Keselowski explains having phone in car

Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski has no intention of ever using his phone while his tires are rolling. But just having it in the car could lead some young fans to think it's OK to text or tweet while they are driving, already a growing problem on the highways across America. No one wants that, including Keselowski. He told a long story Friday about why he has his cell phone in the race car, which had nothing to do with social media.

Originally, it was all about calling his mom. He crashed in a 2007 Nationwide Series race at Fontana and was airlifted by helicopter to a Los Angeles hospital. He didn't have his cell phone and couldn't contact his mother, Kay, for hours. "That's why I keep the phone with me now," he said.

"I had the team put a little pocket for it in the car. It has a practical purpose." The Daytona oddity was just a bonus — a 160,000 Twitter bonus. "The phone wasn't there for a red flag at Daytona and a jet-dryer explosion," Keselowski said. "I don't have that much foresight. You can't plan moments like that. They just happen." ESPN