Earnhardt Jr. acknowledges interest in Brad Keselowski for some Busch races

JIM UTTER

The Charlotte Observer

Friday, Jul. 06, 2007

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday confirmed he would like to use driver Brad Keselowski in JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet in several upcoming NASCAR Busch Series races.

“I’m talking to Brad about running it all way up to the race in Montreal,” Earnhardt Jr. said. That would include races at Chicagoland, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Earnhardt Jr. said he had other plans for the upcoming road course races at Montreal and Watkins Glen, N.Y.

“I got a neat little thing I want to do at Montreal and Watkins Glen with a buddy of mine I used to race Corvettes with. I have to take him testing first to make sure he has what it takes,” he said.

Johnny O’Connell, who joined Earnhardt Jr., his late father Dale Earnhardt and road racing ace Kelly Collins in competing in the 2001 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona race is the driver Earnhardt Jr. would like to use at the road courses, sources said.

Earnhardt Jr. stepped into the No. 88 this weekend, replacing regular driver Shane Huffman.

Keselowski, 23, filled in for a suspended Ted Musgrave last week and won the pole and led 62 of 200 laps at the Memphis Truck Series race. Late in the race he spun out following contact with eventual winner Travis Kvapil and finished 16th.

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