#EXVIPAV SPRING 2018

EXECUTIVE & VIP AVIATION INTERNATIONAL

BRAD KESELOWSKI ALWAYS ON THE GAS HONG KONG BUSINESS AVIATION CENTRE – SAFETY, SERVICE & STYLE KRIYA SHORTT, TEXTRON AVIATION SVP CUSTOMER SERVICE

www.exvipaviationint.com PROFILE| BRAD KESELOWSKI

THE GAS… Nigel Kinrade Margie Goldsmith spoke with Race Car Driver Brad Keselowski Photography

26 International | SPRING 2018 PROFILE| BRAD KESELOWSKI

eventy-two years ago, when he competed for Germain Racing ?QV\PM,Ia\WVI1LWV¼\ bootleggers who’d at Memphis Motorsports Park. remember ever not wanting to become a souped up their He took pole and led for 62 laps, race car driver. vehicles to evade the a performance that landed him a authorities during ride in Dale Earnhardt Jr’s No.88 Did your father teach you how to prohibition, founded NXS full-time entry two weeks later. drive when you were young? NationalS Association for Stock Car 1V 3M[MTW_[SQ_WV\_WZIKM[ 1_W]TLV¼\[IaPM\I]OP\UMJ]\PM Auto Racing (NASCAR). Today, stock for JR Motorsports and in 2009 helped me learn. He got me a go-kart car racing is among America’s most claimed his first MENCS victory, _PMV1_I[IJW]\MQOP\IVL_M¼LZ]VQ\QV popular sports, with top-level races driving for James Finch at Talladega \PMJIKSaIZLW]\QV\PMÅMTL[IVa_PMZM ranging between 200 and 600 miles Superspeedway. He was also owner Q\_W]TLZ]V#1TMIZVML[WUMWN \PMJI[QK[ in length and cars reaching speeds of Brad Keselowski Racing, fielding \PMZM1IT[WPIL[VW_UWJQTM[LI\QVOJIKS in excess of 200 mph (322 km/h). two full-time teams in the NASCAR \W_PMV1_I[Å^M Team Penske, owned by Roger Camping World Truck Series. Penske, is one of the most successful 1VFord Fusion, and part-time in the championship, an NXS driver title and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. 6);+):@ÅVQ\a;MZQM[6@;LZQ^QVO four NXS owner championships. the No.22 Ford Mustang. Away from the racetrack, Keselowski AW]ÅZ[\LZW^M\Z]KS[\PMV_MV\W]\ Voted most popular driver by his married his long-time girlfriend, Paige, on your own and your career took '[0W_WTL_MZMaWٺfans, Keselowski is hoping to bring a year ago and lives in North Carolina W home a third Daytona 500 victory for with their two-year old daughter. 1_W]TL[Ia Team Penske in 2018 and a second Both Brad and Paige are active in his MENCS championship. Continuity is Checkered Flag Foundation, which What were the most important an important element in the 33-year-old honours and assists those who have given things he taught you about racing? Michigan native’s success and he has the OZMI\[IKZQÅKMNWZ)UMZQKI;QVKM 1¼UVW\IJQOO]a1¼UN\\ITTIVL same crew chief and most of the road the foundation has supported more _MQOPIJW]\ TJIVL_PMV1_I[QV and pit crew he had in 2017. than 50 organisations and individuals in UaMIZTa[1_I[IJW]\TJ0M[IQL Keselowski entered the 2017 MENCS PMTXQVO^M\MZIV[IVLÅZ[\ZM[XWVLMZ[WV “Never forget, when you get in the car, season among the pre-season favourites, their road to recovery. everyone weighs the same, everyone’s tipped to take home a second career EVA caught up with him during a rare the same size, everyone has the same ZIKSUWUMV\ WXXWZ\]VQ\a1\¼[IJW]\_PI\aW]PI^MQV\ٺseries championship, and advanced W to the Championship 4 during Ford your heart and your mind, it’s not about Championship Weekend at Homestead- What did your father do? what you were born with physically.” Miami Speedway. Along the way, Team My uncle, grandfather and dad were Mental strength with respect to desire, Penske won three races, scoring 15 top- car experts. My dad had a business as passion and overcoming obstacles has Å^MIVL\WX\MVÅVQ[PM[3M[MTW_[SQ both a race car driver and helping to stuck with me my entire career. also won two pole positions, including his tune other people’s cars. He was a little ÅZ[\I\5QKPQOIV1V\MZVI\QWVIT;XMML_Ia bit of a do-it-all performance car guy, AW]_WVaW]ZÅZ[\ZIKMQV! his home track. but mostly race. ?PI\LQL_QVVQVONMMTTQSM' Raised in a racing family, Keselowski A huge stress relief, because you are previously worked full-time for his Did your mother work? IT_Ia[ÅOP\QVONWZaW]Z[XW\ÅOP\QVO family’s NASCAR Camping World She was in real estate and then for your seat. And winners always Truck Series team while managing his transitioned to administrative work for OM\I[MI\ZM[MZ^ML

