NASCAR Cup Series

Brad Keselowski knows experience counts

Published Sep. 8, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

What’s up guys!

Well, here we are at the end of the regular season.Yes, 25 races have come and gone since Daytona in February. The 26th and final race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup is this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. It will be hard to sit and be a spectator while 12 drivers battle to be the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, but we knew this would be a year of rebuilding on the No. 12 Penske Dodge team. I fully expect us to challenge for a spot in next year’s Chase.

On the flip side, though, we have a pretty strong lead in the Nationwide Series standings. Four wins and a bunch of top-10 finishes have been pretty unbelievable. That dichotomy, however, has made for a pretty unique season. We’re running so strong and consistent with the No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge in the Nationwide Series, but haven’t found that same success on the Cup level. But the Cup series is the best of the best. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Making the Chase this year was definitely a goal for the No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger team. It should be that way whether it was our first year in the Cup or our 20th. However, we knew that turnaround for this team would not happen overnight. I’m new to the team. My crew chief, Jay Guy, is in his first year at Penske Racing. I’m not one for excuses, but we’re going up against teams that have an experienced driver, an experienced crew chief, or both. That is what Jay and I are trying to build here at Penske Racing.

What we wanted to do this year was to show signs of gradual improvement and solid finishes that we could build on for 2011. I think we’ve definitely seen that this year. Our notebook is much bigger than it was to start the season, and we’ll be that much more prepared for Daytona in February. Year 2 is when I expect to see a big jump in performance.

That being said, there is still a lot of racing left in 2010. I would love to be the spoiler at a few of the remaining races. That would really give us a shot in the arm as we head into an important offseason for this team.

As for the Nationwide Series program, there has been only one thought on my mind all year and that is to get Roger Penske his first NASCAR championship. We are very close to accomplishing that goal. I’m the guy that gets to drive these cars, and because of that I get most of the credit, but it’s really the work of all the guys back in the shop. Paul Wolfe has done an awesome job in building a first-year team that is capable of winning races on any given day.

That’s really the exciting part about this team. They are only going to get better the more experience they gain working with each other. You can’t put a price on experience in racing.

Our focus now is on regaining the lead in the owner points standings. It will be a battle right down to the checkered flag at Homestead with the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing car. There is no one I would rather race for it, as I really believe that team brings out the best in me as a driver. Hopefully, we’ll be hoisting two trophies at the banquet down in Miami.

See you in Victory Lane.