Brad Keselowski, ‘Pirate Ship’ continues success with heat win at All-Star Race

by | May 18, 2025

Brad Keselowski will not only start on the front row for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, but he’ll also do it with some momentum.

Keselowski won one of the two heats on Saturday in the “Pirate Ship,” the East Carolina-themed Ford that’s purple and gold. He has struggled this season and sits 33rd in points. However, the RCR Racing driver led all the laps in Saturday’s first heat race to win and bring momentum into Sunday.

CLICK HERE: The story behind Brad Keselowski’s ECU-themed NASCAR in Sunday’s All-Star race

He’s driving the ECU-themed “Pirate Ship” vehicle because Solomon Plumbing, the main sponsor for this car, has employees who are graduates of ECU. Danny Allor II, the business founder, died a couple of weeks ago. It was his desire to have a paint scheme that’s purple and gold to recognize ECU.

Allor’s son, Danny Allor III, also graduated from ECU along with Keselowski’s wife.

“That’s what this is supposed to be,” Keselowski said, according to NASCAR.com. “It’s supposed to be a fun race, and I think I ran beside the 45 (Reddick), the 1 (Chastain), the 24 (Byron) for at least a dozen or maybe two dozen laps. It was a good battle.

“I’m glad that we came out on top, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be, right?”

Click here to read more about Saturday’s heat races and a look into Sunday’s race.

Photo credit: Brad Keselowski’s Pirate Ship car (NBC Sports photo via video)

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