Despite being the catalyst in two post-race altercations within the past four weeks, an adamant Brad Keselowski says he will not modify his aggressive driving style.
Brad Keselowski: ‘I’m not here to lose, I’m here to win’
To the chagrin of his many rivals, Brad Keselowski refuses to change his aggressive ways.
Jonathan Ferrey
The most recent incident involving Keselowski occurred when Jeff Gordon confronted him following Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. As the two former NASCAR champions exchanged words, a brawl erupted between their respective teams. Gordon grabbed Keselowski around the neck, while a crewmember of Kasey Kahne (Gordon’s teammate) appeared to punch Keselowski. Both Gordon and Keselowski had cuts on their faces afterward.
What set Gordon off was a flat tire and resulting spin after contact with Keselowski as they raced for the lead in the first of two overtimes. The run-in occurred as Keselowski attempted to drive between Gordon and Jimmie Johnson heading into Turn 1.
Both Gordon and Keselowski are among the eight drivers remaining in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, with four drivers advancing to the championship finale Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“Today something happened,” Keselowski said, who had a scrape on his left eye and cheek. “There was a gap, it closed up. By the time it closed up, I was committed and I stayed in it. That almost won me the race. It hurt somebody else’s day. That’s a shame. But the reality is there was a gap.”
Frequently brash and outspoken and known for being assertive behind the wheel, Keselowski has been at the center of controversy throughout his career. Before this season Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin have tangled with Keselowski on the track.
A year after winning the series championship, Keselowski struggled in 2013, winning just a lone race and failing to make the Chase. He attributes that down season to being less aggressive, a change Keselowski enacted after numerous complaints from his rivals.
“I think last year I got away from being as aggressive as I was in 2012,” Keselowski said. “I didn’t make the Chase. Won one race. That’s not acceptable to me. I’m here to win races for Roger Penske and for my team. That means when there’s a gap, I have to take it. If it requires a tiny bit of rubbing, that’s okay. It’s not anything I don’t expect on the other side. It will go both ways. That’s okay by me.
“But what I’m not going to do is back down. I’m not going to get in the spot where I was in 2013 where, you know, I tried to be exactly what they all wanted me to be, because what they want me to be is a loser and I’m not here to lose, I’m here to win. That means I’m going to have to drive my car harder, stronger, faster than everybody out there. That’s what I feel like I did today.”
Bolstered by NASCAR putting a greater emphasis on winning, Keselowski returned to his previous form this season winning a series-best six times and emerging as a championship favorite. Along the way, he’s also made several enemies.
Last month Keselowski drew the ire of Matt Kenseth, who accused Keselowski of pushing him into the wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The normally affable Kenseth accosted Keselowski in the garage post-race with Kenseth at point placing Keselowski in a headlock.
Not everyone, however, thinks Keselowski is overstepping himself. Kevin Harvick, who finished second, defended Keselowski saying he’s “just racing as hard as he can for his team.”
“He’s trying to get all he can,” Harvick said. “But, when it gets down to that type of racing those things are going to happen exactly like they happened after the race tonight. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it as long as you’re ready to roll.”
But Harvick doesn’t completely absolve Keselowski. As Keselowski and Gordon shouted at one another Sunday, Harvick came behind Keselowski and shoved him towards Gordon. Harvick said the intention was that if Keselowski was going to drive aggressively, then he needs to take responsibility if someone takes exception to his tactics.
“If you’re going to race like that, you’re going to have to man up at some point,” said Harvick, who owns a management company that represents UFC fighters. “I mean, he’s done it several times. Can’t just turn around and let everybody fight all the time without you in there. Have to stand up for your actions at some point yourself.”
Keselowski disagrees, contending he has no issue if others race him similarly but doesn’t see why that has to lead to fisticuffs. Being assertive on the track doesn’t necessarily have to translate to belligerence off it.
“I came here to race, not fight,” Keselowski said. “If I wanted to be a fighter, I would have joined the UFC or have a management team like (Harvick) does. I came here to race, 100 percent. That’s what I did today.
“The people that want to see fights are not true race fans. They need to watch UFC, because that’s not true racing.”
Keselowski invoked the names of Ayrton Senna and Dale Earnhardt, each of whom was a multi-time champion in their respective discipline and were renowned, and often heralded, for their daring and forceful nature.
“I’m not Dale Earnhardt or Senna,” Keselowski said. “I read how they raced, how great they were for this sport. They would sit here and tell you they would go for that same gap. I’m not them, but I’m inspired by that, and I’m going to race that way.
“I’m not trying to dish out something that I couldn’t take myself. But these guys have their own code and they race differently than that. That’s their right. We’ll go through these battles. I’ve gone through them before and come out stronger. I’ll go through them again and come out stronger, a better racecar driver.”
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