KESELOWSKI NNS Atlanta Preview

PREVIEW - Brad Keselowski (No. 88 U.S. Navy Chevrolet)
EVENT - Nicorette 300 (195 laps/300.3 miles)
TRACK - Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.54-mile oval)
DATE - Saturday, March 8, 2008

KESELOWSKI AT ATL: Coming into Saturday’s Nicorette 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway Brad Keselowski has one prior NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the track. Even though the 24-year-old driver is competing in his first full season in the series and has limited experience at many of the tracks on the 35-race schedule, Keselowski comes to Atlanta with the added experience of three past NASCAR Truck Series races at the 1.54-mile track.

KESELOWSKI AT SMI TRACKS – Since joining JR Motorsports in July 2007, Keselowski has consistently performed well at all of the SMI tracks he’s competed at. He finished 11th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and sixth at Texas Motor Speedway in 2007. Last weekend at Las Vegas he led on two occasions and was a contender for the win until a late-race accident sent him to the garage with five laps to go.

NO. 88 TEAM AT ATLANTA – The No. 88 JR Motorsports team has two previous starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Navy team’s average finish at the track is 17th.

MEET KESELOWSKI – On Saturday morning Keselowski will meet with fans and sign autographs at the U.S. Navy’s display at Atlanta Motor Speedway from 8 – 8:30 a.m.

CHASSIS NO. 318 – The No. 88 team will run Chassis No. 318 at Atlanta Vegas Motor Speedway. Last year Kyle Busch drove this car to a fifth-place finish at Richmond International Speedway.

NCTAMS LANT – The No. 88 Navy team will be joined by members of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic (NCTAMS LANT) based out of Norfolk, Va. NCTAMS LANT provides data, voice, video, and messaging services to fleet units, shore activities and joint forces deployed worldwide. Not only does the command function as a major communications information and processing node, but it also serves as the headquarters for 15 commands and detachments located around the world.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION – Sailors from NCTAMS LANT will present Keselowski and the No. 88 team with an autographed copy of the unit’s emblem “Oscar” the Octopus on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the No. 88 Navy Nationwide Series hauler. The design for the logo was created in 1943 by Walt Disney’s artists to depict the dynamic environment of a Navy communicator. In 2004, NCTAMS LANT had 250 prints made of the emblem and had the copies signed by Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney. Sailors from NCTAMS LANT in attendance for Saturday’s race will present the Navy team with print No. 88.

SCHOOL VISIT – While in town for the Nationwide Series race, sailors from NCTAMS LANT will visit with students at Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Ga., on Friday to talk about the opportunities available with the U.S. Navy.

-----

BRAD KESELOWSKI (on the sensation of speed at Atlanta) – “Flying around Atlanta is a lot like flying in a F/A-18 Hornet for the Navy. [Keselowski flew with the Navy’s Blue Angels last Tuesday in El Centro Calif.] It’s the same feeling. You go into Turn 1 so fast and Turn 3 as well. Then you just drop. It feels like you drop a mile, but it’s only a few feet. It throws you in the seat. There’s a high sensation of speed that throws your body down and to the right really hard. That’s what we feel in the seat. It’s actually a great race track. I love it to death. It’s multi-grooved. You can pass and run anywhere on the track.”