Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site

#17 Team Past News and Rumors

NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages

Past 2008 News

2008 Sponsor Schedule, DeWalt is the sponsor unless noted:
Races [1] that Disk Network is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Bristol - March 16

Races [3] that USG Sheetrock is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Las Vegas - Mar 2
Chicago - July 12
Atlanta - Oct 26

Races [4] that Carhartt is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
California - Feb 24
Michigan - June 15
New Hampshire - June 29
Charlotte - Oct 13

Races [4] that R+L Carriers is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Lowe's Motor Speedway - May 25
Daytona - July 5
California - Oct 31
Martinsville - Oct 19

Races [4] that DeWalt NANO is scheduled to be the primary sponsor::
Phoenix [4/12];
Richmond [5/3];
Darlington [5/10];
All-Star Race [5/17];
supposedly this scheme has been dropped and will not run at the two final races
Bristol [8/23];
Richmond [9/6]

Roush: No plans to build test track: Back in the day, NASCAR team owner Jack Roush had contemplated building his own test track. On Saturday, the day after NASCAR had announced that it was banning all testing on the tracks it sanctions, Roush was asked if he had revived the idea. “I have neither the money nor the inclination to build a test track,” Roush said. Roush also said he has no intention of circumventing NASCAR’s ban. “If we could organize a situation where all the established teams could hold hands and resolve not to test outside of the NASCAR mandated or approved testing, not go to the skid pads, not go to Canada, not go to Pikes Peak or any of the places they are checking on,” he said, “I’d be happier with that than to skirt around.” Roush said, however, that if other teams started skirting, he would be forced to as well.(Kansas City Star)(11-20-2008) Comment here

Some spotter changes in 2009: Hearing that Earl Barban [currently at the #38 team] will be back as the spotter for #48 Jimmie Johnson and current spotter, Stevie Reeves will join Yates Racing and Paul Menard [will be the #98 team]. Bob Jeffrey, the spotter for #17 Matt Kenseth will join Stewart-Hass Racing to work with #14-Tony Stewart. Mike Calinoff, who started 2008 with #40-Dario Franchitti at Chip Ganassi Racing before the team shut down and has been spotting for #20-Stewart during The Chase, will return to Roush-Fenway Racing and work with #17-Matt Kenseth. Barban spent two years with Johnson previously and Calinoff was with Kenseth for six seasons, including the Championship season in 2003.(11-15-2008)

Ford re-ups with Roush BUT no support for Trucks: Ford Racing has reinforced the importance of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series to the manufacturer under tough economic times by reaching a five-year deal to remain with Roush Fenway Racing. BUT Ford will pull its financial support in the Craftsman Truck Series beginning next season. Team owner Jack Roush assured that Ford has not pulled support from the Cup program. "Ford has made us a commitment for five years going into the future that we feel is adequate to our needs for the support that comes from manufacturers," Roush said before Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. Roush has been with Ford since he got into NASCAR in 1988. His organization owns five of the eight Cup teams currently funded by the manufacturer and has an alliance with two more at Yates Racing. The single-car team [#21] of the Wood Brothers is the only other one that runs fulltime in NASCAR's premiere series, although Yates plans to expand to three teams [#28,#38 and Paul Menard] in 2009. The withdrawal of financial support in the Truck Series was purely an economical decision. It is the second big hit for that series, which lost Dodge support earlier this year. Unlike Dodge, Ford will continue to provide technical support and engineering. "We remain positive about the performance of our teams and their dedication to the company during these challenging times," said Brian Wolfe, the director of Ford Racing Technology.(ESPN.com)(10-19-2008) Comment here

R+L on the #17 at Martinsville: The #17 will sport the green and yellow colors of R+L Carriers this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Team 17 will be unloading chassis RK-574. Matt Kenseth raced this car at both Richmond races this year. Each time, he was relegated to less than stellar finishes due to accidents.(Roush Fenway Racing PR) see an image of the car on my #17 Team Schemes Page.(10-14-2008)

New Hire by Roush Fenway Racing: Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a premier sports marketing agency that specializes in representation, sponsorship sales, event marketing and strategic marketing consulting, announced it has appointed Brian Corcoran as Executive Vice President, Business Development & Motorsports. Corcoran will oversee day-to-day operations for FSG's NASCAR division which includes Roush Fenway Racing and Yates Racing. He is tasked with identifying and developing new sponsor and revenue opportunities for both teams. Corcoran comes to FSG after spending the last six years as Managing Director, Corporate Marketing for NASCAR. He was instrumental in securing Nextel Communications as the entitlement partner of the Nextel Cup Series and Nationwide Insurance as lead sponsor of NASCAR's secondary circuit which is often compared to Triple-A baseball. Corcoran also played key roles in securing new sponsors, including Enterprise, Office Depot, AMD, TISSOT, AutoZone and Domino's Pizza. In February 2007, FSG purchased 50 percent stake in Roush Racing, one of NASCAR's largest and most successful teams, to form Roush Fenway Racing (RFR). The team fields five cars in the Sprint Cup Series and currently has three drivers, Carl Edwards (2nd), Greg Biffle (7th) and Matt Kenseth (10th) in the Chase for the Cup and four drivers in the top 13 in Cup standings with David Ragan currently in 13th place. This merger marked the first time that owners of a professional franchise in one of the four major leagues have partnered with a NASCAR team. Through RFR, FSG also provides marketing and sponsorship services to Yates Racing.(PR)(8-25-2008)

Roush's Smith to retire? Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith is putting plans in place to retire after the 2009 season. "More than likely," Smith said before Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway. "That's what we're building for. We've been systematically elevating the responsibilities of several key people, training and training." Smith runs the business and marketing side of Roush Fenway. He has been instrumental in putting together one of the top sponsorship programs in the garage. He'll be 63 when his contract expires after next season. "I've done this for a lot of years," Smith said. "I owe my wife time together before we're dead."(ESPN.com)(8-18-2008)

Busch, Kenseth come up short in ASA race at Iowa: All weekend long Tim Schendel was fast around the 7/8-mile Iowa Speedway as he was able to back up those fast times in practice and qualifying by taking the ASA Midwest Tour Rasmussen Group Twin 75's. Schendel took the checkered flag while Jonathan Eilen would hold off Matt Kenseth and Donny Reuvers for second. Kenseth, who was making his first visit Iowa Speedway, was pleased with his third place finish. Kyle Busch flew through the field after starting 11th and took over the top spot on lap 8. Busch would then dominate by pulling away from the rest of the field to the halfway break. At the start of the second half, Busch would lead the first four laps until he fell off the pace and retired with mechanical problems.(ASA Midwest Tour)(7-21-2008) Comment here

Kenseth Wins Fourth Miller Lite Nationals Title at Slinger Speedway: Matt Kenseth wasn't completely sure how he won the 29th Miller Lite Slinger Nationals. Runner-up Jeremy Lepak credited Kenseth’s experience at Slinger Speedway. Third-place Dennis Prunty thought a stronger engine played a big role. But why didn’t really matter, so much. As the fireworks exploded over Slinger Speedway on a sticky Tuesday night, Kenseth was crowned the newest four-time champion of the prestigious late-model event.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-16-2008) Comment here

#17 to carry Celtics decal: In honor of the Boston Celtics 17th NBA title, Matt Kenseth’s #17 DeWalt Ford will carry a special congratulatory decal. The #17 crew will also don pit caps to celebrate the occasion. On Wednesday, June 25, Kenseth along with his Roush Fenway Racing teammates and the Boston Red Sox will celebrate Roush Fenway Day at Fenway Park.(Roush Racing PR)(6-25-2008)

