Brad Keselowski is one of NASCAR's top drivers. He won the Cup Series championship in 2012 and has been a consistent playoff contender for Team Penske over the years. One thing that fans know about Keselowski is that he's never afraid to speak his mind on social media.
Often times it's jawing with his rival, fellow champion and playoff contender, Kyle Busch. You may even recall the 2012 Daytona 500 when Keselowski gained over 100,000 followers after tweeting a picture from his car while the race was suspended under red flag. He was of coursed fined $25,000 and NASCAR immediately banned smartphones in cars afterwards but one could argue that the impact had been made.
Fire!
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) February 28, 2012
My view pic.twitter.com/RWn3xMn6
On late Tuesday night, the No. 2 driver added another chapter to his Twitter narrative. This time he felt compelled to speak his mind on the national anthem controversy taking place across sports which even compelled President Donald Trump to tweet about NASCAR itself.
Here's what he tweeted:
My reps want me to stay out of this, I CAN’T
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 27, 2017
2 all my friends & supporters, I support your civil rights 💯%
PLEASE DON’T believe this —> pic.twitter.com/bG6r2gHcz6
I #Choose2honor our country and hope other do too out of my respect and love for a country that has provided us so many blessing.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 27, 2017
Sure our country isn’t perfect (far from it), the list of misgivings is tremendous, but I hope you can see the positives & honor it as well.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 27, 2017
Please don’t believe that when we stand it’s out of disrespect to civil rights; it is and always will be out of respect and love for our 🇺🇸
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 27, 2017
I plan to stand and sing the national anthem with my family as long as we are able, every chance possible. I hope you will too
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 27, 2017
So please don’t fall for the false narrative of choice between patriotism and racism. It’s simply not the case.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 27, 2017
Before last week's playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Keselowski was seen standing and singing the national anthem alongside his 2-year-old daughter Scarlett as well as drivers and fans throughout the grounds. Keselowski finished the race fourth, clinching his spot in the Round of 12 (second round) in the playoffs. His rival, Kyle Busch won the race.
Daddy's biggest fan.❤️ #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/rOfHxCf81n
— #NASCARPlayoffs (@NASCAR) September 24, 2017
Keselowski wasn't the only driver to voice his opinion on the national anthem. NASCAR's winningest driver Richard Petty as well as fellow team owner Richard Childress also chimed in on the situation.
"Anybody that don't stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period," Petty said, via the Associated Press. "What got 'em where they're at? The United States."
Childress shared similar thoughts to 'The King'.
"It'll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus," Childress said.
Playoff contender Denny Hamlin shared a video basketball players standing prior to a local basketball game. Hamlin of course drives for Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins (XVII, XXII, XXVI).
Great night of hoops as All-Stars from 2 different leagues squared off. pic.twitter.com/8jXTpHrcIt
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 26, 2017
No one made waves however quite like NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.. Shortly after Trump's tweet Monday, Earnhardt quoted President John F. Kennedy in a tweet to his 2.28-million followers supporting the rights of Americans to a peaceful protest.
All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 25, 2017
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable-JFK
Sunday's upcoming race isn't just going to be interesting because of these comments. This weekend the series will be at Dover for the final race in the Round of 16. After that, it moves to the Round of 12 then Round of 8 and eventually the Championship 4 when things wrap up at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Look for Keselowski to be a big-time competitor as the playoffs progress.