2014 Driver Reviews: No. 5 Brad Keselowski

After doing exit interviews for Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2013, we’re turning the tables. We want the drivers to sell themselves. So here are the resumés for all full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2014. Then, at the end, we’ll provide a summation of the driver’s season in 150 words or less.

Name: Brad Keselowski

NASCAR Experience: Five full seasons in the Cup Series. 16 wins. 2012 Cup title.

Most recent team: Team Penske

Most recent season finish: 5th

2014 accomplishments: A series-leading six wins, 17 top-five finishes and 23 top 10s. Plus five pole positions, good for second in the series.

Most memorable moment: It’s Talladega, which conjured up discussions of clutch racing performances. Because if clutch exists, the Talladega fall race epitomizes it.

Yes, there’s Texas too. But you’ll see that enough on replays for the next 10 years.

Strengths: Possibly the best driver-crew chief communication in the garage and used the motivation to prove that 2012 wasn’t a fluke in a positive way. That’s a huge asset.

2015 goals: Much like everyone else in this stratosphere, win the championship.

FTM’s Take: Remember the talk about how important fifth-place in the final standings was because of the new Chase format? How many people outside of Keselowski fans are able to remember who the fifth-place driver was? (Before reading this, of course)

Keselowski’s season is going to be remembered for his dustups with Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin and the Texas tussle with Jeff Gordon and his crew, but the sheer speed that Keselowski and his team had shouldn’t be forgotten. He had the most top fives in the Cup Series.

Yes, you can argue about Keselowski’s opinions or his likeability, but you can’t dispute his talent or that he’s one of the best drivers in the series. With three top-five seasons in the past four, it’s looking like 2013 was an outlier. We have confidence that Keselowski will make it four in five in 2015 and potentially grab title No. 2.

Previous reviews: No. 6 Jeff Gordon, No. 7 Matt Kenseth, No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 9 Carl Edwards, No. 10 Kyle Busch, No. 11 Jimmie Johnson, No. 12 Kurt Busch, No. 13 AJ Allmendinger, No. 14 Greg Biffle, No. 15 Kasey Kahne, No. 16 Aric Almirola, No. 17 Kyle Larson, No. 18, Jamie McMurray, No. 19 Clint Bowyer, No. 20, Austin Dillon, No. 21 Paul Menard, No. 22 Brian Vickers, No. 23 Marcos Ambrose, No. 24 Martin Truex Jr., No. 25 Tony Stewart, No. 26 Casey Mears, No. 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 28, Danica Patrick, No. 29, Justin Allgaier, No. 30, David Gilliland, No. 31 Cole Whitt, No. 32 David Ragan, No. 33 Michael Annett, No. 34 Reed Sorenson, No. 35 Alex Bowman