Newly-crowned 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski will appear Thursday in America's Thanksgiving Parade on the streets of downtown Detroit.

His appearance was announced Monday by the Bloomfield-based Penske Racing.

"Growing up in Michigan for years it was a tradition in our house to wake up Thanksgiving morning and watch America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit," stated Keselowski in a news release. The 28-year-old driver grew up in Rochester Hills. 

Keselowski finished ahead of five-time champion Jimmie Johnson on Sunday to win NASCAR's coveted cup; it was his first championship.

"This is an amazing moment for Detroit and our entire community as we welcome Penske Racing driver and newly-crowned local hero 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski to America's Thanksgiving Parade," said Tony Michaels, President & CEO of The Parade Company.

Also scheduled to appear: Peter Vanderkaay, the Olympic medalist who competed in this summer's Games in London. Vanderkaay grew up in Rochester Hills. 

America's Thanksgiving Parade, an 86-year tradition produced by The Parade Company, steps-off at Woodward Avenue and Mack on Thanksgiving at 9:05 a.m. The two-hour parade will be featured on WDIV-TV Local 4, including a one-hour national broadcast reaching more than 140 major cities across the country. News/Talk 760 WJR will also broadcast live from the event.

Are you planning to participate in the parade? Tell us in the comments!