Crew chief Paul Wolfe is also staying put, meaning the No. 2 team should be a contender again in 2018 and beyond.
It’s not that common that NASCAR Cup Series drivers change teams in their primes, so it was always kind of a pipe dream to think that Brad Keselowski was going to be anywhere else but Team Penske next year. And now even the little bit of hope someone else might have had of signing the 2012 Cup Series champion away has been dashed.
ESPN reported earlier today that Keselowski had agreed to a multi-year extension to remain with Team Penske. Crew chief Paul Wolfe also re-signed, and while it’s not clear for how many years either man’s new contract runs, Penske’s press release said both would be around “well into the future.”
There had been some Silly Season speculation that perhaps Keselowski, a 10-year Cup Series veteran who still is only 33 years old, could be courted to take over the No. 88 at Hendrick Motorsports for the retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr. That potential move, never seemingly that likely to begin with, went away when Alex Bowman was named as the new driver of Junior’s car earlier this month.
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In retaining Keselowski, Penske holds onto a 23-race winner at NASCAR’s highest level who is very much still in the thick of the 2017 championship hunt (three wins this season) despite the organization’s declining performance in recent weeks. Clearly, continuity was important for team owner Roger Penske, as he made clear when announcing the extension.
"“In the time that Brad has driven for Team Penske, he has risen to the top echelon of stars in NASCAR. Brad and Paul have established a terrific, winning combination and they are both real leaders within our team. More than just wins and championships, Brad is an important part our relationship with Ford Performance and his work with the Checkered Flag Foundation shows what kind of person he is away from the track. There is no question he continues to be a great fit for our organization.”"
That fit extends to sponsorship too, with Miller Lite a longtime fixture on the 2 and one who would seem to be encouraged to re-up itself with Keselowski in the fold. Keselowski’s teammate Joey Logano is reportedly signed through the 2023 season, so unless Penske adds a third car — something it could consider given the performance of Ryan Blaney this season for the Wood Brothers — the team’s driver lineup should look familiar to fans into the next decade.