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Brad Keselowski pays tribute to Dale Earnhardt Jr. with Talladega scheme

Food City 250

Keselowski won for the U.S. Navy and team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Bristol in 2008.

Getty Images for NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had some fun with his farewell tour during his final season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Earnhardt drove his ACDelco paint scheme from his early days in the Xfinity Series in the Southern 500 and he’ll drive his original Cup Budweiser scheme in his last Cup start at Homestead-Miami Speedway next month.

Now one of Earnhardt’s former JR Motorsports drivers will pay tribute to him this weekend in the Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Brad Keselowski will have a subtle homage to Earnhardt on his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford.

The Team Penske driver revealed on Twitter and on his blog that his scheme will be based on the No. 88 U.S. Navy paint scheme Keselowski drove to his first two Xfinity wins in 2008 when he drove for JRM. The first came at Nashville Superspeedway.

The blue trim of the normal Miller Lite scheme will be absent and the font of the No. 2 is based on the font of old No. 88 car. The rear quarter panels will also bear "#Cheers2DaleJr” decals.

Keselowski drove for JR Motorsports from 2007-09 and scored six wins. In 2010, Keselowski went to Penske.

“Dale and I are great friends, and as many of you probably know, he gave me a chance to drive for him in 2007, and that opportunity changed my life,” Keselowski wrote in his blog. “I was very, very fortunate to drive for him, and to have his help building a career. I don’t know if I’d be where I am without him, but I’m glad I don’t have to find out.”

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