Dad and son will face off

MILWAUKEE – Save for one’s addictions to Starbucks and Twitter – obvious signals someone has grown up in the 2000s, not the ’80s – son and father have plenty in common.

Ross Kenseth sounds a lot like Matt Kenseth, not only in his voice and rapid delivery but his quick praise for those who’ve helped him and a healthy distaste for hyperbole and self-promotion. The 16-year-old had a head start in racing, but that’s standard in the sport nowadays, and regardless, they both showed promise early on.

The two are fiercely competitive, of course, but so far their head-to-head battles have centered around football of the fantasy and John Madden video varieties.

Saturday night their relationship will change when Ross, a high school junior, and Matt, a Daytona 500 champion, hit the racetrack together for the first time. The event at Madison International Speedway – twin 50-lap limited late Model features – has been billed as “Kenseth vs. Kenseth” and has received play all over the NASCAR Web sites.

“It’s kind of cool, but it’s also just another race, too,” Ross said this week, the same way you’d expect Matt to answer the question. “The chances of it coming down to us two are pretty slim. There’s going to be a lot of other guys out there with a lot of talent who race at Madison every single week who obviously are going to be there too, like Jeremy Miller and Bobby Wilberg and all those guys.

“It’ll be a lot of fun if we get a chance to race hard. He’s a great driver and I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Matt worked on his dad’s car before he got a chance to race it at 16. As a successful NASCAR driver, he was infinitely more equipped to help his own son launch what may or may not become his career.

“There’s so many things that have to happen … and there’s only so far I can take him, so many doors I can open for him,” Matt said. “He’s worked at it really hard, and he likes doing it now, but who knows?

“But to compare me at 16 to him at 16, honestly there’s no comparison. He’s so far ahead of where I was it’s unbelievable.”

The early start has helped Ross, in addition to traveling to a variety of racetracks and the opportunity to work with the same guys who run Matt’s extracurricular short-track program. But he also possesses more common sense and a cooler head, according to Matt. That’s lifted Ross to the level Matt was at age 20 or 21.

Matt’s 37 now, with 43 victories in NASCAR’s top two divisions, a Winston Cup championship and an IROC title to his credit. He made the most of his time in racing since Ross was born.

Now let’s watch the years to come and see just how similar father and son turn out.

Keselowski mum

Brad Keselowski declined to comment on reports he’ll drive in the Sprint Cup Series for Penske Racing next year, but he did indicate to Sporting News he won’t be back in JR Motorsports’ Nationwide car next season.

Asked whether he expected to return to JRM, Keselowski said, “At this time, no,” during a boat tour of the Old Port in Montreal.

Kelly Bires reportedly is the leading candidate to replace Keselowski in the No. 88 JRM Chevrolet.

“I heard that, too,” Keselowski said when asked about the possibility of Bires driving for JRM. “It’s hard to tell. I know they’ve talked to a number of drivers, and I wish them the best on whoever gets in there, and I expect big things from them, as I’m sure the team does.

“I look forward to seeing somebody get the opportunity that I got.”

Keselowski’s departure from JRM lends credence to reports, which surfaced last week at Bristol, that he’ll join Penske Racing. Team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has said if Keselowski were to drive a car make other than Chevrolet in the Cup series, that would preclude him for driving for JRM’s Nationwide program.

Indy to Texas

The IRL tweaked its 2010 schedule this week, moving Texas Motor Speedway’s race ahead to June 5, the Saturday night after the Indianapolis 500.

The track has coveted that weekend for as long as the series has raced there. It was freed up again by the chaos surrounding the non-payment of the 2009 sanction fee to the IRL by the former Milwaukee Mile promoter.