Keselowski expects to work with aerospace, military, and oil and gas companies in the near termGETTY IMAGES
NASCAR driver BRAD KESELOWSKI has invested more than $10M to "start an advanced contract manufacturing company that he hopes will build off the knowledge gained from motorsports' early adoption of 3-D printing." N.C.-based Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing "expects to work with aerospace, military, and oil and gas companies in the near term and expand to medical ones" in '20. The company "began operating quietly" in '18, and has "planned a press conference" for tomorrow to announce its launch. Keselowski has hired STEVE FETCH, who previously worked as VP/Global Quality for 3D Systems, to be GM and "run the 70,000-square foot facility" (FORBES.com, 1/23).
COLLEGE ASSIST: Warriors F KEVIN DURANT will return to Prince George's County, Md., today for his "first look at the polished new home of College Track at The Durant Center." His visit will be "part of the grand opening of an after-school facility that will commit resources and time to helping low-income and underserved students not just reach college -- but graduate." College Track is a company that "uses a 10-year plan to shepherd students from their early teenage years through college graduation." Durant pledged $10M "over the program's first decade" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/23).
NAMES: JAY-Z was in Pitt's Petersen Events Center last night to see their basketball game against Duke, where he took a picture with Pitt QB KENNY PICKETT. Jay-Z has "become a player in the pro athlete representation business" with Roc Nation Sports, so it was "probably not a coincidence" to see him at a game involving Duke's ZION WILLIAMSON (POST-GAZETTE.com, 1/22)....The Pistons were “scheduled to visit” the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Monday while in DC for a game against the Wizards, but the plans "were scuttled” due to the partial government shutdown (FREEP.com, 1/22)....Panthers RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY was the "executive producer of a documentary film called 'UNICORN TOWN.'" The film features an American playing for a football team in Germany that plays "American-style football." The film was "directed and edited by NICK ALFIERI, who is also the American player featured" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 1/22)....Former USWNT F ABBY WAMBACH on April 9 will release a new book, “WOLFPACK,” based on her ’18 Barnard College commencement speech. The book will include Wambach’s “new rules” for women to “claim their individual power, unite the Pack, and take their lives, families, careers and world further than they could have imagined” (USA TODAY, 1/23)....Former MLBer SANDY ALOMAR JR. will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 19th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Feb. 6 (OHIO.com, 1/22).