Keselowski Takes 5th Place in Montreal

Brad Keselowski managed to keep his car going in a straight line when most of the field turned circles on a rain soaked Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Carl Edwards went on to win the race after the field switched to rain tires to finish the Nationwide Series race in Montreal.

Brad is solidly in 3rd place in the Nationwide championship points standings.

Brad wasn't the only Keselowski in the race. Older brother Brian Keselowski started the race but retired after only one lap due to brake failure. Brian has made 16 Nationwide starts this year and is currently 25th in points.

Both Brian and Brad are sons of Craftsman Truck team owner/sriver Bob Keselowski.

Kubica Pulls Off A 4th Place Finish In Belgium

Robert Kubica managed to pull off a solid 4th place finish in the Belgian Grand Prix behind Kimi Raikkonen (winner), Giancarlo Fisichella (2nd) and Sebastian Vettel (3rd). Kubica driving his BMW Sauber earned 5 points towards his championship standings.

Robert Kubica is currently 15th in the World Championship points standings.

Keselowski says he won't return to JR Motorsports

MONTREAL -- Brad Keselowski declined to comment on reports he'll drive in the Sprint Cup Series for Penske Racing next year, but he did indicate Thursday to Sporting News he won't be back in JR Motorsports' Nationwide car next season.

Asked whether he expected to return to JRM, Keselowski said, "At this time, no," during a boat tour of the Old Port in Montreal.

Kelly Bires reportedly is the leading candidate to replace Keselowski in the No. 88 JRM Chevrolet.

"I heard that, too," Keselowski said when asked about the possibility of Bires driving for JRM. "It's hard to tell. I know they've talked to a number of drivers, and I wish them the best on whoever gets in there, and I expect big things from them, as I'm sure the team does.

"I look forward to seeing somebody get the opportunity that I got."

Keselowski's departure from JRM lends credence to reports, which surfaced last week at Bristol, that he'll join Penske Racing. Team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has said if Keselowski were to drive a car make other than Chevrolet in the Cup Series, that would preclude him for driving for JRM's Nationwide program.

Keselowski, 25, has won three Nationwide races for JRM this season and is third in the standings behind Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. He also won the April Cup race at Talladega, driving for James Finch. Keselowski has competed in five Cup races for Hendrick Motorsports, with a best finish of seventh at Darlington.

In response to a question about the possibility of moving from part-time Cup status at Hendrick to a full-time Cup ride somewhere else before the end of the current season, Keselowski was noncommittal.

"Man, that's hard to say at this time," Keselowski said. "I really don't have an answer for that. I wouldn't say yes or no. I would say that time will tell."

From Nascar.com.

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BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team Scores First ALMS GT2 Victory

[Elkhart Lake, Wis. – Aug. 16, 2009] The BMW M3 returned to the American Le Mans Series winner’s circle with a 1-2 finish by the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team at today’s Time Warner Cable Road Racing Showcase.

The No. 90 M3, driven by Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen, achieved the new M3 racing program’s first victory. Teammates Tommy Milner and Dirk Mϋller in the No. 92 M3 scored their fourth podium finish of the season.

As the race began, starting drivers Bill Auberlen, in the No. 90 M3, and Tommy Milner, in the No. 92 M3, took advantage of their front row starting positions and opened a lead on the GT2 class. Only 15 minutes in, an early yellow slowed the field, but instead of reducing the BMW M3’s lead to mere feet, it increased it to almost a full lap as both M3s received a wave-by when the pace car picked up the overall leader. Before the race went green again, both M3s were able to pit for fuel, and Milner picked up the lead through pit-stop speed.

At the one hour mark Milner still held the lead over Auberlen, but as the race’s second caution period occurred a “race within the race” began. Pitting both M3s under yellow, the crew of the No. 90 M3 got Hand serviced just a tick of the watch ahead of Mϋller to take the lead. Unfortunately, too many men over the wall for the No. 92 M3 resulted in a 60 second penalty, putting Mϋller an additional minute behind Hand, but still in second place.

Pitting a second time under the race’s third caution period, the M3s cycled through two more fast stops for fuel and new Dunlop tires. Today, able to keep the competition in check, the two M3s stayed in front for the remainder the contest to open another winning chapter in the history of BMW Motorsport and the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team.

Bobby Rahal, Team Principal:
“It can’t get better than this! Great for the team and great for BMW. Everyone did a super job today!”

Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager:
“Yesterday I was asked about the best moment of this program and my answer was bringing the new BMW M3s to the grid at Sebring. After today, I would give a different answer. We were fast from the beginning of the weekend and brought home the first victory for the program. We had incredible support from all our partners and especially Dunlop, who continue to deliver for us. We have now arrived at a level where we can fight for top honors and that’s what the program was designed to do. Today was BMW’s day.”

Bill Auberlen, No. 90 M3 (first):
“This is what this team has earned. Everyone has worked so hard. Thanks to BMW, RLR, and Dunlop. The win seems long overdue and I can’t be any happier. Road America is where I won my first professional race and now it is where we won the first one for this team. Awesome!”

Joey Hand, No. 90 M3 (first):
“Bill and I called this win. Babe Ruth style. I told my wife before I left that I knew something really good was going to happen. Bill got the No. 90 M3 out front and I just brought it home. The team knows how to pit like nobody else. Every part of this team pulled together today. We earned this win.”

Dirk Mϋller, No 92 M3 (second)
“One – two, oh so nice. Incredible! The No. 92 M3 was fantastic. I am really happy for the team.”

Tommy Milner, No. 93 M3 (second):
“A great result for sure! We had one hiccup today, but in the end we overcame it. A great job by Dirk to run for second.”