SPRING 2018 | International 27 PROFILE| BRAD KESELOWSKI

0W_LQLaW]IL^IVKMNZWUaW]Z 0I^MaW]M^MZ\PW]OP\aW]¼^MPIL ÅZ[\ZIKM[\WLZQ^QVO@ÅVQ\a' enough and want to quit? 1V_PMV1_I[WVUaW_V 6W\[MZQW][Ta1LWPI^M[WUMJIL MZMV\KIZ LIa[_PMZM1¼UR][\NZ][\ZI\MLIVLNMMTٺ1JW]VKMLIZW]VLNZWULQ W_VMZ[]V\QT _PMV1ÅVITTaNW]VL TQSM\PI\1\PIXXMV[\WIVaWVMQVIVa UaÅZ[\N]TT\QUMOQOW]\[QLMUaNIUQTa XZWNM[[QWVJ]\VM^MZMVW]OP\W_PMZM1 LZQ^QVONWZ,ITM-IZVPIZL\2Z1\_I[ have actually wanted to quit. _Q\PPQU\PI\1ZMITTaPILUaUW[\ measurable early career success. ?PI\Q[\PM+PMKSMZML.TIO Foundation? What goes through your mind when The Checkered Flag Foundation is you’re driving? a 501(c) (3) which is fancy words for a Probably the biggest thing is to always US tax code, a recognised and approved \Za\WJMXMZNMK\_Q\P\PM\PQVO[\PI\1KIV Keselowski joined a Checkered NW]VLI\QWV\PI\1[\IZ\MLQVI[I Flag Foundation ‘Huntsman control and to always look for opportunity. way to give back to the community. The Shootout’ event in June 2017. There’s always an opportunity – you just Dana Jo Photography emphasis is on military personnel and PI^M\WÅVLQ\7KKI[QWVITTaaW]¼TTOM\ ÅZ[\ZM[XWVLMZ[_PW¼^MUILM[WUMXZM\\a used to a really good routine and rhythm JQO[IKZQÅKM[IVLUIaJMVW\KWUMJIKS and you’ll start singing a song to yourself, the way they went out with respect to like running on a treadmill and your brain UMV\ITWZXPa[QKIT\ZI]UI1\¼[Ua_Ia takes you other places, but you are still to kind of embrace them, sending the running. Sometimes that happens, but it’s elevator back down to those who are XZM\\aZIZM=[]ITTa_PI\PIXXMV[Q[1¼TT not only less fortunate than me, but are JMZIKQVOIVL1¼TTJM\PQVSQVO¹1N 1_QV IT[WU]KPJZI^MZ\PIV1IUI[IZIKMKIZ \PQ[ZIKM_PI\_W]TL\PI\UMIV'º7ZQN 1 driver; they go out and risk life and limb have a bad race, what does it mean, how not to entertain, but to save lives and LW1PIVLTMQ\PW_LW1TMI^M\PM\MIU' UIQV\IQVW]Z_IaWN TQNMI\PWUM1IT[W 1\¼[VW\][]ITTaTQSM¹0Ma_PI\LW1_IV\ think it’s a necessary way to engage the \WPI^MNWZLQVVMZ\WVQOP\'º1\¼[][]ITTa community, because the community has more team related. given me so much.

