No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Bristol Preview
March 16, 2011
Brad Keselowski
No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger
Scotts EZ Seed 300
Bristol Motor Speedway
March 19, 2011
No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger News and Notes
• The No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger in 2011... After three events, Brad Keselowski and the reigning champion No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger team sit 18th in the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) owner point standings.
• This Week’s Challenger… The Penske Racing Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger team will use chassis PRS-219 during Saturday’s Scotts EZ Seed 300 at the .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) oval. This is a brand-new chassis to the No. 22 fleet.
• Besting the Bristol Bullring... One of the toughest short tracks in America, BMS has proven to be a challenge for some of the best drivers in NASCAR. Keselowski, however, lists BMS as one of his favorite venues. He owns one win at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” and was in position for a second in the 2010 spring race as he and former teammate, Justin Allgaier, raced side-by-side in the closing laps. In eight NNS starts at BMS, Keselowski has recorded one win, four top-five finishes and two poles, while leading 201 laps.
• New Car Smell… Penske Racing and the No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team proved to be the class of the field in the four NNS races where the new Dodge Challenger was used in 2010. With two wins, four top-five finishes and one pole it was clear that the new car suited Keselowski and the team. With full implementation of the Challenger for 2011, Keselowski has plenty of confidence that he can improve upon the banner year he enjoyed last season.
• Keselowski Short Track Stats… In 27 short track starts in the Nationwide Series, Keselowski has accumulated four wins, 12 top-five finishes, 16 top-10 results and two pole awards. In addition, he has led the field for 970 laps at tracks one-mile and under in length.
• See Brad at Ruby Tuesday… Keselowski will make an appearance at the Ruby Tuesday restaurant located at 3171 Linden Drive in Bristol, Tenn., on Friday, March 18 at 8:00 pm ET.
Brad Keselowski on racing this weekend at Bristol
“To me, Bristol is the most exciting track we visit all year and these Nationwide Series cars put on a heck of a show there. The track undergone a few changes over the last few years – from the resurfacing project to the extension of the soft walls into the straightaways – so we’re still figuring out how much room we have and how we can race. But this kind of racing really fits my driving style. It reminds me of the short tracks I grew up racing in Michigan and Ohio. My 2008 win at Bristol is among my biggest and I would love to add another this weekend.”
Crew chief Todd Gordon on turning the season around at Bristol Motor Speedway
“We’ve had some pretty unfortunate luck to start the season, but Bristol is a place where we can get our season turned around. Brad really enjoys racing there and the extra practice time on Friday will give us plenty of opportunity to get the car dialed in to what he needs. Forward bite is something that we’ll work to maintain throughout the race. If we can do that then I’m confident Brad can pass a lot of cars on Saturday.”