Thursday, April 7th 'What If' Question

Every driver needs their big break, something that will propel them into the spotlight and catch the eye of team owners who are looking for a new, fresh face to put in one of their cars.

In late 2007 that's what happened to Brad Keselowski. He got a call from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to come and run the remainder of the season in his No. 88 Navy Chevrolet. Keselowski had impressed Earnhardt Jr. in what he was accomplishing in less than well funded equipment as well as the substitution job he had done for Ted Musgrave's Truck team.

Earnhardt Jr. then signed Keselowski to a full-time deal for 2008 and 2009 in the Nationwide Series. He went out won his first career race and then kept on winning. In both years he finished second in the championship points. In 2009 he was on top of everyone's radar including team owner Rick Hendrick and James Finch. Both let Keselowski drive one of their cars in select Cup Series events.

In Talladega, Keselowski went out and won after a finish with Carl Edwards that won't soon be forgotten. Since then he's been snagged away from the a potential HMS job by Roger Penske and won the 2010 NNS championship. He now runs full-time in the Cup Series and searching for his second career win. Keselowski has officially made it to the top. Just as Martin Truex Jr. had done before him with the help of Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports.

But ...

What If Dale Jr. didn't take a chance & sign @Keselowski to Nationwide deal in 07 would he have ever become big name/winning driver? #NASCAR

@KaitlynVincie: Hard question, without Jr.'s financial backing it may not have been possible. We know success is not solely based on talent.

@ladybug388: No as its all bout opportunity & there was his. Thou he may have with running more truck races for the team & then moving up

@cruetten: doubtful. i think he would've continued his mediocre performance in NNS (before signing w/JR),& stayed permanently in trucks.

@JoJo_6040: Yep! Some other team owner would've noticed his talent. Must admit, I paid more attn. to BK when he started driving for JR

@chuckallen2: his good run subbing in the truck race defined his career. Cinderella story for sure, and why racing is cool.