1N aW]¼ZMPI^QVOIVMOI\Q^M\PW]OP\ ?PI\LWM[\PM+PMKSMZML.TIO does it encourage you to take more 1M`XMK\Q\WN Ua[MTNJ]\1IT[WMVRWa Foundation do? KPIVKM[\W\Za\WOWNI[\MZ' Q\XZWJIJTaUWZM\PIVM^MZ1¼UUIZZQML We have many initiatives. We help 1\ZaVW\\W\PQVS\PI\_IaJ]\M^MZa now with a young daughter, so the wins put on camps for service members who once in a while, those thoughts enter UMIVUWZM\PIV\PMaLQLJMNWZMJMKI][M1 PI^MKWUMJIKSNZWU\PMJI\\TMÅMTLIVL your mind. As they say in racing, you’re have a family to celebrate a win. are trying to return to their normal life only as good as your last race, so you’re with their family. We’re helping build constantly striving to prove yourself, week Did your father discourage you what’s called a Fisher House, which is in, week out, despite how good or how from racing? essentially like a hotel close to a military JILaW]ZZMKWZLPI[JMMV*MKI][M1¼U 1_W]TLV¼\[IaPMLQ[KW]ZIOMLUM hospital that allows family members to IXZW^MV_QVVMZZQOP\VW_1LWV¼\\PQVS but he never encouraged me early be with their loved ones while they are IJW]\TW[QVOI[U]KPI[1LQLMIZTQMZQV WV0M_IV\MLUM\WLWQ\JMKI][M1 being treated for something that might UaKIZMMZ*]\1LW\PQVSITW\IJW]\ wanted to do it, not because he wanted PI^MPIXXMVML\W\PMUWV\PMJI\\TMÅMTL WZ\IVL UM\WLWQ\)VL1\PW]OP\\PI\_I[ or even at home. We have sponsoredٺUISQVO[]ZM1¼UX]\\QVOQV\PMM producing the results my team deserves. one of the best ways of handling that, race weekends for military families to [W1¼LXZWJIJTaLW\PM[IUM_Q\PUa KWUM\WZIKM\ZIKS[IVLPI^MIÅZ[\ÆIO Do you ever think about the fact that LI]OP\MZ·1¼TTTM\PMZZIKMJ]\[PM¼[ M`XMZQMVKM1\PQVSITTWN \PW[MPI^M you’ve won more than 50 races? Is got to want to. Dad always told me been fun and engaging, allowing us to \PM\PZQTTIT_Ia[\PM[IUMWZLWaW] UaKWTTMOMN]VL_I[ZIKQVO[W1JM\\MZ meet people, inspire them and get them VW_R][\M`XMK\\PQ[WN aW]Z[MTN ' ÅO]ZMQ\W]\ excited about life again.

28 International | SPRING 2018 PROFILE| BRAD KESELOWSKI

AW]IZMIVMTQ\MI\PTM\M?PI\LWaW] 0W_LWaW]JITIVKMaW]ZTQNM ?PI\¼[TMN\NWZaW]\WLW' LW\WXPa[QKITTaXZMXIZMNWZIZIKM' JM\_MMVXZMXIZI\QWVJMQVOWV\PM 5WZM\PIV1¼TTM^MZJMIJTM\W1LWV¼\ 1\PQVSPI^QVOZMITTa[\ZWVOKIZLQWQ[ \ZIKSY]ITQNaQVOKPMKSQVO\PMKIZ know what God has planned for me, important. Hydration is critical. Eating and going through the race? J]\1ZMITTaPI^MITW\WN LM[QZM\W_QV healthily is critical for maintaining energy. 1\¼[IKPITTMVOM.QZ[\_M\ZI^MTI another championship at the highest And then there’s a mental aspect of lot and have the airplane to help with level of the sport. That’s probably my preparation. A lot of times the airplane is that; it helps reduce the stress and biggest desire right now. Along with that, _PMZM1[\]La\WJMZMILaNWZIVM^MV\WV keep the schedule as maintainable 1_IV\\WJMIJTM\WZIQ[MUaLI]OP\MZ PM\ZIKS