Roush Fenway hopes to have drivers locked in soon for ’09: Roush Fenway Racing hopes to soon solidify its current driver lineup in the same positions for 2009, team president Geoff Smith said Sunday at Infineon Raceway. The first item would be locking in #16-Greg Biffle, who said Friday he expects to complete the deal this week. As far as #6-David Ragan, Smith also was optimistic. “We’re working through a final contract now with a sponsor, and unless Tony Stewart puts a wheel under us [in his sponsorship quest], it should be over very shortly,” Smith said. The team’s other three drivers – #99-Carl Edwards, #26-Jamie McMurray and #17-Matt Kenseth – are already signed for next season. Roush Fenway Racing can have five teams in 2009 but will have to cut down to four for the 2010 season.(SceneDaily.com)(6-23-2008) Comment here

Three Roush drivers hit milestones at Pocono: #16-Greg Biffle and #26-Jamie McMurray will make their 200th career Cup starts at Pocono. In support of McMurray’s 200th Sprint Cup start, the #26 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford Fusion will carry a special “200” decal on the lower hood in this weekend’s Pocono 500. And #17-Matt Kenseth will start in his 300th straight Cup race.(6-4-2008)

Kenseth Back in Black: For the second time in 2008, Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford will be painted black with the DEWALT NANO Technology paint scheme. Kenseth will also sport these colors at Darlington, the All-Star race, Bristol and the second Richmond race in 2008. The #17 crew will be unloading car RK-574 this weekend at Richmond, a brand new car.(Roush Racing), see images of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-1-2008)

Dunkin' Donuts teams up with Fenway Sports: As it expands nationally, Dunkin' Donuts is teaming up with a high-powered group of local sports marketers to bring in new customers. Dunkin’ now has 5,500 stores, but plans to triple that number over the next two decades, targeting markets like Dallas, Cleveland and Nashville that are outside its Northeast base. The Canton-based chain has hired Fenway Sports Group to help devise a national sports marketing campaign. That could mean rolling out Dunkin' ads featuring sports stars in some of its new markets across the country, said Mark Lev, executive vice president at Fenway Sports Group. The Dunkin' deal is a major coup for FSG, which has been building a broad portfolio of deals ranging from a 50% stake in a top NASCAR race team to consulting deals with a range of companies.(Boston Herald)(4-15-2008) Comment here

Kenseth's son racing: Ross Kenseth, Matt's 14-year-old son, plans to race regularly this season in the Big 8 Series for limited late models, beginning Sunday at Rockford (Ill.) Speedway. "I was in La Crosse when he ran up there (last fall), and he did a really good job up there," Matt said. "So we'll see."(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(4-11-2008) Comment here

Kenseth set to make 300th start at Phoenix: Matt Kenseth, 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and driver of Roush Fenway Racing’s #17 Ford Fusion will make his 300th Sprint Cup Series start this weekend, under the lights, at Phoenix International Speedway. Sporting the black DEWALT NANO Technology paint scheme, Kenseth will reach the impressive milestone this Saturday evening in the Subway Fresh Fit 500. "It’s hard to believe I’ll be making my 300th start,” said Kenseth. “It doesn’t seem that long ago when I was racing for the Reiser family in the Busch Series, with no sponsor, just hoping I could have the opportunity to race in this series some day. I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career. It’s pretty cool to have lasted this long in such a competitive series, but I could not have done it without the support of a lot of great people and a great sponsor like DEWALT.” Since his 1998 Cup Series debut, Kenseth has accumulated three poles, 16 wins, 80 top-five and 146 top-10 finishes. The Cambridge, Wis., native has logged 113,328.6 miles on NASCAR tracks and led a total of 4,973 laps.(Roush Fenway Racing)(4-8-2008)

Roush Fenway Racing doesn't plan any legal action against MWR: Roush Fenway Racing doesn't plan to take legal action against Michael Waltrip Racing for what it characterized as the theft of a sway bar unless there is evidence that the piece has been duplicated. Team president Geoff Smith said the issue would not have surfaced at all had Toyota general manager Lee White not insinuated that Roush's team of Carl Edwards intentionally cheated at Las Vegas.(see full story at ESPN.com), so lets hope this whole thing is over.(3-30-2008) Comment here

MWR had [Roush] part, says it was a mistake UPDATE: Michael Waltrip confirmed Friday afternoon that it was his team that Jack Roush was alluding to when saying a Toyota team had stolen a sway bar from Roush Fenway Racing at Dover last September. “It was a mistake,” Waltrip said. “Look at the back of these toolboxes. There are sway bars, there’s jack handles, and it wound up in our possession. We called them and said, ‘We want to give this back.’ ”(full story atSceneDaily)
MORE: Michael Waltrip acknowledged on Saturday that his team had the sway bar that team owner Jack Roush accused a Toyota team of stealing last season. But Waltrip insisted that it wasn't a theft, that the bar accidentally wound up at his shop after the September race at Dover and that nobody realized it belonged to Roush Fenway Racing until that organization called to inquire about it in January. "Accidents happen, mistakes happen," Waltrip said. "If you look inside this garage area today there's over 70 racing vehicles in here and stuff gets slung everywhere ... I could see why he would be upset. He feels like he was wronged and he's mad about it." Roush said the sway bar was specially designed by Roush Fenway for his cars. He said they were larger than the old bars, unable to fit in the toolbox slot and were put underneath the box instead. Roush said a member of a Toyota team -- which turned out to be David Reutimann's #00 car -- parked next to him at Dover, then walked over and took the piece. "I don't know what makes him tick," Waltrip said of Roush. "But I do know that no one went to his toolbox and swiped his bar." Waltrip said he had no knowledge that the piece was sandblasted to hide its identity and that somebody from his team called a vendor to have it duplicated as Roush alleged. "I don't have knowledge of any of that," he said. "I heard it was painted blue and when we figured out that it wasn't ours then it was set off to the side and eventually returned."(ESPN.com)(3-29-2008) Comment here

NASCAR won't intervene in Roush dispute with Toyota team: NASCAR officials say they will not intervene in the dispute between Roush Fenway Racing and an unspecified Toyota team that allegedly took a part from the Ford organization. Team owner Jack Roush is asking NASCAR for “relief” on the issue, but NASCAR Vice President of Competition strongly dismissed that idea on Friday. “If they’ve got issues with each other or other teams, then they’ve got to talk to those other teams,” Pemberton said. “I didn’t take a part or a piece, all right? Nobody in this [NASCAR] trailer took a part or a piece. We know Jack said that, and apparently some other team acknowledged having a part or a piece. Those people need to work their deal out.” Roush said a Toyota team took a sway bar home from a September race at Dover last season. If that’s true, Pemberton said, “Then shame on a team that has that person working for them. If you’ve got a guy that takes a part or a piece from another team, then, in my opinion, I wouldn’t have a guy like that work for me,” he said. Still, that doesn’t mean NASCAR is going to do anything about it. “[The teams] have to work together,” he said. “We’re not going to build walls in here. We’re not going to separate everything. We’re going to run this garage area just like it’s been run. If you have issues, then you've got to work it out.”(SceneDaily)(3-29-2008)

