CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brad Keselowski signed with Penske Racing on Tuesday to drive in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series next season.
Keselowski will drive the No. 12 Dodge, a ride he turned down last year and the seat instead went to David Stremme.
“Brad has shown terrific success on track the past several years and has quickly established himself as one of the top young stars in racing,” team owner Roger Penske said in a statement. “He comes from an impressive family background in motorsports. He is a proven winner and a welcome addition to our team.”
Terms of the contract were not announced, and a release sent by the team said only that Keselowski will drive for Penske next season. That would fit with the message Rick Hendrick sent across the garage two weeks ago, when he warned that wherever Keselowski drives in 2010 “he’ll always be close enough for me to get him and bring him back.”
Keselowski is NASCAR’s top young prospect, and currently drives for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Nationwide Series. He had hoped to move up through Hendrick Motorsports’ development program, but Mark Martin decided to drive a full schedule next season and there are no other Cup seats open on NASCAR’s top team.
That could change in 2011, and Hendrick could make a play to bring Keselowski back assuming he’s only under a one-year deal with Penske. It’s also possible that Keselowski is only keeping the No. 12 warm as Penske develops 23-year-old Justin Allgaier.
Penske also fields cars for Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr.
“I am honored to join Roger Penske’s organization,” Keselowski said. “This is a great opportunity for me to continue competing in the Nationwide Series and to run my first full season in the Cup Series with a strong and experienced team.”
Keselowski, who is third in the Nationwide standings with three wins this season, will race for that series title next year. He won his first career Cup race with a dramatic last-lap pass of Carl Edwards at Talladega in April while driving a James Finch-owned car.
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