Friday, August 24, 2012

Junior To Keselowski: Shut Up And Drive

Earnhardt: "I take offense to the claims."
Brad Keselowski said this week that Hendrick Motorsports is more willing to play in the gray area of the NASCAR rulebook than his Penske Racing team, taking chances and risking penalties in areas that other teams are unwilling to explore.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. rode to his team’s defense today, telling reporters that Keselowski should talk less and drive more.

"I don't particularly like the things he says lately about the company I drive for,” said Earnhardt at Bristol Motor Speedway. “So I take offense to the claims and the accusations. It's just natural for me to do that.”

While stopping short of accusing HMS of cheating, Keselowski questioned how Hendrick has “tricked up" the cars of title contenders Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne. "There are parts and pieces on the cars that are moving after inspection that make the car more competitive,” he said. “Some guys have it, some don't. There's a question to the interpretation of the rule. Penske Racing errs on the safe side, because we don't want to be the guys that get the big penalty.

“I'm not going to slam them for it. But it's living in a gray area (and) Roger doesn't do that.”

Brad is a really good guy,” said Earnhardt today of his former JR Motorsports employee. “He has a pretty good heart. He is a really great race car driver and I wish he would concentrate on that. I think he likes to talk a lot, but I think his true skills shine on the race track, not behind the microphone.”

“I like Brad,” he said. “We’re friends, and I don’t really want any drama with him."

7 comments:

  1. Those are impressively diplomatic statements Junior put forth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4:12 PM

    Kaz Kaz Kaz, foot on gas peddle not in mouth.


    Doug in NJ

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:37 PM

    After BK/PR's exploitation of the timing loop loophole on pit road, it's funny to hear him talking about HMS pushing the envelope.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Like that Brad isn't just strumming the PC "robot" answers, could be an interesting rivalry to get going between those two if they have strong Chase performances.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous1:09 PM

    haha, jr said that?- should'nt jr shut up and drive? he may be fan fav< but he is only a c+ driver_ brad in his short run in cup is a b+ driver. just say n

    ReplyDelete
  6. I thought it was the crew chiefs job. To flirt in the gray area to improve on the performance of the race cars. Chad Knauss does an excellent job, even though he got caught a couple times but that doesn't make him stop improving on the car. It would be different if Brad could do what Jimmie is doing. That's winning more races.

    ReplyDelete
  7. After BK/PR's exploitation of the timing loop loophole on pit road, it's funny to hear him talking about HMS pushing the envelope.

    ReplyDelete