Latest on the 'stolen' Roush "proprietary part" UPDATE MWR: Jack Roush said on Friday that a Toyota team stole a sway bar made specifically for Roush Fenway Racing from one of his Sprint Cup teams last season at Dover. "A theft did occur," the co-owner of Roush Fenway said during practice at Martinsville Speedway. "The part was recovered ... We are still considering what if any legal action to seek." One of Roush's options is asking for a restraining order to guarantee the team in question does not duplicate the bar, which has been determined legal by NASCAR, for a competitive advantage. "It's lawyer time," Roush said. Roush made his first comments since he was quoted in ESPN The Magazine as saying a proprietary part was found missing from his inventory and discovered with a Toyota team. He discounted comments made by Jim Aust, the president of Toyota Racing Development, that a valve spring was found during a teardown inspection, identified as belonging to Roush and returned. Roush said the theft occurred in the garage area at Dover in September [2007], where the only Toyota teams in the field belonged to Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull.
Lee White, the general manager of TRD, said his organization launched a full investigation into the allegation when Roush's allegations were published in ESPN The Magazine. He said a valve spring that did not belong to Toyota ended up at TRD's California location after the California race, that it was reported to NASCAR and returned. Roush said he became aware of the theft in early January when the vendor that produced the product for Roush Fenway was contacted by the Toyota team in question about duplicating the bar.
Roush said he's had several discussions with NASCAR officials about the situation. He was alarmed when Robin Pemberton, the vice president of competition for the series, said disappearing parts are a common occurrence and the teams needed to work it out amongst themselves. Roush said there is something fundamentally wrong if NASCAR doesn't intercede, reminding the governing body has no problem reacting when somebody uses an illegal part -- on purpose or not. Roush, noting he has been in the business 22 years, and said this is the first time he's heard of such a situation. He declined to respond to a question in which Michael Waltrip Racing was insinuated as the Toyota team. "I don't substantiate," he said. Waltrip declined to comment until he heard how the question was posed and the way Roush responded.(see full story at ESPN.com)(3-28-2008) Comment here

Two associate sponsors on the #17 at Martinsville: The logo for Southern Air will ride along on the C-post of the #17 DeWalt Ford of Matt Kenseth this weekend. Southern Air is the region’s largest mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical commercial and residential contractor company - with over 700 employees they cover Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia. Coleman Adams Construction, one of the largest and oldest General Contractor companies in Virginia will ride along on the #17’s wings this weekend at Martinsville.(RFR PR)(3-27-2008) Comment here

Roush Says Toyota Team Stole "Proprietary Part" UPDATE 2: ESPN the Magazine has an interesting and potentially explosive quote from Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush as part of its 10th Anniversary issue, which is on newsstands this week. Two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the magazine quotes Roush as saying, “We had a proprietary Roush Fenway part go missing from one of my race teams, and we recovered it from a Toyota team. I’m not going to say which team it is, but we are considering legal action, or getting NASCAR involved.” If Roush’s allegations prove to be true, this could become NASCAR’s version of the recent spy scandal that rocked Formula One racing, in which the McLaren-Mercedes team was caught with confidential, proprietary test information belonging to rival Ferrari. We contacted Roush Fenway Racing today in search of further information – including team was involved and the specific part in question -- and we [SIRIUS Speedway w/ Dave Moody] hope to have a statement from them later today.(Motorsports Soapbox)(3-25-2008)
UPDATE: Jack Roush, co-owner of Ford-based Roush Fenway Racing, leveled another serious accusation at nemesis Toyota at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- one that took nearly three weeks to surface. No one from either RFR or Toyota was willing to comment on Tuesday, but no one was denying Roush told a reporter from ESPN The Magazine on March 7 that a Toyota team had been in possession of an RFR team part.(ESPN)(3-26-2008)
UPDATE 2: Toyota officials on Wednesday identified the Roush Fenway Racing part that owner Jack Roush said was found in a Toyota team's possession during a Sprint Cup post-race teardown as a spring. Jim Aust, the president and chief executive officer of Toyota Racing Development, said once the part was found to belong to RFR that it was returned. He was uncertain how the part, discovered on a table with other Toyota parts, got there or from which team it came. "I don't understand the whole procedure when a teardown happens," said Aust, referring to a post-race process in which several cars are broken down by NASCAR inspectors. "The only thing I know is it wound up with parts we had and [which were] returned to Roush. "It's unfortunate it happened the way it did. It wasn't anything intentional. There's no reason to be done intentional. I have no idea how it happened to begin with." Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith said the part in question was not a spring, but he would not elaborate. No one at RFR has identified which Toyota team had the part. "Jack is the only one to talk to at this time and he presently doesn't want to make any additional comments," Smith said.(ESPN.com)(3-26-2008) Comment here

No Roush Points swap: Roush Fenway Racing spokesman tells me that Roush Fenway Racing has no plans of swapping points from the #17 Matt Kenseth team to the #26 Jamie McMurray team, who is 36th in onwers points and nees to race his way into the race at Martinsville.(3-19-2008) Comment here

New colors for Kenseth at BMS: Matt Kenseth and the #17 team will sport the colors of Dish Network this weekend. He is the second Roush Fenway Racing driver to race the red, black and white Dish Network paint scheme this year. Carl Edwards recently won back-to-back races in the Dish Network car. Greg Biffle will carry the colors later this season. The trio are dubbed the Dish Network All-Stars.(RFR PR)(3-12-2008)

USG scheme returns to the #17: MattKenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme on the #17 Ford at Las Vegas on Sunday for the first of three times this season. The other two USG Sheetrock races in 2008 are Chicago in July and Atlanta in October.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), see the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(2-27-2008)

2nd Thoughts by Reiser UPDATE: For the past 12 years, between the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, Robbie Reiser [former #17 crew chief] was in the midst of the buzz as Kenseth's crew chief. His adrenalin would be flowing in anticipation of all the calls he would have to make to get his driver into Victory Lane. "I don't like it that much," he said of his new job as general manager at Roush Fenway Racing. "If somebody came up and said you can do your old job again, I'd probably take it in a heartbeat." Daytona was Reiser's first weekend in his new role. He spent most of Sunday bouncing between each of team owner Jack Roush's five haulers, making sure the crew chiefs had everything they needed for the Daytona race and this weekend's Sprint Cup race at California Speedway. Reiser says he'll give this role a few months before deciding if it'll become permanent. If he decides it's not for him, he won't hesitate to look for another crew chief job, at Roush Racing or another organization. "When we get to April and May, I'll look at it," Reiser said. "If I still can't stand it, I'll go talk to Jack." Adjusting to all the management meetings has been Reiser's toughest chore. He would rather have his head under the hood getting his hands greasy than pushing a pencil.(full story and more at ESPN.com)(2-22-2008)

UPDATE: Former crew chief Robbie Reiser, who now oversees Roush Fenway Racing's Cup program, told ESPN.com last week that he doesn't like his new role as general manager. Car owner Jack Roush was asked about Reiser's comments Monday. "He's not yet got comfortable with his new job,'' Roush said. "One of the things that happens is that between the driver and me, there's a crew chief. [He] would intercede for the driver and, by the same token, the driver would intercede for the crew chief if things aren't as they might be. Right now, it's Robbie and I. There's no buffer. Some days I think that may be not as comfortable as what he had. He's got a real big job. He's doing a good job at it. If he had a choice today between going back and being a crew chief and being a manager, he'd probably go back, but we're not going to give him that choice.''(Roanoke Times)(2-27-2008)

The DISH Network to sponsor Roush cars for 15 races: Roush Fenway Racing announced DISH Network has signed on as a sponsor in the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. DISH Network will have a team representative and serve as a primary sponsor in 15 Sprint Cup Races in 2008, alternating between three Roush Fenway drivers. Greg Biffle will drive the #16 DISH Network Ford Fusion in 11 Sprint Cup races, Carl Edwards will drive the #99 Ford in three races [this week at California is one] and Matt Kenseth will race the #17 Ford in one race [Bristol in March]. The DISH Network team of drivers will be dubbed the DISH Network AllStars. The DISH Network AllStars first race is Sunday, Feb. 24 featuring the 2007 Nationwide Series champion #99-Carl Edwards.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-21-2008)Comment here

