BRAD KESELOWSKI (No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge Charger) WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON GETTING IN THE 12 CAR THIS WEEKEND? “I think that it’s a great opportunity to finish out the season with the Penske Dodge. It’s a great car that they gave me this weekend. I’m not sure how it’s going to be in race trim. So far, it’s been very fast in qualifying trim. We’re just trying to manage an expectation. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m trying to learn for next year, what we can do to be a contender.”
YOU HAVE ONE PRACTICE UNDER YOUR BELT, HOW DOES IT FEEL? “I think we slightly exceeded expectations on my end. I’ve never even tested one of these cars on this genre or race track. I had no idea what to expect. On my first lap on the race track going into Turn 1, I was like, ‘Here we go, and I hope that it sticks.’ That was fun and it did. I felt like I left some on the table. It was a great feeling and I’m really looking forward in getting this opportunity the next three races. I don’t think that any one of these weekends is going to dictate our future together, but I think that the three together will be a good idea where we will be.”
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR THIS WEEKEND? “I think the goal is not specific to the weekend. The goal is specific to the three events, being competitive going into the off-season knowing what we have to work on.”
KURT SAID THAT YOU GUYS FLEW DOWN TO THE DAYTONA TEST. DID YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE TALLADEGA RACE ENDED AND WHAT IT’S GOING TO BE LIKE TO BUILD UP THAT TEAMMATE MENTALITY? “In some ways, it will be easier because there are only two full-time Cup drivers with Sam and Kurt as opposed to Hendrick where there were four other drivers. In some ways, it will be easier because I will be able to spend more time with him.”
WHAT WAS THAT PLANE RIDE LIKE TO DAYTONA WITH KURT? “Kurt really saw it for what it was. It was a teammate trying to help him and I got hit from behind. The 83 got in the back of me. It’s not really his fault. Talladega circumstances, I did the move to get us all a good finish and it just didn’t work. It’s not any one individuals fault and I think that he saw it for what it’s worth. He was disappointed for his result, but as far as him really being mad at me or thinking that I ruined his day intentionally, no, he was really cool. I think Kurt doesn’t get enough credit for how understanding he is and how much he’s progressed as a racecar driver.”
BOTH TALLADEGA RACES YOU’VE BEEN RIGHT THERE AT THE END. IS THAT A TRACK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE AT? “Talladega, you have to be extremely aggressive if you’re going to expect to win. The first time I got to run Talladega with Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) in the Nationwide car, I couldn’t believe how aggressive he was. I didn’t’ understand why nobody would go with me or why I wasn’t progressing through the field until I got behind Dale and just saw how aggressive he was and how crisp and clean his maneuvering was. I learned a lot from that. When you make moves like that, people follow you because they know that you are the guy that’s going to be there at the end. That’s the fortunate thing about this year; some people actually worked with me and made it a lot easier.”
WHO WOULD BE YOU IDEAL CREW CHIEF? “I don’t know. I don’t know what I want. I don’t know what I’m looking for 100%. It’s one of those things that you know when you have it and when you don’t. There’s no ‘I need this guy or that guy.’ I know that I need somebody that believes in me. That’s one of the things that I know. Do I want them to be the authoritative type? Laid back type? Do I want them to make aggressive calls on the box? I don’t know.”