Round 8 of the American Le Mans Series will be held at Mosport International Raceway on August 30th.

From http://www.rahal.com/ .

[Note] Bobby Rahal And David Letterman are PRDA Members.

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Robert Kubica Gains Valuable Point In European GP

Polish Racing Driver Robert Kubica in his BMW Sauber battled his way into the last points paying position, 8th place, gaining one point towards the Formula 1 World Championship points race.

Rubens Barrichello won his first Formula 1 race since leaving Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren Mercedes lead much of the race, but after a long pitstop managed to secure a solid second spot, followed by Kimi "The Ice Man" Räikkönen in his Ferrari.

More information and pictures on http://www.formula1.com.

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Keselowski 3rd at Bristol

Brad Keselowski made his fifth NASCAR Nationwide Series start for JR Motorsports at Bristol this weekend and started from pole position. An early collision with the #12 car seemed to end BK's race chances but a fired-up Brad took his patched up machine back to 3rd place.

Picture and text from http://www.bradracing.com

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PRDA & KidRacer at Pocono F500 Challenge Cup

Repeat Cup winner Mike Brent receiving award from PRDA Member, KIDRACER representative and kart racer, 6 year old Emily Ryan, White Haven PA. PRDA member Sam Ryan (Emily's father) won the Formula Mazda SCCA NEDIV Divisional Championship and will be racing at Road America in the National Runoffs on Sept 22-27.

You can find out more about this event, as well as final standings, on the eFormulaCarNews website and forum HERE.

Thanks to PRDA Member Lou Schultz for the photo.

THIS IS HOW PRDA GET'S INVOLVED!

Nuts The Squirrel Becomes PRDA Member

Nuts the squirrel accepts membership along with Bobby Rahal from Jolene McClellan. Nuts went on to say that he must be "Nuts" to be part of the organization, but was honored none-the-less.

Brad Keselowski WINS at Michigan!

A caution with under 20 laps to go called for a bold decision by Tony Eury Jr., crew chief for the #88 GoDaddy.com entry of Brad Keselowski. Two tires instead of four put Keselowski on the front row for the restart. After falling back to 3rd place, another caution brought the field back to gether.

As the race restarted one last time, Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch, who dominated most of the race, fought hard for the lead. Vickers fighting to keep the #1 spot, Kyle Busch fighting hard to take it away from him. Vickers trying to keep his loose Toyota going straight, Busch doing everything he could to get past. As the two battled it out, Brad Keselowski, with two laps to go, found his way past the two contenders and on the last lap secured himself a hometown win.

Kyle Busch, after the race remarked to ESPN that "The guy that won didn't deserve it." Brian Vickers told ESPN that he was thrilled for Brian, and didn't see him coming."

Brad Keselowski is currently third in the Nationwide Series points standings.

Photo from http://www.bradracing.com/ .

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PRDA Member Bobby Rahal to Bring Road Racing Driver Symposium To PRI Trade Show

An Indy 500 winner as both a driver and a team owner, Bobby Rahal is organizing a Road Racing Drivers Symposium to be held at this year's PRI Trade Show. It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, December 11, in a meeting room in the North/South Building of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Rahal, as president of the Road Racing Drivers Club, will be the featured presenter at the Symposium, which will offer insider tips for drivers to stay on track for a successful career in road racing. Additional guest speakers will share their insights on a wide variety of topics, from gaining experience to getting the right management help, public relations to exploring the various ladder systems to the top.

Go to the PRI Website to read all about it.

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PRDA VP Tony Adamowicz on Vintage Motorsport TV

Tony Adamowicz, VP of the PRDA was interviews recently, talking about his 1969 Gurney Eagle and Road America. Go to Vintage Motorsport to see the video of Tony's Interview.

Vintage Motorsport TV

Keselowski Wins Iowa Inaugural

NEWTON, Iowa -- Brad Keselowski passed Kyle Busch with eight laps remaining and went on to win the inaugural Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway.

Busch had pitted for two tires under the race's 10th caution, while Keselowski chose to keep his No. 88 Chevrolet on the track. The race went green on Lap 219 of 250, and Busch needed six laps to pass Keselowski.

But after another caution, Keselowski stormed back to take the lead and earn his second win of the season. And with the victory, Keselowski won an extra $75,000 via Nationwide Insurance's Dash 4 Cash program, honoring full-time Nationwide drivers who win select races, with Iowa being one of the four.

"It sure means a lot to win this race," Keselowski said. "The Dash 4 Cash program that Nationwide has, to be the guy that wins that ... and to be a full-time Nationwide guy that wins it that doesn't run full time in the Cup Series, it kind of feels like you stake a claim for the series by winning that.

"The inaugural race here at Iowa for the Nationwide Series and, really, for NASCAR, and to win here in front of a crowd we had here [Saturday], that's pretty awesome.
"And it was a good race, too. Just everything about [Saturday], I couldn't ask for more. I couldn't ask for a better finish."

Keselowski ended up leading four times for 121 laps.

Nationwide rookies Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier posted identical qualifying times earlier Saturday, but Stenhouse was awarded the pole on owners' points. Allgaier grabbed the early lead and kept it for 35 laps, by far the most of his young Nationwide career, but he was bumped on pit row and Keselowski surged ahead.

It didn't take long for Busch to catch the leaders. Busch quickly vaulted from 43rd to fourth, and he grabbed the high groove and zipped past Darnell for the lead about a third of the way through the race.

Though a few other drivers threatened from time to time, Keselowski and Busch combined to lead all but 45 of the 250 laps.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Condensed from Nascar.com.

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