Kenseth going for 3 in a row at Calif: #17-Matt Kenseth, attempting to win the Auto Club 500 for a third-straight year, is the all-time leader in NASCAR wins at California Speedway, posting six wins total; four in the Nationwide Series and two in the Sprint Cup Series. Kenseth will run the Carhartt paint scheme on Sunday for the first of four times this season. He won this event last year in the Carhartt scheme, marking the first time Kenseth had won a Cup event in a paint scheme other than DEWALT. The other three Carhartt races in ‘08 are Michigan in June, Loudon in Sep., and Charlotte in Oct.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(2-20-2008)

DeWalt NANO Paint Scheme Returns for six races in 2008: The popular, predominantly black, DeWalt NANO Technology paint scheme will return to Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford for six races in 2008. All six are night races with the paint scheme debuting at Phoenix International Raceway on April 12th. After that, the month of May will nearly be a complete "black out," with the paint scheme running three consecutive races, beginning at Richmond International Raceway on May 3rd, then Darlington Raceway on May 10th, and the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 17th. The next stop for the DeWalt NANO Technology scheme will be at one of Kenseth's favorite tracks, Bristol Motor Speedway, for the August 23rd night race, where he's won two of the last three night races. Then the final stop for the paint scheme will be back at Richmond International Raceway on September 6th, for the "regular season" finale, the cutoff for the Chase. "It's a cool-looking car and I'm glad that we'll be running it some in 2008," Kenseth said. "I've always thought black racecars look really cool and I think the fans liked the scheme when it ran last year. I know the last time we ran the NANO scheme we had a pretty good day at Homestead, so maybe it can bring us the same kind of good luck this year." NANO Technology is a proprietary technology from DEWALT that delivers to the user longer cycle life, lighter weight, greater performance, and an expanded system of tool offerings. These benefits encompass the DEWALT commitment to providing professional contractors with a breadth of tool offerings that deliver the performance they need in an ideal ergonomic package.(Roush Fenway Racing Site), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(2-5-2008)

CitiFinancial sponsoring Roush: CitiFinancial will be the primary sponsor on a variety of Roush Fenway Racing entries in all 35 Nationwide Series events in 2008. The sponsorship is part of Citi's new multifaceted, strategic marketing partnership with Roush Fenway Racing. As part of the relationship, CitiFinancial will tap into Roush Fenway's all-star driver lineup to pilot the CitiFinancial Ford. In addition, Citi will become a major associate sponsor on all Roush Fenway Racing teams, including the Sprint Cup Series entries of #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth, #26-Jamie McMurray, and #6-David Ragan.(Roush Fenway PR)(1-19-2008) Comment here

Past 2007 News

Kenseth wins at Homestead; Johnson the champ: #17-Matt Kenseth won the FORD 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway for his 2nd win of the season and 16th of his career. #2-Busch finished 2nd, followed by #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon [record setting 30th top 10 in 36 races], #99-Edwards, #1-Truex Jr., #48-Johnson, #31-Burton, #01-Martin and #6-Ragan. #48-Johnson clinced and won the 2007 Nextel Cup Championship by 77 points over #24-Jeff Gordon. Johnson is the first driver to win back-to-back championships since Gordon in 1997-1998. Other Chasers finished: #29-Harvick 19th, #5-Busch 20th, #20-Stewart 30th and #07-Bowyer 39th. #8-Earnhardt Jr. wrecked and finished 36th. There were 7 cautions for 32 laps and 11 drivers led the race with 25 lead changes.
Race Results on my Homestead Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Homestead page
Race Rundown: see my Homestead Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(11-18-2007)

Roush Fenway Racing announces new GM - Robbie Reiser; Bolin new crew chief? UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announced Thursday that championship crew chief, Robbie Reiser, has been appointed General Manager of Roush Fenway Racing’s Nextel Cup team operations. “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to the next phase of my racing career,” Reiser said. “If it’s anywhere near as fun, competitive, and successful as the previous phase, then we’re going to be in good shape. It wasn’t an easy decision to stop being the crew chief of the #17 team, but now I get to work with all of our Cup teams and help improve our performance as a whole. I’m looking forward to the new challenge.” Reiser replaces Max Jones and steps into the GM role with well over 20 years of racing experience under his belt. Roush Fenway Racing is expected to name other crew changes to the #17 Ford team in the upcoming weeks.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), hearing that Chip Bolin, the team engineer will be the new crew chief for Kenseth and the #17.(11-15-2007)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing didn't have to look far to find a new crew chief for Matt Kenseth. Chip Bolin, the team engineer since 1999, will replace Robbie Reiser after Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(ESPN)(11-16-2007)

Doug Yates and Max Jones join forces: Yates Racing announced Thursday that Max Jones, long-time general manager for Roush Fenway Racing and former road-racing driver has joined Yates Racing as a co-owner and will also assume the role of General Manager . Jones, a native of Long Beach, Calif., joins Yates Racing after serving as general manager for Roush Fenway Racing’s Cup program in 2007. “We’re thrilled to have someone as respected as Max join Yates Racing,” said Yates Racing owner, Doug Yates. “With his experience in the sport and working with such a large and successful organization as Roush Fenway Racing for so many years, he will immediately step in and improve our race operations. As we continue to improve and restructure in preparation for a successful 2008 season, having someone with Max’s experience and credibility only accelerates the process of getting Yates Racing back to where it needs to be and that’s competing for wins and championships on a weekly basis.” Jones will add his experience to one of the most successful operations in motorsports. Since venturing into NASCAR’s Cup series in 1989, Yates Racing has recorded 57 wins, 269 top fives, and 427 top-10 finishes, including the Cup series championship in 1999.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(11-15-2007)

Reiser moving up to be Roush Fenway GM: One of the longest tenured crew chief-driver relationships in Nextel Cup will end after Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Robbie Reiser, who has been #17-Matt Kenseth's crew chief since they entered NASCAR's premier series in 2000 and long before that in the Busch Series, will become the general manager at Roush Fenway Racing. He will replace Max Jones, who will move into the GM role at Robert Yates Racing [will just be Yates Racing in 2008]. RYR and Roush recently formed an alliance that basically will allow them to work as a seven-car operation without violating NASCAR's four-car cap. Reiser will follow in the footsteps of his father, who was the general manager of Roush"s Busch Series and Truck Series teams. The elder Reiser lost a battle with cancer prior to the Homestead race two years ago, which prompted his son to consider a move that would allow him more time with his family. "You look at things that you do in the long term," he said late last season. "Family becomes more important. ... My dad spent a lot of time with my kids. When he isn't around anymore somebody has to fill that void." Reiser hoped to get the Roush GM job last season that ultimately went to Jones. "I've done this for [13] years for Matt," he said at the time. "Not that I'm sick and tired of it or don't enjoy it or any of that, but somewhere along the line you've got to move to the next challenge. And the next challenge probably would be to oversee an operation in the garage. That's something I want to do down the road."(ESPN.com), no word on who will be Kenseth's new crew chief in 2008.(11-14-2007)

NANO back with Kenseth: For the third time in 2007, Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford Fusion will be painted black with the DEWALT NANO Technology paint scheme. Kenseth will also run the scheme at Homestead in the season finale.(Roush Racing PR), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(11-8-2007)

USG colors for Kenseth: For the third and final time in 2007, Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford will don the USG Sheetrock paint scheme at Texas this weekend. In the previous two outings, it finished 10th at Martinsville in April and second at Chicago in July.(Roush Racing PR), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(11-1-2007)

