Frank Kimmel will be piloting the #29 Ford for K-Automotive, owned by Bob & Kay Keselowski. They have lost their sponsor and driver [was Terry Cook] and their son, Brian [actually..been informed that it is Brad not Brian that will drive], will be behind the wheel in 2004. Since Brian [Brad] has no superspeedway experience, they have asked Kimmel to drive for them at Daytona. Kimmel plans to be participating in the test for trucks at Daytona on Monday, the 12th [Carl Edwards tested it on Sunday the 11th]. Kimmel will fly to Daytona from California, as he will be attending an awards ceremony in conjunction with being named 1st team by the American Automobile Writers and Broadcasters Association.(Frank Kimmel Site)(1-12-2004)
UPDATE: Despite losing both his driver and sponsor after the 2003 season, owner Bob Keslowski still plans to run a complete Truck Series schedule this year. Keslowski’s team tested the #29 Ford for the first time Sunday, arriving a day later than the other teams participating in the scheduled three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway. One of the reasons for the late arrival is that five-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel is scheduled to drive the truck on a part-time basis and Kimmel won’t arrive at the track until today. He’s in California accepting the ARCA Driver of the Year award. Kimmel and Keslowski’s son, Brad, will split time in the truck. Brad is not allowed to drive or practice at Daytona because he doesn’t have any superspeedway experience. Fellow Ford truck racer Carl Edwards took the #29 out for a two-lap spin in Sunday’s morning session. His lap of 176.997 mph was 21st fastest in the morning. The biggest obstacle for Keslowski, who owns the team with his brother, Ron, is finding a sponsor. Driver Terry Cook left after last season and took the sponsor with him. The only family-run team in the series is determined to run the entire season even without a sponsor. Bob Keslowski hopes to have Kimmel in the driver’s seat for about 15 races. Brad will drive in the other races. “Frank still wants to compete for the ARCA championship and there’s about 10 races where there’s a conflict,” Bob Keslowski said. “The key for us is to find a sponsorship because if we don’t, then it definitely breaks the bank. We’ve got some potential deals out there. A lot of them have to do with Frank.” Kimmel will open the season at Daytona. Brad, who has been racing Late Models in the Toledo, Ohio, area, will get his first shot at Martinsville.(Daytona Beach News Journal)
Also, see the team site at www.teamkeselowski.com for a presentation and more info on the team.(1-12-2004)
