Keselowski calls for a united NASCAR

IF his goal was to keep all of NASCAR on its toes during Champion's Week, Brad Keselowski played it perfectly.

He was brash and bold and changed nothing about his personality as he seamlessly navigated press events, cocktail receptions, sponsor dinners and socializing. He burned the candle at both ends in Las Vegas, trying hard to hold his own with veteran drivers who tried but failed to rattle him with some lighthearted hazing.

Keselowski was like the pesky kid brother nobody wanted around, and he seemed to love playing the part.

Until it was time to be the Sprint Cup champion.

Keselowski officially accepted his new title with an unscripted speech that impressed most everyone in the crowd of 1,500 in the ballroom of the Wynn Las Vegas Resort. He refused to write a speech ahead of time, which had NASCAR officials holding their breath for most of the 12 minutes Keselowski spoke.

In going up to the podium with no notes loaded into the TelePrompTer, Keselowski joined Jimmie Johnson as the only two drivers in the last decade to go off-the-cuff in their championship speeches. Johnson only did it once, after his fifth title in 2010.

The highlight of Keselowski's speech was the close, in which it became clear how much he appreciates his new role as champion.

"As we look into '13, I hope as a sport we can continue to find common ground to unify," Keselowski said. "We have some of the smartest people that can solve any problem. As a champion, I want to be your leader, and I want to help you make it happen."

His remarks come with NASCAR down to roughly eight weeks to finalize development on its 2013 car, which the industry is counting on to improve the racing. As attendance and television ratings continue to slip, the actual on-track product is under heavy scrutiny and the garage seems divided as to how it can be improved.

At 28, Keselowski is the eighth-youngest champion in Cup history and he claimed his title in just his third full season. But he grew up in a racing family and has a strong desire to do his part to help motorsports succeed.

And as a driver for Roger Penske, the team owner who is deeply committed to both NASCAR and the struggling IndyCar Series, Keselowski understands the challenges currently facing American auto racing. That's what he meant, he said after Friday night's speech, when he called for unity.

"I feel like in our series, we have the potential to be stronger than what we are if we work together. I want to be a part of that, to work with others and help move this sport forward..." he said.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 3, 2012 C10