Keselowski talks

[minicup]

SONOMA, Calif. -- Rick Hendrick will meet with Brad Keselowski this coming week to discuss their 2010 options. Under consideration is placing the young driver with a team affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports.
Among the possibilities: a third entry at Stewart-Haas Racing, a full-time ride with James Finch's team, or staying put at JR Motorsports but moving that team to the Sprint Cup Series. Keselowski currently drives the No. 88 in the Nationwide Series for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who could move the team up to NASCAR's premier series.
JGR open about expansion for '10

Joe Gibbs Racing will take the summer to decide if the organization can expand to four teams in 2010.


"We can still plug in a fourth team," team president J.D. Gibbs said. "We're in no hurry. If we have to wait a year, that's fine. You have got to have the right driver, the right core group and the right sponsor. But if that happened, we could do it pretty quick.


"I wouldn't cross it off for next year, but at the same time we're not going to force it."


-- The Associated Press



"That's something that Dale and Kelley [Earnhardt, vice president and general manager of JR Motorsports] are looking at," Hendrick said before Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway. "That's a possibility."
After Keselowski drove Finch's car to his first Cup Series victory with a surprise April win at Talladega, he agreed to a period of exclusive negotiations with Hendrick about a long-term contract. Keselowski wants to run in the Cup Series next year, but NASCAR's four-car limit means Hendrick doesn't have an open seat for 2010.
"We're looking at different options with some of our external situations with other teams, and I told Brad that I want him to have the best opportunity," Hendrick said. "If we can't give it to him, then I want him to have the best. He wants to do something that is somehow associated with our company and we're working on it and hopefully in the next few weeks we'll have something sorted out.
"He'll be running Cup. Whether he'll be running them all or whether he'll be running 75 percent of them or what, I don't know."
Keselowski is running a limited schedule this season for both Hendrick and Finch, and could do it again next year. Hendrick believes NASCAR would allow him to field a fifth car next year for Keselowski in seven races.
Business is good
Hendrick Motorsports wasn't spared from General Motors' funding cuts earlier this week, but the team owner said he was prepared for the reductions.
GM cut all funding to its Nationwide and Truck Series teams, and it reduced its support of Sprint Cup Series teams as the manufacturer restructures under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Both Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing have acknowledged funding was reduced to its programs in meetings with GM earlier this week.
Hendrick had the same meeting, but had already made changes to his four-car organization in preparation for the cuts.
“
Everybody is having to make adjustments, but it's not going to change the way we race or how we show up on the race track.

”
RICK HENDRICK



"I've been kind of, for a year or better, thinking that this could happen," Hendrick said. "We've been trying to address things and do things a little bit differently. We've been trying to cover our bases for about a year. Everybody is having to make adjustments, but it's not going to change the way we race or how we show up on the race track.
"I've been telling our guys the only way I could see GM surviving long-term was to go into bankruptcy. I've been saying that for over a year, so we've been kind of expecting it."
Hendrick also is in a unique position of potentially replacing the money through his leasing programs with other race teams. SHR buys cars and leases engines from Hendrick, and Stewart has said he's considering adding a third team next season -- which would give Hendrick even more business.
Another potential partner is Red Bull Racing, which is considering leaving Toyota for Chevrolet next season. If the team does switch, it would likely lease motors from Hendrick. Red Bull general manager Jay Frye had a similar arrangement when he ran now-defunct Ginn Racing.
"I'm going to stop racing and build cars and sell motors," joked Hendrick. "You don't turn down any business these days. Probably what I'll see, we'll convert some of the other programs if it comes to pass.
"We've worked with Jay Frye for so many years, and Tony and them, that's a seamless deal for us."

[17nut]

i guess it will piss alot of people off but isnt everyone jumping on the keslowski bandwagon rather quick? Reagan Smith all but did the same thing and where is he now? also David Gilliand comes to mind as well. I like Brad but i think everyone looks for the next Big thing too quick look at Hendrick Vickers not so well Mears not so well Kyle ( the exception) but then they throw a guy who farts dust in there and he wins 3 races already

[minicup]

yea but how many years in nationwide after this year 3?

[FFighter_21]

If JGR starts a fourth team, I expect Coleman to be the driver. JMO.

[ronmcc]

Hendrick will not let Brad leave.If I was a betting man I would say Jeff is done in 2012.They need a quality driver that fits there mold of drivers.Unless they have naother waiting in the wings I dont see Brad going anywhere.

[taterracing]

No Keselowski at Gibbs! There's enough egos over there. I'm sure Hendrick won't let Keselowski go anywhere but a Hendrick-backed car.

[Gump]

Originally Posted by 17nut

i guess it will piss alot of people off but isnt everyone jumping on the keslowski bandwagon rather quick? Reagan Smith all but did the same thing and where is he now? also David Gilliand comes to mind as well. I like Brad but i think everyone looks for the next Big thing too quick look at Hendrick Vickers not so well Mears not so well Kyle ( the exception) but then they throw a guy who farts dust in there and he wins 3 races already

guy who farts dust and wins 3 races already - whos that Mark Martin?

[17nut]

Originally Posted by Gump

guy who farts dust and wins 3 races already - whos that Mark Martin?

yes Mark Martin

[ODSpice14]

Thats actually an old article. I dont know how it made its way back up to the front page of nascar.com

[1Bob29]

Originally Posted by 17nut

i guess it will piss alot of people off but isnt everyone jumping on the keslowski bandwagon rather quick? Reagan Smith all but did the same thing and where is he now? also David Gilliand comes to mind as well. I like Brad but i think everyone looks for the next Big thing too quick look at Hendrick Vickers not so well Mears not so well Kyle ( the exception) but then they throw a guy who farts dust in there and he wins 3 races already

Keselowski is a good driver... Regan Smith is not. Theres your difference. Hes actually doing it the right way... cutting his teeth in the N'Wide Series for 2= years, then jump into Cup.