Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, looks on from the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
A Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and a 23-time winner, Brad Keselowski boasts quite the racing resume.
One achievement the Rochester Hills, Michigan, native longs to add to his list of accomplishments is a victory in his home state.
He’ll get the chance in Sunday’s FireKeeper’s Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
“I would say (Michigan is) a weekend that is circled every year on our calendar and one where we’ve had a lot of success but haven’t been able to break through for that first win,” Keselowski said. “So I feel like with the season we’re having this year, we have a great opportunity of checking that box off.”
In 15 starts at the two-mile track, Keselowski has five top-five and ten top-ten finishes. He has placed in the top-ten in his past six Michigan races, including showings of third and fourth last year.
Through the first 14 races this season, Keselowski ranks fifth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings on the strength of two wins, eight top-fives and ten top-tens. His 12 playoff points are the third-most in the series. In the ten races where has not wrecked or had technical difficulties, the No. 2 Team Penske Ford driver hasn’t finished lower than seventh.
Keselowski, 33, felt pressure to perform well at Michigan when he was younger, but is relaxed going into this weekend’s contest.
“Earlier in my career it used to feel like a ton of pressure, but as of late, I don’t seem to feel quite as pressured by it,” he said. “I think maybe that’s just changes in my life or changes in the status of my career as I’ve become more established. But now I just look at it and I think of how amazing it is to run well there, and I don’t seem to get stressed about if I don’t run well there.”
The FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway begins at 3 pm ET on Sunday, June 18th with coverage starting at 2 pm ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.