Brad Keselowski, the oldest son of former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving standout and long-time team owner Bob Keselowski, has been hired to practice the #40 Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet Silverado for Key Motorsports this weekend in Memphis, TN.
The 23-year-old Rochester, Michigan native will practice the truck throughout Friday’s schedule at the Memphis Motorsports Park, helping to set the truck up for veteran driver Chad Chaffin who was recently signed by team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. to drive the #40 machine in Saturday night’s O’Reilly 200.
After agreeing to drive for Key Motorsports last Friday, Chaffin agreed to also drive the #49 BAM Racing Dodge in several, upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races - the first of which will be this weekend’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Chaffin will practice and attempt to qualify the car on Friday at the 1-mile Loudon, NH track and will then fly down to Memphis on Saturday to qualify and race the truck.
“I have every intention of honoring both of these commitments, ” Chaffin said on Monday. “I am looking forward to helping Curtis (Key) and his team and to get back into the Truck Series where I have had most of my success over the years, ” Chaffin added.
Keselowski, who has 41 career NCTS starts to his credit spanning four seasons and including two this season for Pennington Motorsports, began his Truck Series career driving for his family-owned team in 2004. He started eight races that year and boasted an average finish of 21.8.
Brad will be on hand Saturday to spot for Chaffin during the race and to be available to drive should for any reason Chaffin not be able to get to Memphis from New Hampshire in time for either qualifying or the race.
“I have watched the Key Motorsports team very carefully over the last two seasons, and they have made tremendous progress, ” Keselowski said. “I am honored that Mr. Key has asked me to practice his race truck and to get it ready to race on Saturday, but I am also excited to get back together with Gary Showalter (crew chief) and to work with him with a different team and better equipment. I hope to one day be in a position to drive the #40 in a race or two, ” Keselowski added.
Keselowski’s best career NCTS finish was a seventh place effort at the Daytona International Speedway in the 2005 season-opener.
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