Car owner Roger Penske has no doubt that Brad Keselowski can win multiple NASCAR Sprint Cup titles and become one the sport's biggest names.
In only his third full Cup season, Keselowski defeated five-time champion Jimmie Johnson to clinch the 2012 crown at Homestead last weekend. Keselowski is the first driver to win a top-level NASCAR title for illustrious IndyCar and NASCAR team owner Penske. At 28, Keselowski is three years younger than Johnson was when he won his first Cup championship. Of recent champions, only Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch have been younger when they won their maiden titles.
"Jeff Gordon is the only one that won the championship at that early age, and you can see he's won multiple championships," said Penske. The team boss believes Keselowski is a complete package of speed and intelligence.
"Obviously, Brad has got not only the raw talent but I think he's a thinking driver," said Penske. I think his windshield is bigger than people realize. He knows what's going on and takes care of his car. You could see it on the restarts [at Homestead], he wasn't going to go and over-rev the engine, maybe lose an engine because of a valve spring.
"I think he's going to be a multiple champion, and I hope that [crew chief] Paul [Wolfe] and the team can continue to grow on the success we had this year and we can go on and do it again."
Keselowski is also optimistic that he, Penske and Wolfe can only get stronger.
"I feel like the best is yet to come. I really do," he said. "I feel like with this team we can do anything we set our mind to if we work together like we have over the last few years."