Wi-Fi is an essential tool aboard Keselowski’s Learjet 45. Matthew T Thacker/ Nigel Kinrade Photography

A family selfi e aft er Keselowski won the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia. Nigel Kinrade Photography

30 International | SPRING 2018 PROFILE| BRAD KESELOWSKI

_PM\PMZQ\¼[UaNI]T\WZVW\1N \PMZM¼[ Well, the Lear has been very good LWV¼\PI^M\W_WZZaIJW]\_PMZM\WÅVL a race on a Sunday, they’ll run the race \WUMQ\_W]TLJMPIZL\WTMI^M1N 1 NWWLIVL1SVW_\PI\_PI\1¼UMI\QVOQ[ _Q\PW]\][)VLQN 1LWV¼\[PW_]XNWZ _I[OWQVO\WTMI^M\PI\[MZQM[1_W]TL PMIT\PaJMKI][M1_WZSI[IVI\PTM\M UaRWJ1OM\ÅZML*]\1UIaVMML\WJM most likely consider something in the somewhere else that same day or two /]TN[\ZMIUTQVM)VL1¼L[IaIUQL[QbM 0W_U]KPWN IKWVKQMZOM[MZ^QKM LIa[JMNWZMIVL1¼UIJTM\WJMUWZM Gulfstream G250. But again, the Lear’s LWaW]M`XMK\NZWUaW]ZÆQOP\ places and do more things because of JMMV^MZaOWWL\WUMIVL1_W]TLJM LMXIZ\UMV\QVKT]LQVOPW\MT[ UaIQZXTIVM1¼UIT[WIJTM\WPI^MUWZM hard pressed to leave it. \ZIV[XWZ\I\QWV\PMKIZaW]UQOP\ ÆM`QJQTQ\a_Q\PUa[KPML]TMIVL\ISM PI^M\WZMV\IVLW\PMZTWOQ[\QK[I\ UaNIUQTa\W\PMZIKM\ZIKS1N 1PIL\W When you’re visiting a new the destination? ÆaKWUUMZKQIT_Q\PUaLI]OP\MZ_M¼L LM[\QVI\QWVLWaW]TMI^M\PM 5aPMILWN ÆQOP\WX[UIVIOM[\PM VM^MZUISMQ\\W\PM\ZIKSIVL1\PQVS LMKQ[QWVWN _PQKP.*7aW]¼TT][M\W IQZXTIVMIVLUaÆQOP\LMXIZ\UMV\PIVLTM[ everybody would want to kill me! aW]ZÆQOP\WX[\MIUWZXQTW\WZLW M^MZa\PQVO1IT[WPI^MUaW_VPIVOIZ you have your own preferences? ?PI\aMIZLQLaW]J]aaW]ZXTIVM' 1IT_Ia[TMI^MVM_LM[\QVI\QWV[\W Do you put the Lear out for charter? 1[\IZ\MLTMI[QVOQV!IVL1JW]OP\ \PM\MIUIVL1¼TTXQKSLM[\QVI\QWV[_M¼^M 6WXM7]ZPW]Z[IVL[KPML]TMIZM[W UaÅZ[\IQZXTIVMQV1¼^MIT[W been going to over the years. LMUIVLQVO\PI\1KIV¼\OQ^M]XIKKM[[ helicoptered about 30 hours a year too. Do you have a preference for on- 0W_KTW[MIVMaMLWaW]SMMXWV Why did you decide to buy the Lear JWIZLKI\MZQVOWZLWaW]TMI^M\PI\ M`XMV[M[',WaW][KZ]\QVQ[MJQTT[ ZI\PMZ\PIVTMI[MQ\' to the team? or do you take the view that if the 1TMI[ML\_WXTIVM[JMNWZMIVL 1LMÅVQ\MTaPI^MXZMNMZMVKM[1M`XMK\ UIQV\MVIVKMIVLZ]VVQVOKPIZOM[NITT the value package for purchasing the \PMNWWL\WJMVQKMIVL1PI^MUaW_V _Q\PQVIVM`XMK\MLZIVOM\PI\¼[ÅVM' IQZXTIVM_I[XZM\\a[QOVQÅKIV\\W_PMZM KPMN1\MTTUa\MIU\PI\\PMÆaQVOQ[ 1N \PMaNITT_Q\PQV\PMM`XMK\ML 1\PQVSQV\PMTWVOZ]VQ\_I[JM\\MZNWZ a reset point for me and so what that ZIVOM\PI\¼[ÅVM1LWV¼\KW]V\VQKSMT[ UMÅVIVKQITTa)T[W1_W]TLPI^MJM\\MZ UMIV[\WUM[XMKQÅKITTaQ[UWZMWN\MV IVLLQUM1PI^MXMWXTM1\Z][\IVLQN  control over maintenance and upgrade, \PIVVW\\PMXTIKM[1OWIVL\PM\PQVO[1 IVa\PQVO1[WUM\QUM[I[S\PMU\W[XMVL and felt more comfortable with the LWI\_WZSIZMVW\[Q\]I\QWV[_PMZM1KIV more, not less, to make sure we are not wear and tear that my family put on the MI\1¼TTTIVL[WUM_PMZMOWLW_PI\M^MZ \ISQVOIVaKPIVKM[WVIVa\PQVO1LWV¼\ IQZXTIVMJMQVO[WUM\PQVO\PI\1W_VML 1PI^M\WLW_PM\PMZQ\¼[LZQ^MUMM\ like to cut corners. rather than something that’s leased. with someone or host an event – and When people ask me about owning even though the people there might be UaW_VIQZXTIVM1]VLMZ[\IVL\PI\VW\ If you were going to move or MI\QVO1][]ITTaLWV¼\OM\\PMKPIVKM everybody owns their own airplane. But ]XOZILMNZWUaW]ZM`Q[\QVO4MIZ JMKI][M1¼U_WZSQVO;W\PMXTIVMQ[ 1LWV¼\W_VIVIQZXTIVMNWZT]`]Za1 _PQKPUWLMT_W]TLaW]KPWW[M' UaZM[M\XWQV\NWZLQM\IZaVMML[_PMZM1 LWV¼\ÆaUaIQZXTIVMNWZT]`]Za-^MZa WVKMQVI_PQTM1¼TTOWWVI^IKI\QWVIVL we’ll take the airplane, but my airplane Q[ZMITTaUaKIZ1KW]TLV¼\LWUaRWJ _Q\PW]\Q\1\PQVSITW\WN \QUM[\PMZM¼[ a bit of stigma to private aviation, that the people who own private airplanes IZMR][\OM\\QVOWV\PMQZRM\[IVLÆaQVO to Hawaii every week and having a OQLLaWTL\QUM1¼UVW\[IaQVO\PI\VM^MZ happens or there aren’t people who do \PI\*]\1LWV¼\W_VIVIQZXTIVM[W\PI\ 1KIVPWJVWJ_Q\P\PMZQKPIVLNIUW][ Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation supports 1W_VIVIQZXTIVM[W\PI\1KIVJM\PM military and civilian emergency services personnel JM[\1KIVI\UaRWJ1\¼[UaKIZQ\¼[Ua who’ve suff ered severe trauma in the line of duty. way of living and the airplane is a heavy, Nigel Kinrade Photography heavy part of the equation. Q

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