Jason Keller is the preferred candidate to run with Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick in Richard Childress Racing’s #21 Chevrolet in the Busch Series next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Harvick shared the #21 this season with Johnny Sauter and the team currently leads the Busch car owners’ standings, prompting the possibly of a split championship in the series. Brian Vickers currently leads the drivers’ standings. Keller’s future has been the subject of a lot of speculation this season. He remains in the hunt for the drivers title and has also talked with several Winston Cup teams. His ppc Racing team does not currently have a sponsor to run next season. Asked Friday if he would run in the #21 with Harvick in 2004, Keller said:
“I haven’t decided about next year because I haven’t been presented with a contract from (ppc Racing) or anyone else. It’s really, really late in the game and I’m really worried about it,” he said. “I’ll consider anything with a good race team and, naturally, RCR is a good race team. That scenario is not the perfect scenario. I’ve tried to battle for this championship for almost 10 years and … you want to continue to chase your dreams.” During a Friday news conference, team owner Richard Childress said he was “very excited” about the possibility of a certain series veteran running with Harvick in the #21. He declined to name the driver. If Keller’s Busch team cannot find a sponsor and Keller can secure a release from that team, he is the preferred candidate to join Harvick in the #21, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com), no word on if Keller would run for another Busch team or end up in the #30 AOL RCR car.(10-24-2003)
