’s not a stretch to state that this is a team that’s on an uphill trend, looking more like the team that was a consistent threat every week in 2014 from Daytona through the penultimate race of that season in Phoenix.
Consistency, speed, and the ability to overcome adversities have been the hallmarks of Keselowski and his hardy No. 2 bunch.
Steadily but surely, this is a team to watch not only in today’s race, but for the remainder of this season. If Keselowski was able to “return” from Sharknado 3, rest assured, he’s got a legitimately strong shot at the win in today’s race in the Empire State.
