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From Riverside International Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' champion, Brad Keselowski is excited to return to his roots in short track racing on July 20 at Riverside International Speedway, Nova Scotia in the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body.
He is excited to be making his first late model start in almost a decade and he is coming to Nova Scotia on a mission: to win.
"I can't wait to get there and hopefully win a race," said Keselowski, who will drive the popular Cat Car for Kids. "I fully expect to be racing against some of the best. Those guys would like nothing better than to beat me and I know that. I'm looking forward to it either way. It should be a lot of fun."
His goal shouldn't be too tough for a reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' champion, right?
Wrong.
Only once since the first IWK 250 in 2007 has a NASCAR driver beat the locals to the finish line; that was in 2008 and the driver was Regan Smith.
Keselowski is leaving no stone unturned in his mission to follow Smith's trail to Riverside Victory Circle; he's bringing his own car prepared in North Carolina by native Nova Scotian Gary Crooks/Crooks Racing who handles Keselowski's driver developmental program. Keselowski is also bringing his top late model driver Austin Theriault as his IWK 250 teammate. And he hopes Crooks' experience is their secret weapon.
"Gary is an excellent late model racer," said Keselowski. "He knows the track and he knows the locals. I know they will be strong and it wouldn't surprise me if Austin (Theriault) is one of the guys to beat as well."
Keselowski will work a rare off-weekend from his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford ride in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to make an even more rare start at a regional track start in the IWK 250. It will be his first trip to Nova Scotia and the reputation of the track and the regions fans have preceded them.
"I've heard the track is really racy, that it has a bottom and top groove, and that you can run either one," said Keselowski whose Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano finished third in the 2012 IWK 250. “I've heard the fans are very passionate and there are lots of them. I'm looking forward to a great race and a great crowd."
The Cat Car for Kids program, presented by Atlantic Cat, was initiated in 2008. Prior to race day the car and Keselowski will visit the IWK Health Centre where patients and their families can sign the car as co-sponsors; the annual visit has become a 'signature' event on the hospital calendar. The IWK 250 has raised awareness and more than $130,000 for the IWK Health Centre since 2007.
Riverside International Speedway is a 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval, home for eastern Canada's only NASCAR event, and of the IWK 250 - widely known as the best stock car race in Canada.
Located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the facility is easily accessible at exit 30 on Trans Canada Highway 104. For more information call 902.863.2410 or click www.riversidespeedway.ca.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' champion, Brad Keselowski is excited to return to his roots in short track racing on July 20 at Riverside International Speedway, Nova Scotia in the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body.
He is excited to be making his first late model start in almost a decade and he is coming to Nova Scotia on a mission: to win.
"I can't wait to get there and hopefully win a race," said Keselowski, who will drive the popular Cat Car for Kids. "I fully expect to be racing against some of the best. Those guys would like nothing better than to beat me and I know that. I'm looking forward to it either way. It should be a lot of fun."
His goal shouldn't be too tough for a reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' champion, right?
Wrong.
Only once since the first IWK 250 in 2007 has a NASCAR driver beat the locals to the finish line; that was in 2008 and the driver was Regan Smith.
Keselowski is leaving no stone unturned in his mission to follow Smith's trail to Riverside Victory Circle; he's bringing his own car prepared in North Carolina by native Nova Scotian Gary Crooks/Crooks Racing who handles Keselowski's driver developmental program. Keselowski is also bringing his top late model driver Austin Theriault as his IWK 250 teammate. And he hopes Crooks' experience is their secret weapon.
"Gary is an excellent late model racer," said Keselowski. "He knows the track and he knows the locals. I know they will be strong and it wouldn't surprise me if Austin (Theriault) is one of the guys to beat as well."
Keselowski will work a rare off-weekend from his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford ride in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to make an even more rare start at a regional track start in the IWK 250. It will be his first trip to Nova Scotia and the reputation of the track and the regions fans have preceded them.
"I've heard the track is really racy, that it has a bottom and top groove, and that you can run either one," said Keselowski whose Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano finished third in the 2012 IWK 250. “I've heard the fans are very passionate and there are lots of them. I'm looking forward to a great race and a great crowd."
The Cat Car for Kids program, presented by Atlantic Cat, was initiated in 2008. Prior to race day the car and Keselowski will visit the IWK Health Centre where patients and their families can sign the car as co-sponsors; the annual visit has become a 'signature' event on the hospital calendar. The IWK 250 has raised awareness and more than $130,000 for the IWK Health Centre since 2007.
Riverside International Speedway is a 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval, home for eastern Canada's only NASCAR event, and of the IWK 250 - widely known as the best stock car race in Canada.
Located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the facility is easily accessible at exit 30 on Trans Canada Highway 104. For more information call 902.863.2410 or click www.riversidespeedway.ca.