Kenseth/Edwards altercation: UPDATES: on pit road at Martinsville Speedway after the Subway 500 Nextel Cup race, #17-Matt Kenseth and #99-Carl Edwards got into some sort of altercation which was aired on the SPEED Report Sunday night [and aired on Victory Lane the next hour]. SPEED's Bob Dilner was getting ready to interview Kenseth, when Edwards came over the wall to talk to Kenseth, Dilner backed away but the camera was rolling, Edwards pushed Kenseth away from Dilner down the pit wall, and was 'talking' to Kenseth, touching Kenseth the whole time, the camera then cut away to show Kenseth on the inside of the wall and Edwards on the outside, both drivers said something as they were leaving and then Edwards came back towards Kenseth and faked a punch at Kenseth, who flinched and looked surprised. Edwards then walked away and Kenseth came towards Dilner and that was it. No word on what the exchange was about or if there will be any penalties from Roush Fenway Racing or NASCAR. The video can be seen at SPEEDtv.com about 8 minutes into the Subway 500 video.(10-22-2007)
UPDATE: Owner Jack Roush has talked to both drivers with a simple message. "He told them they've got to settle this without wrecking our cars," team president Geoff Smith said on Tuesday. "He told them to get yourself at peace with one another, then go compete against one another as hard as you want to compete." Smith said neither driver would be punished by the organization, noting that Roush has a policy that teammates are allowed to compete against each other as though they are not teammates. Smith doesn't believe Edwards intended to hit Kenseth.(ESPN.com)(10-23-2007)
AND: Carl Edwards apologized Tuesday for his actions following Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, saying he was wrong to show his anger toward Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. Edwards said on a NASCAR teleconference that trouble has been brewing between the pair for a while and that it's probably been six months since they've had a conversation. Now, he wants to change all of that. Edwards is hoping that he and his Roush Fenway teammates can do a better job of having a "team spirit," and he says he plans to do his best to communicate better not only with Kenseth, but with all his Roush Fenway teammates. Edwards took full blame for his actions, pledged to get to know his teammates better and analyzed what could have brought on this type of display. He added that he would take the first step toward mending fences.(SceneDaily.com)(10-23-2007)
Kenseth Comments: Kenseth wasn't very surprised when Edwards accosted him shortly after the race. "His behavior has been real erratic lately, honestly," Kenseth said of his Roush Fenway Racing teammate. "You don't know what to expect with him. That's the thing that's a little bit troublesome. One minute, he has so much respect for you, and he's real friendly and everything's so much fun. The next minute he wants to kick your butt and he's swearing at you. It's a little scary. You never know what you're going to get. I thought it was good in a way that the cameras were there because a lot of us see that, and nobody else does because he kind of puts on a different front."(USA Today)(10-24-2007)

NANO scheme for Kenseth at Atlanta: For the second time this season Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford will carry the DeWalt NANO Technology paint scheme. The predominantly black car will run twice more, at Phoenix and Homestead.(Roush Racing PR) The scheme first ran at Dover in Sept, see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(10-23-2007)

Special Scheme for Kenseth at Dover: #17-Matt Kenseth is scheduled to run a DeWALT / NANO Technologies special paint scheme at Dover on September 23rd. See an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(9-17-2007)

Yellow and Green colors for the #17 at California: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the R+L Carriers paint scheme for the third time this season in Sunday’s Sharp Aquos 500. In his previous two he has scored finishes of 12th at Charlotte in May and eighth at Daytona in July. The R+L Carriers scheme will run once more at Martinsville in October.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(8-29-2007)

Braun to make stock car debut in ARCA for Roush: Colin Braun, driver of the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion, will make his Roush Fenway Racing debut in Friday night's ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Gateway International Speedway. Braun recently signed long-term contracts with Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Racing.(Ford Racing PR)(8-29-2007)

Kenseth wins Late Model race: Matt Kenseth won the All-Star 50, a late-model stock car race held at the Milwaukee Mile, on Sunday. Kenseth broke the late-model track record in qualifying before starting the race in the eighth position after the top eight in qualifying started in inverse order. Kenseth quickly rushed up to second place just eight laps into the feature race, then took the lead for good halfway through the event with a pass into the first turn. It was Kenseth's first win at the track in 12 races -- including eight in late models (including ASA) and four in the Busch series. Dean Cornelius, a 23-year-old from Minnesota, finished second, Dan Fredrickson was third and Jesse Saunders of New Glarus was fourth. (Capital Times)(8-27-2007)

Roush to sell off one team, then help: In 2010, Roush Fenway Racing will have to shrink from five cars to four, but Jack Roush already has a plan in mind: Sell the fifth car to a group of investors as what he called "seed corn" for an investor-controlled four-car team owned and funded by a group outside of Roush but fueled with Roush crews and technology. "It shouldn't go without notice that we are unabated in our effort to find and identify new drivers and to build our crews and teams with outsiders to the extent that we can and advance them through the programs as they get experience," Roush said. "We're on a track to be able to help somebody come in and provide the technology and the manpower to get them started."(Ford Racing)(8-18-2007)

Fan arrested after going on the track UPDATE: The sports marketing folks will tell you NASCAR has become a Big Four sport in the country because easy access to drivers makes them seem like ordinary people. Very easy access, one fan proved on Sunday afternoon when he simply walked onto the track for an autograph. During a late-race, red-flag period, a man ran up to Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford, reached through the passenger window and asked the driver to sign his hat. "He just said, 'Will you sign this?'" Kenseth was heard saying to his crew over the driver radio. "I'm like, 'I'm a little busy right now.'" The man, half inside the car window, asked again but Kenseth refused. The man finally gave up and ran — in a far from straight line — back toward the fans' area. He was soon arrested. The man apparently gained access to the track by climbing over the large wire fence, ran across the grass, then stepped over the blue barrier at trackside.(Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)(8-13-2007)
UPDATE: Statement from Watkins Glen International President Craig Rust Regarding Fan on Track during Centurion Boats at the Glen: "During the Centurion Boats at The Glen we apprehended a fan after he climbed a fence in attempt to get an autograph from a Nextel Cup Series driver while the race was under a red flag caution for clean up after an incident in Turn 1. The person was immediately apprehended by WGI Security and Schuyler Co Sheriff's Deputies and charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor and criminal trespass in the third degree, a Class B misdemeanor. He was arraigned before the Town of Dix Justice where he was committed to the Schuyler County Jail in lieu of $3000 cash bail or $5000 bond. He was later released Sunday night after posting bail. He faces one year in jail if convicted of the endangerment charge. The Schuyler Co. District Attorney's office is now involved in the on going investigation into the incident. Watkins Glen International is committed to providing a fun and safe environment for fans and competitors therefore we will not tolerate this type of behavior. We feel that it is in the best interest of the track and NASCAR to ban this fan from all future events held here. We are also asking all other NASCAR facilities, including our sister ISC facilities, to also honor this ban at any of their future events."(WGI PR)(8-14-2007)

Roush COT Testing in Full Swing: Entering this weekend's USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicago, Ford and Roush finally look like a match for the Chevys. "The big thing that has helped us with the Car of Tomorrow is we now have a test team," [Jack] Roush said. "We are doing the things I thought we weren't going to be allowed to do when NASCAR told us we couldn't take tires from the racetrack because they didn't want us to test. I thought they would put teeth in that, but they didn't. We got behind. But five weeks ago I hired six people and dedicated a tractor-trailer [for testing]. We've been to Iowa, Milwaukee four times in the last month, and Road Atlanta and VIR [Virginia International Raceway]." Roush's three 2007 victories have come with NASCAR's current car, and the Chicagoland race also will feature the current car. But if Roush Fenway is going to compete with the Chevy teams for the championship, it will have to have a strong COT program. "We're not caught up yet," Roush said. "But we're certainly on the path, and we'll be heard from more before the year is over."(Tampa Tribune)(7-13-2007)

