NASCAR At Chicagoland: Brad Keselowski Not Worried About Being A Chase Favorite

Brad Keselowski ended the regular season on a wave of momentum with two wins, four top-fives and six top-10s in the seven races leading up to the Chase.

Grabbing one of the wild card spots in the Chase, Keselowski enters the final 10-race stretch both listed as one of the favorites for the title and as an underdog contender. While many left the No. 2 Penske Racing team off their preseason list, the 27 year-old-driver said he felt all along his team would make the Chase. 

"We don't feel like we're flukes," Keselowski said.

Despite his strong performance leading up to the Chase cut-off race in Richmond, Keselowski feels his team is entering the championship run with a "very low-key" and "low pressure" feeling. 

"I don't see why we can't (win the Chase)," he said. 

Contrasting his string of impressive runs to the Chase to that of basketball teams in the NCAA tournament, Keselowski pointed out the biggest difference is his team has been racing against – and in some cases beating – the same competition week-in and week-out. 

"I feel like we can just continue that," he said. "I don't see where anything has changed. I feel like, if anything, as a team we're getting stronger."

With a plethora of media predictions and discussions taking place to determine a favorite for the Chase, Keselowski said he cannot pay attention to the talk going on. Instead, he is committed to remaining focused on contending for the title. 

"I feel like every second you sit and worry about how many points I have to score, or what average finish I have to have, who is the guy I've got to beat, that's another second you don't use to focus on what really matters – and that's how can I go faster and make better moves on the race track," he said. "That's what I spend my time focusing on."