It was an iconic moment in the relationship between Penske Racing and MillerCoors, one that spans more than 30 years and ranks among the longest in sports.

Now it's guaranteed to continue at least another four years as Penske on Wednesday announced multiyear extensions with both Keselowski and Miller Lite through the 2017 season.

"This puts us in great shape because we've got continuity with a sponsor and an elite driver," team owner Roger Penske told The Associated Press.

The extension is only for 24 races, however, leaving Penske and Keselowski needing sponsorship for 12 races for the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

It's the second contract extension for the defending Sprint Cup champion in less than two years. Keselowski signed an extension after the 2011 season that ran through next year, and the contract was redone to put the driver and sponsor in concurrent deals.

It also comes in the midst of a disappointing season for Keselowski, who missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup a year after winning the title. Keselowski, who won five races last season, is winless this year and 15th in the Sprint Cup standings.

Keselowski said discussions on the extension began after last year's championship as he and Penske charted a plan on how to stay on top of NASCAR. Keselowski cited the continuity of Jimmie Johnson, who won five consecutive championships with the same crew chief and sponsor.

"I feel like together, Roger and I have done some great things. I have a lot of confidence in him, I like the way he treats me and hopefully he would say the same about me," Keselowski said. "It makes me feel very comfortable to go the extra mile to sign a long-term deal.

"At this point in time, with all these deals lined up, the health, the future of Penske Racing and its employees is now secured, at minimum, for the next half-decade."

Miller Lite has been the primary sponsor of Penske's flagship No. 2 since 1991.

The new MillerCoors contract covers just 24 races on the No. 2 Ford instead of the full 36-race schedule Miller Lite had always sponsored. But both Penske and England said the 12-race giveback was at Penske's request.

The Penske organization believes it can sell those 12 races elsewhere to generate new revenue.

"You start to look across the Cup Series with the major sponsors and we need to keep them in the business across the long run," Penske said. "We looked at going into markets twice, in fact, it was my idea, let us have those markets we go into a second time and give us a chance to bring in another world-class company. We have a number of people very interested in getting on with Brad."


KAHNE FEELING BAD ABOUT CHASE


Kasey Kahne admits that he didn't quite carry the same enthusiasm into last week's race at Dover that he had entering the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

"I think once you realize your chances at a Sprint Cup are over with, it changes the feeling a little bit," he said.

Despite needing a wild card to make the Chase, Kahne had high hopes entering the 10-race playoff. He had won two races and run up front often, leading 497 laps.

Then he finished 12th in the Chase opener at Chicago, leaving him 10th in the standings. Then he wrecked at New Hampshire, finished 37th and saw his title hopes disappear.

More problems and a 13th-place finish last week at Dover didn't help. After three races, he's last in the Chase, 78 points behind leader Matt Kenseth.

"We've been one of the best cars at times throughout the whole season," Kahne said.

"Hopefully we can hit on it again these last seven races and at least finish strong and get back in the top 10. I think at this point in time that would be a successful year for where we're at right now."

Kahne still feels bad about wrecking at New Hampshire. A DNF early in the Chase can be catastrophic, and it pretty much killed Kahne's title hopes a year after finishing fourth in the final standings.

"I'm the one that made the mistake. I feel bad for the guys on that front," he said.

"When it's not your season, it's not your season. But I definitely take full responsibility and felt bad after screwing up and spinning there, taking us out of the Chase."


DANICA GOING PINK


NASCAR fans won't be seeing Danica Patrick's familiar green GoDaddy car on the track this month.

Instead, Patrick will be driving a pink No. 10 Chevrolet in each of the four October races to help raise breast cancer awareness.

Patrick, wearing a pink shirt and pink sneakers, unveiled her new GoDaddy car in Times Square on Tuesday.

Chevrolet also has created a pink pace car for select races in October and will donate $200 to the American Cancer Society for every lap the pace car leads under caution at last month's race at Atlanta and upcoming races at Talladega and Martinsville.

GoDaddy-sponsored IndyCar driver James Hinchliffe also will drive a pink car this weekend for the IndyCar doubleheader in Houston.

GoDaddy also is teaming with the Public Interest Registry to donate $50,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Patrick's first "pink race" will be Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

"GoDaddy has been such a strong partner in the fight against breast cancer ... the fact GoDaddy wanted to 'go pink' for the whole month of October really says a lot about our commitment to this cause," Patrick said.


TWEETS OF THE DAY

What sports figures are cramming into 140 characters that you’ve got to hear.

"The pilot has a crush on you @ArleneMartin" -- Mark Martin, apparently tweeting his wife while flying

"@FreddieKraft: Poor @BubbaWallace having a rough day driving around Sorority girls" There were a lot of "p1, top of the board" bud! College=Talent." -- Darrell Wallace Jr., responding to a tweet while escorting college students to class at Auburn University. 


PHOTO OF THE DAY


Where Danica Patrick took boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for his birthday:


VIDEO OF THE DAY


Watch what Jimmie Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus and Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew chief Steve Letarte have to say about their 1-2 finish at Dover.

Contributors: Jeff Owens, The Associated Press