USG Colors for Kenseth at Chicago: Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford Fusion will carry the USG Sheetrock colors this weekend in the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicago. It marks the second of three times this season Kenseth will pilot the USG Sheetrock Ford; the first was at Martinsville in April where he finished 10th, and the last will be at Texas in November.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the car on my #17 Team Schemes page.(7-11-2007)

New York Investors Looking for Cup Teams: The buzz in the garage in New Hampshire is that at least two New York-based investment banking firms have been making the rounds among Nextel Cup teams, looking to invest in one or more teams, eventually taking a race team public with a stock offering. So far, there have been no takers among the NASCAR team owners. At least one of the investment firms has talked with multiple teams in the garage, including Robert Yates Racing [#38 & #88], Dale Earnhardt, Inc. [#1, #8, #15] and Roush Fenway Racing [#6, #16, #17, #26, #99], multiple sources said. The idea has been for the companies to make cash investments of upwards of $50 million in a team and then at some point sell their interests, perhaps by public stock offering. “We looked at their business plan and it didn’t make sense to us,” said Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith, who confirmed his team had been contacted by a New York-based investment fund that he did not identify by name. Robert Yates talked extensively with the potential investors and reached the same conclusion. “You sit in a room with about 20 bankers and you spend about 18 hours in there with them and you realize that they didn’t contribute anything to the gross national product except maybe going to the bathroom,” said Yates, who also has entertained merger and/or partnership offers from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Robby Gordon Motorsports and Hall of Fame Racing, among others, before deciding to go it alone. Another team principal who spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday morning at New Hampshire, said the team he works with was approached by investors, but chose not to get involved with them, either. “They had a ton of money, but they didn’t know anything at all about racing,” he said, adding the team was not in need of a cash infusion and would only consider an outside investor if that investor could add significant value to the team.(SPEEDtv.com)(7-2-2007)

Roush: Aflac deal could be sign of things to come: Jack Roush says that his team's new partnership with Aflac could highlight how future sponsorships will work in the sport. The company is sponsoring eight Nextel Cup races as primary sponsor for #16-Greg Biffle this season. It is also sponsoring four Busch Series races with drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. It's a business move that gives the company access to four of the organization's drivers. "The time may be waning when a new sponsor could come into our business and understand how to make their marketing program be configured in order to give them the value for a full schedule," Roush said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I think that the way that Aflac is coming in with a limited schedule, with some races in the Busch as well as the Cup side with multiple drivers I think is a prudent way to do it."(SceneDaily.com)(6-16-2007)

Roush not interested in Busch: His ride gone for next season and then his agent, #5-Kyle Busch faces more changes. He'll search for a new ride and could be barred from some Hendrick Motorsports team meetings [as Brian Vickers was in 2006] even as he tries to make the title chase. Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. replaces him next year, Busch wouldn't mope about his situation Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I'm interested in talking to ... whoever's got an open seat," Busch said before qualifying third for Sunday's race. "Let's sit down. Let's have dinner." Many owners are expected to answer, but not Jack Roush, for whom Busch drove before moving to Hendrick in 2003. "I am not interested in Kyle Busch," Roush said. "I've been there and I've done that."(Roanoke Times)(6-16-2007)

Roush to test COT more: Ford team-owner Jack Roush [#6,16,17,26,99] will use B.F. Goodrich and/or Hoosier tires to test his Car of Tomorrow fleet on non-Nextel Cup tracks in coming months. The team owner believes Roush Fenway Racing is slightly behind rivals that are skirting the spirit of NASCAR’s testing policies. By rule, Cup teams are limited to a handful of closely-monitored official tests. Teams must test together at the same Cup venue, and on Goodyear Eagles. But several organizations have gotten around that limit by using Goodrich and/or Hoosiers for unofficial testing at outside tracks. “NASCAR wanted to start everybody in the Car of Tomorrow on an even basis, with [the same] four or five tests,” Roush said at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “Well, the teams that have been successful—the Hendrick organization, the Gibbs organization and the Childress organization—have tested their cars multiple times a week. They’ve gone to tracks outside NASCAR’s control with tires that were not from Goodyear. Right now, Goodyear is sitting on millions of dollars worth of tires that are growing obsolete and hard in their warehouses. Teams have gotten around NASCAR’s policy by buying other people’s tires and testing at tracks that aren’t on the Nextel Cup schedule. I got behind on that; I didn’t do that. But two weeks ago I hired six people and dedicated a tractor-trailer, and I’ve gone public. ‘OK, I’m getting in the testing game, too.’ If you don’t want us to test, have us sign something in the application. Something that says, ‘We agree we won’t test with Goodyears or anybody else’s tires, except for the tracks that NASCAR approves.’ But they didn’t do that; they left the door open and we got behind… but we’re going to catch up.” Strictly speaking, there’s nothing illegal about what the Hendrick, Gibbs and Childress teams are doing. Jeff Gordon, who’s won two CoT races—teammate Jimmie Johnson has won two and Kyle Busch the other—said Hendrick Motorsports shouldn’t apologize for its CoT success. “If the Roush teams aren’t doing that, then that’s their mistake,” the series points-leader said. “We’re doing everything we can to be competitive and we’re not doing anything wrong. It’s definitely playing a role in helping us get to where we are.”(Ford Racing)(5-29-2007)

Roush, Red Sox Plan New England Bash: The first major collaboration to come from the partnership between Fenway Sports Group and the former Roush Racing will take place next month in Boston and New Hampshire with an event called Roush Fenway Days. Roush Fenway Racing will have two days of activities at Fenway Park June 28-29, culminating with a baseball game between The Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers on June 29th. “We’re having our midyear sponsor summit there, followed by the game,” said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. “We’re having our big racing displays and event displays, like you would here at a racetrack, surround the park and be somewhat in the park. People get to participate in batting practice and there will be a big P.R. rollout inside the park with the drivers and players and so forth.” From there, Smith said, the action will move to New Hampshire International Speedway, site of the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup race July 1. “I think you’ll see one of our cars with a special paint scheme and some special guests,” said Smith. “It’ll integrate NASCAR and the whole Fenway Red Sox experience kind of all in one big weekend.” Smith also said the team is close to announcing a title sponsor to the event.(SPEEDtv.com)(5-28-2007)

#17 show car snatched: Between 5:00am and 5:45am/et on the morning of Wednesday, May 2, a #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion show car along with the transporter, both tractor and trailer, were stolen from the Hampton Inn parking lot, off of Druid Hills Road in Atlanta, Ga. The Ford F-350 and the display trailer was recovered later that morning, however, the #17 USG Sheetrock Ford show car is still missing. The truck and trailer were found abandoned and vandalize on the side of a road in the Atlanta area. So, still missing: #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion show car – blue and red with numerous logos. USG Sheetrock on the hood and the number 17 on the sides and roof of the car. A replica model of Roush Fenway Racing’s #17 USG Sheetrock Ford that competes in the Nextel Cup Series. Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of stolen vehicle, please contact the Auto Theft Unit of Dekalb County Sheriff Office 770-724-7650.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-3-2007)

