MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Brad Keselowski will drive the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the next three NASCAR Busch Series races for JR Motorsports, starting with Saturday’s USG DUROCK 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Keselowski will also pilot the Navy Chevrolet at Gateway International Raceway and O’Reilly Raceway Park.
The new driver selection comes one week after Earnhardt Jr. announced that he was replacing Shane Huffman after a midseason evaluation of the team’s performance.
“I’ve watched Brad for a while and he’s shown a lot of promise in the few Busch races he’s run,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He became available at a time when we were looking to make some changes to our program and everything just lined up for us to put him in the Navy Chevrolet for the next three races.”
Keselowski, a 24-year-old native of Rochester Hills, Mich., drove for Keith Coleman Racing in the Busch Series until the team suspended operations last month. He jumped at the opportunity to drive the No. 9 truck when Germain Racing needed a last-minute replacement for Ted Musgrave at Memphis Motorsports Park two weeks ago. Keselowski scored the Bud Pole Award, led four times for a total of 62 laps and contended for the win.
Like JR Motorsports’ team owner, Earnhardt Jr., Keselowski is a third-generation race car driver. Following in the footsteps of his dad, Bob Keselowski, he made his NASCAR national touring division debut in the Truck Series in 2004. In 42 starts in the Truck Series, his best finish is seventh. Keselowski’s best Busch Series finish in 20 starts is 24th.
In 19 races this season the Navy team has collected one top-five and four top-10 finishes. The team is currently ranked 24th in the owner point standings.