Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge, celebrates on track after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 25, 2010 in Talladega, Alabama.Jason Smith/Getty Images
In a sport where rubbin' is racing, Brad Keselowski certainly has a knack for doing it the wrong way.
Sprint Cup drivers feuding with the aggressive newcomer over the past few years include Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and Kasey Kahne.
But don't expect Keselowski to change his ways any time soon, even with as the number of drivers in his grudge line gets longer after almost every weekend. Last month at Bristol, Keselowski underlined his brash style by choosing Won't Back Down by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as his pre-race introduction song.
Simply put, he believes you are only as good as your last race, and he drives accordingly.
"I don't ever feel like I've proved myself,' he said. "I always feel like every time I get in the race car is a new opportunity to prove myself and, not only that, I've reset from whatever past accomplishments I have that they mean absolutely nothing."
Getting under other drivers' skins might make things exciting but it can also put a target on your car. That prompted four-time champion Jimmie Johnson to offer some unsolicited advice to the No. 12 Dodge driver.
"He's got to stand up for what he feels is right ... but you just don't turn off a garage area as fast as he has for no reason. So he's got to work on that in my eyes," Johnson said last month.
"I think some of it has to do with when you come into the sport, especially at the top level as a rookie, if you like it or not, you're going to take a few lumps before you're given that opportunity to pass some out. And, I believe he's come in and has passed out more bumps than he's taken."
Keselowski's big break came metres from the finish of last year's Aarons 499 at Talladega when he and Carl Edwards came together on the run to the checkered flag with spectacular results. Edwards got turned and flipped into the catch fence while Keselowski sped on to take his maiden Sprint Cup win.
"It's pretty cool to come back to the racetrack as a winner and to see your image and face on the tickets that they sell, and just all that goes with that," he said about returning to the scene of his win last weekend.
"A lot of great things have happened to me over the last 12 months, and coming back to Talladega is a great chance to reflect upon that."
In his return as defending champion, Keselowski got caught in a late wreck and finished two laps adrift in 34th in the Cup race. He's now 26th in points after nine races; his best finish was 12th in last month's Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
But Keselowski redeemed himself by winning the Nationwide Series event that was postponed to Sunday due to rain. The win put him atop the Nationwide points standings after eight races.
After finishing third overall in the Nationwide Series in both 2008 and 2009 and running a limited 15-race Cup schedule last year, Keselowski signed to race the No. 12 full-time for the Penske Team this season.
The significance of racing for one of North America's most successful owners, Roger Penske, is not lost on the 26-year-old from Rochester Hills, Mich.
"Roger is an awesome guy, and the fact that he is from Detroit and we share that same heritage as far as that's concerned meant a lot to me and meant a lot to my family and friends, as well.
"You know, to walk in that shop, see how amazing it is, and just see the scope of what Penske Racing is, what they do with IndyCars, stock cars and beyond, it's an amazing feeling and one that, you know, I'm still, like I said, humbled by. I'm just looking forward to making most of it and winning that first championship for them on the NASCAR side."
Penske cars have amassed more than 300 wins in IndyCar, NASCAR and American Le Mans racing, including taking the checkered flag at Indianapolis 15 times.
The team announced last week that Keselowski will move to the No. 2 Miller Lite-sponsored Dodge next year with its current driver, Kurt Busch, switching to the team's No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil car.
Daytona repaving in the works
After an embarrassing NASCAR season-opener in February was marred by two red flags to repair a large pothole that opened on Turn 2 at the Daytona International Speedway, the racetrack announced last week that it would pave its surface for only the second time in its 52 years.
The construction will begin following July's Coke Zero 400 and the new surface will be ready for next year's Daytona 500.
globedrive@globeandmail.com
Jeff Pappone