Carl Edwards' Busch Win is Roush Fenway's 350th Overall: Carl Edwards drove the #60 Dish Network Ford home to his second Busch Series win of the 2007 season in Nashville over the weekend and at the same time, hit a milestone for Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards' second consecutive win gave Roush Fenway their 350th overall win. Of the 350 wins Jack Roush has obtained, 234 of them have been wins in NASCAR's three elite series (Nextel Cup - 101; Busch Series - 90; Craftsman Truck Series - 43). Of the 101 Nextel Cup wins, 96 of them have been point races while the other five have come from wins in the Bud Shootout (1), The Winston (1), The Winston Open (1) and the Nextel All-Star Challenge (2). In the Busch and Truck Series, Roush Fenway's 90 and 43 wins respectively, make Roush the most winning owner of any other owner in both of those series. In addition to the 234 wins, Roush has also collected 116 road racing victories bringing Roush Fenway Racing's win column total to 350.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-9-2007)

Roush Not Gloating Over Toyota's Woes: After all the buildup from Detroit rivals about the Toyota monster crushing NASCAR competition, the season so far has seen quite the opposite, with most Toyota teams struggling just to make the fields. But [Jack] Roush isn't backing away from his quite vocal worries. "I'm not going to gloat over what's happened, or take any glee in it," Roush said, "because it's hard to start a new program, around new people and new drivers and a new manufacturer. And this year's hardware issues (like the car of tomorrow) make it triple tough. I didn't expect Toyota to be a factor early on. But the comments I've made were not based on what I looked for in the first half of 2007, or even all of 2007, but rather 2008, 2009 and beyond will be a very good time for Toyota, if they continue to have the money they now have available to get the people and technologies. Toyota will get it right ... and they will put the rest of us in the back, unless NASCAR is vigilant in its effort to protect against unlimited amounts of money coming into this sport and buying everything of value from the existing teams. If Toyota can do that, there will be an upset the likes of which we have never seen. Right now the good news for the established teams is that the good drivers have all been under contract, and the good crew chiefs and the best crewmen have not been willing to take a chance on an upstart team or a new program. But as time goes on, as the Toyota teams get their legs under them and start to consistently qualify, the more those people who have the talents to make a difference in the programs will be inclined to consider the generous offers they've made- offers that will escalate as time goes on."(Winston-Salem Journal)(4-8-2007)

Kenseth pilots Boeing 737 Simulator: #17-Matt Kenseth is familiar with maneuvering around a race track and through the air, but Thursday the Cambridge, Wis. native experienced a new kind of sensation. As part of his NASCAR Winner’s Circle appearance with Texas Motor Speedway Kenseth spent the day at the American Airlines Training Academy in Fort Worth learning the ropes of piloting a Boeing 737 aircraft. Kenseth, who is a pilot himself and owns a Learjet, was in awe with the simulated experience.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(4-7-2007)

USG colors for Kenseth at Martinsville: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme this weekend for the first of three races this season (Chicago in July and Texas in November). (Roush Racing), see scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(3-29-2007)

Roush Fenway must lose team by 2010: Roush Fenway Racing will have to decrease its number of Nextel Cup teams from five to four by the start of the 2010 season, team president Geoff Smith said Saturday. NASCAR announced in 2005 that it would limit organizations to four fulltime Cup teams and that it would work with Roush to get down from four to five. Originally, the agreement was that once Roush lost a sponsor and driver at the same time, it would have to get down to four. "That [original discussion] triggered a loop that made the shrinkage date unpredictable, so it was [changed to] very simply, when the 2010 season starts, you'll have four," Smith said. "We have to be at four at the start of 2010, regardless of what happens to us in the interim, if we lose a driver, lose a sponsor." Smith indicated that his contracts are solid through the 2009 season. He also said in the perfect world, Roush would sell one of the teams. "We've got three more years to sell one of our teams off," Smith said. "Hopefully, we can retain some business with that sale."(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2007)

Reiser back this weekend; #17 to run Arby's scheme: Robbie Reiser will return to the track this weekend, after serving a four-race suspension. The past four races were the first Reiser had missed atop the pit box as #17-Matt Kenseth’s crew chief since 1999, a steak of 255 races. Kenseth will run the Arby’s paint scheme this weekend for the first and only time in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007.(Roush Racing PR)(3-21-2007)

#17 Team Penalties Upheld by Commission: On March 5, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Roush Fenway Racing regarding the No. 17 car. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-qualifying inspection on February 11, 2007 for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway. The infractions concerned Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing”; Section 12-4-Q “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules” and Section 20-2.1E “Unapproved aerodynamic modification.”
The penalties assessed were:

Loss of 50 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Car Owner Points for car owner Jack Roush.

Loss of 50 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Driver Points for driver Matt Kenseth.

$50,000.00 fine; suspension from NASCAR for the next four (4) NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Events; suspension from NASCAR until March 21, 2007 (not including testing) for crew chief Robbie Reiser.
The Appellants did not contest the legality of the violations, nor appeal the suspensions, but appealed the severity of the fine and the points penalties. The Appellants presented an argument that a “ratcheting up” of penalties was not warranted in light of the recent record of penalties, and that lesser penalties had been previously issued to other teams for more egregious violations.
In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors:

Roush Fenway Racing does not have a history of multiple rules violations.

These infractions were premeditated and intentional. They constituted serious violations.
In the judgment of the Commission, the penalties assessed are severe by the standards of a year or more ago. However, Commission members were advised that NASCAR executives had announced to contestants at a driver briefing in mid-2006 that the previous “benchmark” penalty standards for many serious violations would likely be increased going forward. Subsequent to that, two 50-point penalties were assessed during the 2006 season. Therefore, by a majority vote, it is the decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR PR)(3-5-2007)

Appeals to be heard next week: Penalty appeals for four Nextel Cup teams accused of breaking NASCAR's equipment rules leading up to the Daytona 500 will be heard early next week, NASCAR officials told ESPN.com on Tuesday. The appeals for Kasey Kahne's #9 team and Matt Kenseth's #17 team will be heard on March 5 in North Carolina. Appeals for Scott Riggs' #10 team and Elliott Sadler's #19 team will be heard the following day, also in North Carolina, NASCAR said.(ESPN.com)(2-27-2007)

Kenseth wins at California: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway for his 1st win of the 2007 season and 15 career win, tying him with Ernie Irvan and Kurt Busch for 28th overall. #29-Harvick was running down Kenseth with 6 laps to go, when there was a hard wreck by #00-Reutimann to cause a caution, then a red flag. After the red flag was rescinded, Harvick had a flat tire and had to pit as the green flew on the restart. Kenseth held off #24-Gordon to win. #48-Johnson finished 3rd followed by #31-Burton, #01-Martin, #07-Bowyer, #2-Busch, #20-Stewart, #5-Busch and #83-Vickers [first top-10 for a Toyota]. #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #9-Kahne both had engine problems and failed to finish the race. There were 9 cautions for 37 laps [and approx a 15 minute red flag during the 9th and final caution] and 13 drivers lead the race with 29 lead changes.
Race Results on my California Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after California page
Race Rundown: see my California Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(2-25-2007)

Roush Fenway Racing owner gives MLB player a...Toyota: [Boston Red Sox slugger David] Ortiz got his own present Wednesday morning. Arriving at the Red Sox minor league facility for his physical, Ortiz was greeted with a Toyota Tundra pickup, courtesy of owner John W. Henry......why is this of interest? Red Sox owner John Henry is Jack Roush's new partner at Roush-Fenway Racing, they run Ford Fusion's and Jack Roush has spoken out against Toyota's involvement in NASCAR.....oops.(Heads up at Motorsports Soapbox, full article at the Hartford Courant)(2-26-2007)

