For most of the last 25 years the public face of K-Automotive Motorsports was Kay Keselowski.

Husband to Bob, and mother of racers Brian and Brad she's been at the heart of the company. She's been owner, spotter, organizer and lynchpin of the team through its ARCA and Craftsman Truck eras.

I understand you grew up in the farming area in Ohio - a world away from auto racing
 
My family was into horses so auto racing wasn’t even in my vocabulary.  My first experience was at the Indy national drags and I was hooked from the first moment I watched the first run.  What a thrill!!

Is it true you met Bob after being transferred to Michigan because of work?
That is true.Bob was just getting going as a serious racer then. He was racing locally in the super late model division when I met him.  He and Ron did a lot of independent work for Chrysler and small business’ to get enough money to race with.  They worked very hard and raced even harder.  It was very exciting and a lot of sacrifice.

Do you remember much of John Keselowski?
I do.  I was told he was a rough and grumble type of guy so I was pretty nervous when I met him.  But he was nothing but wonderful to me and to our children.  He was long since retired from racing ventures when I came along.

There was definitely a tradition and a deep desire to compete.  Ron was done driving when I came along but Bob says he was a great natural driver who really didn’t have to work at being good.

I helped as much as I could from the beginning but I had to work so that limited my ability for a while.  We went to the races several times a week and I sat in the stands with our kids cheer leading.  Women were not in the pits at the time.  I went to work for the team in 1996.

When did you get into spotting?
When we went truck racing there was a lot more travel involved and we could no longer depend on solely volunteer helpers.  So, out of necessity, Bob taught me what he wanted in a spotter and I did the best that I could.

Do spotters get the recognition they deserve?
Probably not to the general public, but anyone who is involved with a team knows the importance of a spotter who pays attention. You have to give up watching the race and concentrate solely on your race vehicle and what’s happening around it.  You need to scan NASCAR to know what is being said about the track, the competitors and your race team and relay that information when appropriate.  You won’t know what happened in an opposite corner until you watch the replay.

Did you ever get behind a race car wheel yourself?
Not ever.  I’m much too big of a coward!!

Did the kids spend much time at the tracks in those days?
All of the kids went to the local tracks with us and to many of the ARCA events also.  When we went to the trucks the girls were in school and didn’t get to a lot of races.  The boys went as often as we could but with me spotting there was no one to watch them.  When they got a little older, they stayed in the motor home and our fellow competitor’s spouses etc helped watch them.

I love my children more than life itself, so anytime there is a dangerous situation, I’m nervous.  That being said, they are exceptional in watching their safety equipment and understanding what they need to do to avoid situations.  Wrecks still happen and I don’t breath until I know they are okay.

Bob was involved in a crazy accident at Texas once. Fireball 50ft high they say. Were you there that day? Was he OK?
That wreck was before me but I have heard a lot about it.  He was fine but it got his attention for sure!!
When Bob last raced I didn’t really know it was for the last time. It was hard to watch another driver in the truck that Bob had put his life into.  So I’m not sure sad would describe it but it was hard.

I read somewhere that Ron could probably build a race car single handed. Do you think that’s true?
Ron, Bob, Brian and Brad could all build a car in their sleep.  It’s their love and their passion and they are each very talented at it.

What was Brian like as a young boy? Was he a racer or more into fixing things?
Brian is an amazing talent who understands each and every piece of a race car. He was , And still is, what every mom would want her son to be.  He was very thoughtful and followed most of the rules you set down for him ( I said most...)  He never liked getting into trouble but would not back down if he felt he had to stand up for something or someone.


What saw you all through the tough times,such as Bob’s health scare and the difficulties working without a big sponsor?
Racing is huge roller coaster ride.  The good times are the best you could ever dream of but the bad times are some of the harshest.  Bob’s health gave us a few scares but his last heart failure put each of his family to the test.  You definitely found out who your friends are and who they aren’t.  Sponsors are a true test.  You have to try to stay 10 steps ahead of them and there is always someone trying to take them away. 

How hard was it to close the truck operation in Feb. 06 with Brad improving all the time.
That was the lowest of lows for our entire family.  To watch all that you worked for go away and leave us all with nothing but a stack of bills, was devastating.  The saying that everything happens for a reason is oh so true.  It is hard to see what possible reason at the time, but in hind sight, it made us stronger.  Brad was forced to go out of his comfort zone and make things happen and Brian was forced to take control and work out his life style too.  I see it all coming together now and we survived it all!!  It was hard... Very very hard.

Who are the unsung heroes of K-automotive.
Naturally everyone sees how hard Bob and Ron, Brian and Brad have worked but what most don’t know is how much our other children sacrificed as they grew up.  We missed the births of all of our grand children ( They could never be born in the off season!) And we were gone so much that if the girls couldn’t come with us, they were at home in some capacity.  I see now how that caused them pain and it’s a regret I will live with always.

What K races do you remember the most?
I remember the ARCA Pocono races that Bob was so dominating at, the MIS race he won and of course the Richmond truck race he won.  Then of course, the boys races.  Brad’s quarter midget races, Brian’s late model wins.  The memories are something I’ll cherish always.

Well, when you have been around racing forever, it’s like a comfortable chair.  It’s where you are the happiest which makes you relaxed.  That being said, there are some very tense moments especially when things aren’t going according to plans.

With Brian opening up in Mooresville do you think you’ll be as involved?
No, not really.  I will do anything that I can but the distance is a deterring factor.

Was it a difficult decision for him to move given so many family members are connected with the team?
Very difficult.  But he knew it was the only way for him to move forward with his career.

Team Keselowski
c/o RSM&A
43252 Woodward Ave Ste 180
Bloomfield Hills MI 48302

Electronic mail (exclude spaces)
General Information: info @ teamkeselowski.com

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A few questions about Brad and his career. Are you pleased to see Brad moving back into the trucks so quickly (with Brad Keselowski Racing) and running a team?
I think that he wants to give back to the racing community and I’m proud of all of his efforts to help up and coming drivers succeed.

Do you remember Brad’s first quarter midget races?
Like it was yesterday.  We just watched the video tape a few weeks ago. Bob , Brian and I went to that first race and Eddie (who owned the car).  It was so much fun.

A champion in 1999 am I right?
Correct

How sweet was Brad’s Michigan win? Lot of family history out there in the Irish hills...
That was amazing.  I was in Also Steels suite with a ton of Brad’s fans.  I watched on the roof in the infield thinking that he was going to finish in the top 5 , Which is awesome.  Those last few laps were the most exciting that I can remember.  If he needed any bolster I guarantee the crowd that I was with pushed him to the finish line!!  I had no voice left!!  It was awesome!!

Will it help that Brad’s driving a Dodge these days?
Dodge was always the vehicle of choice for Bob and Ron.  They were dodge diehards and still are.  I believe that Dodge’s involvement will be of paramount help to Brad and the Penske teams.