Keselowski's focus keeps career on track

CONCORD, N.C.

"Oh my God, look at this!"

Bob Keselowski was in a hospital room with his wife, Kay, and she was about to give birth.

He wasn't looking at her, though. He was focused on the TV and the sight of Ricky Rudd's flipping car at Daytona that February day in 1984.

Kay, deep in labor, wasn't impressed.

"I'm a little busy here," she told her husband.

Shortly afterward, Brad Keselowski was born.

It's funny in a way that Kay Keselowski ties her son's birth to a driver considered one of NASCAR's most determined, a guy who once duct-taped his eyes open so he could drive a few days after that accident and later set the record for most consecutive starts.

Brad Keselowski's challenges haven't been as spectacular as Rudd's crash but they have been daunting. The third-generation driver who saw his teams fold twice earlier in his career, bounced back in a big way, earning a surprise appearance in tonight's all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

His career could've been sidetracked after his second team ceased operations, but a competitor's suspension helped lead Keselowski to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Nationwide team. Then, to Victory Lane in last month's Sprint Cup race at Talladega.

Tonight, the 25-year-old Keselowski, who's competed in all of six Cup races, challenges Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, among others, for an all-star title he wasn't eligible for until his Talladega victory.

Three years ago, the thought of Keselowski reaching the Cup series, let alone winning a race, seemed far-fetched.

His family's truck team folded that season. He picked up a few rides here and there and started the 2007 season with a full-time ride in the Busch series. That team folded by summer.

Keselowski asked his father if he should go to the next race in Milwaukee, although he didn't have a ride. One of the toughest things for drivers to do is be at a track without a car to qualify.

"You need to keep yourself out there and keep talking with people," his father, a former racer and 1989 ARCA champion, told Keselowski.

He went. That weekend, Ted Musgrave ran into a competitor's truck during a caution and NASCAR suspended him for the next race. Keselowski then got a call to race from that team in place of Musgrave.

Keselowski won the pole and led several laps before an incident with the eventual winner and finished 16th. At about that same time, Earnhardt was replacing his Busch series driver. He hired Keselowski for a three-race stint.

Keselowski hasn't left since.

Keselowski competes full time in the Nationwide Series but has only a part-time Cup ride. He'll drive some races this season for Hendrick Motorsports and other races for Phoenix Racing, which receives Hendrick support.

Keselowski admits he didn't want a full-time ride this season.

"I sat out this year because I didn't think that the timing was right, and I didn't think I was ready for a full schedule," he said. "And I wanted to do this right, as far as the Cup level goes. I wanted to come into it as someone who could run competitively, and I kind of even shocked myself on how competitive I could run."

While his success could lead to more races, Keselowski likely will end up running about half. He isn't eligible for Cup Rookie of the Year honors.

"I didn't file for Rookie of the Year because the last thing I wanted to see was my name at the bottom of that list, knowing that you probably couldn't win it unless you ran the whole deal," he said.

Keselowski has won numerous trophies, and his bedroom in his family's home remains stocked with awards, including the 6-inch trophy he got after his first race. But that Talladega statue is just fine in place of Rookie of the Year honors.

The only thing missing at Talladega last month were his parents. His mom was back in Michigan with his brother, Brian, who competed in the Nationwide series race the day before. Bob Keselowski drove back from Talladega and was on the road, trying to hear the final dramatic laps of his son's victory on the radio as the signal faded in and out.

"The radio came back on and I thought I heard them say that Brad won the race," Bob said. "I said there ain't no way he won the race."

Then the calls started.

"Did he win this race?" Bob Keselowski asked the first caller.

"Yes."

"Wow."