NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski hides behind the microphones during Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway.
Brad Keselowski fought the law and the law — as always — won.
Keselowski, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, teed off on NASCAR calling it a “house divided” and “not TV-friendly” in a highly pointed interview with USA Today.
That earned him a sit down with NASCAR CEO Brian France and his sister, Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Corp., which owns 12 tracks where NASCAR races.
“Brad has opinions, some informed and some less informed,” NASCAR Chief Communications officer Brett Jewkes told USA Today. “The meeting was to improve the latter.”
Although Keselowski was not punished for his comments, NASCAR historically has not tolerated public criticism, using fines and applying pressure privately behind closed doors.
Should drivers be free to speak their minds whenever and wherever they want or is NASCAR right to keep tight controls on their comments? It’s a debate that will doubtless continue for some time.
“If there’s one thing to come from this experience is that there are different ways to approach things” Keselowski told the Associated Press. “There is no right, wrong or indifferent. But there are easier and harder ways to do it. I have a bad habit of picking the harder way.”
