Brad Keselowski: Twitter Using Daytona 500 Driver Tweets From Car During Race Delay

By Simon Evans

DAYTONA BEACH (Reuters) - NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski caused an online stir during Monday's delayed Daytona 500 race by tweeting from his car and picking up over 100,000 Twitter followers in the process.

Keselowski posted a photograph of his view of the incident where a jet-dryer truck set fire spectacularly after being hit by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya with 40 laps remaining.

The 28-year-old driver also tweeted quick reactions to incidents in the race and shared his phone with fellow-drivers during the two-hour break as the track was cleared of the truck.

Most professional sports ban competitors from tweeting during events but NASCAR, keen to make ground in social media, has taken a more lenient attitude.

The Dodge driver took advantage of several breaks in the race to update his followers.

Keselowski interactive approach was not only a hit with the thousands of fans who followed his tweets but his rivals also approved.

"That's how Brad is. That's what he makes and what he enjoys," runner up Dale Earnhardt Jr told reporters.

"I thought it was pretty funny."

Keselowski finished 32nd in the race won by Matt Kenseth after being involved in a group collision late in the race.

"Nothing we could do there... never saw the wreck till we were windshield deep," he tweeted.

(Editing by John O'Brien)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[JackHoffman]

04:32 PM on 02/28/2012

Rednecks have internet? I thought they hate the big bad gubmint that invented it.

[NightflyLester]

01:07 PM on 02/28/2012

Despite what the fan base might like to believe, these guys are not astronauts or jet fighter pilots. They drive cars, albeit fast ones, but cars none the less.

[StraferX]

11:42 AM on 02/28/2012

This cell phone usage is an epidemic, cells are the down fall of mankind. The end is near expecialy for those who text and drive.

[Elizabeth Sullivan]

11:27 AM on 02/28/2012

So long as he wasn't actually driving at the time.

[Pectin]

11:02 AM on 02/28/2012

"Daytona 500 Driver Tweets From Seat"

...as do the majority of Twitter users.

[Bartolo27]

10:46 AM on 02/28/2012

I'm approaching the third corner currently running 189 mph. My position is HOLY SHEET!!!..................................................................................................................