Brad Keselowski will replace David Stremme in the #12 Penske Racing Dodge for the final three races of the Sprint Cup season, moving up the schedule on a driver change the team announced earlier this year.

Penske announced September 1 that Keselowski will drive the #12 Dodge full time in the Sprint Cup Series next year, and the team has opted to get an early start on the transition.

“Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the racecar as we prepare for the 2010 season,” owner Roger Penske said Monday. “These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year.”

Keselowski has been driving part time in the Cup series for Hendrick Motorsports and James Finch's Phoenix Racing while competing full time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. Keselowski is third in the Nationwide standings with four victories this year, the most recent coming October 24 at Memphis Motorsports Park.

“I am very excited to begin working with the Penske Racing team, and I look forward to competing in the #12 Penske Dodge in the final three Cup series races of the year,” Keselowski said.

“We all have high expectations for next season and beyond and being able to race with the team this year will only help us as we look toward 2010.”

Keselowski finished eighth in Sunday's Amp Energy 500 Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway in his last ride in Finch's #09 Chevrolet. Keselowski has four top tens in twelve Cup starts in 2009 and scored his only win in the series at Talladega in April driving for Finch.

Stremme is winless in 108 Cup starts and does not have a top ten in 33 starts this season. He is 31st in the points' standings. This was his first year in the Cup series with Penske Racing after breaking in with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005.


by Reid Spencer / Sporting News