It’s been 16 years now that Brad Keselowski has been part of the NASCAR Cup Series. Without a doubt, it is a commendable achievement, especially with him going all the way in 2012. Having said that, it hasn’t always been bells and whistles for the Michigan-born driver. In fact, Dale Earnhardt Jr played a monumental role when it was all falling apart for Keselowski.

There is no question about how demanding and exhausting the sport of NASCAR is. In fact, it once all looked quite bleak for Keselowski. However, things drastically turned around for him after an eventful race.

Brad Keselowski opens up about his hardships and breakthrough moment in NASCAR

Very recently, Brad Keselowski was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. With a title win and 35 career victories, one would say he deserved it. While he strives to get better even at the age of 39, Keselowski’s breakthrough story is nothing less than dramatic.

The RFK Racing co-owner was recently seen attending Kenny Wallace’s show, The Kenny Conversation. There, he quite candidly spoke about his past struggles. In 2006, Keselowski’s family team went bankrupt which resulted in him pulling out of the NASCAR Truck Series. Speaking to Wallace, he said, “When my driving career fell flat on its face probably middle to end of 2006, I had to be resourceful and I was able to stay in the sport.”

Things only got worse a year later when he lost his Nationwide Series ride as his then-team Keith Coleman Racing had to shut down. Speaking about it at the show, Keselowski said, “I was stuck in mediocrity and I wasn’t breaking through. I wasn’t getting any attention from any big teams. It wasn’t generating any opportunities.”

With the then 23-year-old struggling for a platform to prove his potential, on came an unexpected opportunity: Racer Ted Musgrave suspended for a crash during caution at Milwaukee Mile in a Truck race. Luckily for Keselowski, he was chosen as Musgrave’s replacement at Memphis.

It was in that race that Keselowski impressed plenty and his fortunes turnaround. About this, he said, “What really got me my first huge opportunity was that night in Memphis in 2007 and it came about in some odd and peculiar way with another driver getting suspended, Ted Musgrave. I don’t know where and I’ve said this today, I don’t know where my career would have gone without that night or without Dale Jr calling me.”

Unfortunately, Keselowski witnessed a heart-breaking loss that night in Memphis.

READ MORE – “I Haven’t Done Enough” – Regretful Brad Keselowski Makes a Heart Warming Confession 

While that happened, it was Dale Earnhardt Jr who played a pivotal role after the race in turning around his career.

Dale Earnhardt Jr came to Brad Keselowski’s rescue after the latter’s disappointing loss in 2007

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That night in Memphis saw Brad Keselowski perform very brightly. In fact, he won the pole and led the first 19 laps. Not only that, he led 43 of 44 late-race laps until an unexpected event took place. His car was spun by Travis Kvapil, taking away a lifetime opportunity from Keselowski.

He ended up 16th in the race, thinking he blew away a marvelous chance. However, Junior didn’t think so. In fact, he had Keselowski on his radar for quite some time then, having watched him qualify 12th at Bristol with an underperforming car. Dale Jr was left more than impressed by what happened at Memphis.

When he spoke to SB Nation about the event, he said, “You just see people have glimpses of potential and then he got that opportunity there and made the most of it. He [Keselowski] would have won that race had he not been spun out.” Junior wasted no time in offering him a driver’s place at JR Motorsports and the rest is history.

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So it would definitely have been difficult for Keselowski had Dale Jr not offered him a helping hand back then. While the #6 driver remains grateful for that, he deserves massive credit for capitalizing on the opportunity presented to him at Memphis in 2007 in his own right.