Kenseth inducted into California Speedway's walk of fame: #17-Matt Kenseth was honored Saturday at California Speedway with a plaque with his likeness, as well as his footprint and signature on California Speedway's Walk of Fame. The California Speedway Walk of Fame, which commemorates past Nextel Cup Series winners at California Speedway by setting a plaque with their likeness into a cement fixture, is a monument similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the plaque installation ceremony, the driver then has the opportunity to autograph the commemorative piece and place his or her feet into the slab before it dries. California Speedway began the Walk of Fame tradition in 1998 after Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag at the inaugural 1997 Cup event at California Speedway. The ceremony was a huge success and the tradition has continued ever since. The ceremony featured a Walk of Fame induction of Kenseth for driving his way to victory at last year's Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. It was his first Nextel Cup Series victory at California to go along with his three [now four] Busch Series victories at California Speedway. Along with his name adorning a permanent piece of California Speedway, Kenseth also received a one-of-a-kind gift. For the past several years, Ohana Kemp Surfboards, a surfboard shaping company out of Orange County, California, has been custom shaping and designing custom boards for all Nextel Cup Series winners at California Speedway.(California Speedway PR)(2-25-2007)

Gulf Oil shows interest in Roush-Fenway: Roush Racing's 50-50 partnership with John Henry's Fenway Sports Group, finally announced last week at Daytona International Speedway, might show an immediate return. One of the Boston Red Sox's longtime partners, Gulf Oil, has expressed an interest in a sponsorship position with Roush. Gulf, a Fenway Sports Group client based in Chelsea, Mass., distributes motor fuels and lubricants in about 2,600 branded gas stations, with a footprint that extends from Ohio to the east and Delaware to the north. The company's 65-foot logo is painted on the left-field wall at Fenway Park. "NASCAR really never made sense for us before because it is a national play and we're a regional company," said Richard Dery, Gulf's vice president of branded marketing and sales. "A race at Daytona doesn't do us a lot of good, but a race at Loudon, N.H. -- that could be a really fun day." Dery said his discussions with Roush have involved sponsorships for select races in Gulf's footprint, primarily the July 1 Lenox 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Gulf also could become the official motor oil of Roush Fenway Racing. Fenway Sports Group and the Red Sox are sister companies, both owned by John Henry, who said he hoped the partnership with Roush would vault FSG into a prominent position in sports marketing.(Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service)(2-23-2007)

Roush to appeal #17 penalty: Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith has filed an appeal of the points penalty given to driver #17-Matt Kenseth after his car failed post-qualifying inspection. Kenseth was docked 50 championship points, which Smith claims is too harsh based on precedence set last year with Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's team was fined and crew chief Chad Knaus suspended for four races when his car failed post-qualifying inspection a year ago. Kenseth lost crew chief Robbie Reiser for four races and the points. "We're not appealing the suspension," Smith said. "But NASCAR said last year when they suspended Johnson's crew chief that they want to be consistent with their penalties. There's no precedence for 50 points."(ESPN.com)(2-19-2007)

Roush names Reiser sub; thinking of appeal UPDATE:: On Tuesday, Roush Racing appointed Chip Bolin, long-time engineer on the #17 team, as the interim crew chief for the remainder of Speedweeks at Daytona and throughout Reiser’s suspension. Jack Roush stated, “I respect and accept NASCAR's determination that the car was out of compliance as it was inspected after Sunday's qualifying attempt. I have asked (Roush Racing President) Geoff Smith to evaluate whether the penalties assessed are unduly harsh for the circumstances before making a final decision as to whether or not we will appeal the severity of the penalty imposed." Smith said, "The extreme harshness of the penalty surprises me given NASCAR's recent history of imposing lesser penalties on habitual offenders engaged in radically more flagrant rule offenses. For that reason, I am likely to recommend that we appeal the penalty assessment, although I have some more study to do before I officially make that recommendation."(Roush Racing PR)(2-13-2007)
UPDATE: Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing, said he will appeal a 50-point penalty but not Reiser's suspension. Evernham said he's still debating an appeal.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-15-2007)

Roush Racing & Fenway Sports Group partner up: Today, during Speedweeks in Daytona Beach, Fla., Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced the formation of Roush Fenway Racing. Under the agreement, FSG will purchase 50% of Roush Racing to form the new entity. Jack Roush will continue to manage the competitive operations of the race teams and Geoff Smith will continue as president to oversee business activities. FSG will support Roush Fenway Racing’s marketing and sales activities by using their experience, network of relationships, and powerful demographic base to add value to Roush Fenway Racing sponsors and help Roush Fenway Racing maintain an unsurpassed position among NASCAR teams on and off the track.
“This partnership will bring a whole new perspective to our business,” said Jack Roush. “There is a lot of hard work that goes into being successful in sport. John Henry and FSG understand what it takes. Anybody that has watched the Red Sox has been impressed with their tenacity and their ability to prevail after all the frustration. To be able to have someone to bounce ideas and strategies off of will be fun. Everyone at Roush Racing is excited to welcome our new partner and we look forward to our success together.”
“This is an unprecedented partnership of two extremely successful organizations with proven track records for winning in their respective businesses and sports,” said Mike Dee, chief operating officer of the Boston Red Sox and president of Fenway Sports Group. “We believe in NASCAR and like its long-term business future and are thrilled to be a part of this exciting and growing industry.”
The new Roush Fenway Racing logo will make its track debut at Daytona International Speedway beginning Thursday, February 15 during the Gatorade 150 qualifying races. All of Roush Fenway Racing’s 13 teams will be competing throughout the weekend.
Off the track, the Roush Fenway Racing focus will be to continue to service its world-class sponsorship base which includes such great companies as; DeWalt Power Tools, Diageo (Crown Royal), AAA, Office Depot, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, 3M, Ford Motor Company, Northern Tool + Equipment, Dish Network, Discount Tire and Coca Cola, whose sponsorships Roush supports with public relations, licensing, event marketing and account management services.
Geoff Smith summed up the overall goal by saying, “We wholeheartedly believe that the addition of FSG, and the incorporation of its expertise and demographic power will insure that Roush Fenway Racing will indefinitely preserve our pre-eminent position among NASCAR teams both on and off the track.” FSG’s core strengths include property representation and acquisitions, entertainment marketing, sponsorships and consulting services. For more information please visit FenwaySportsGroup.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(2-14-2007)

Penalties Announced: 4 Crew Chiefs Suspended, Fines, Points Taken Away: UPDATE: NASCAR announced Tuesday that four Nextel Cup Series crew chiefs have been suspended from competition, starting with Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500. Two of the four – Ken Francis, crew chief for the #9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne; and Robbie Reiser, crew chief for the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth – have been suspended for four races and fined $50,000. Also, Kahne and Kenseth were penalized with the loss of 50 driver championship points while their car owners, Ray Evernham and Jack Roush, were penalized 50 car owner championship points. The violations by the #9 and #17 teams were found during post-qualifying inspection on Feb. 11. Both teams’ qualifying times were disallowed. Two others – Rodney Childers, crew chief for the #10 Dodge driven by Scott Riggs; and Josh Browne, crew chief for the #19 Dodge driven by Elliott Sadler – have been suspended for two races and fined $25,000. In addition, Riggs and Sadler were penalized 25 driver championship points while their car owners, James Rocco and Evernham, were penalized 25 car owner championship points. The violations by the #10 and #19 teams were found prior to qualifying. In each instance the violations were of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules) and 20-2.1E (unapproved aerodynamic modification) of the series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(2-13-2007)

Kenseth, Kahne times disallowed UPDATE 4 penalties to be announced today: #9-Kasey Kahne and #17-Matt Kenseth qualifying times/speeds been disallowed, both will start at the end of the 2nd Gatorade Duel race. The #17 and #9 cars were found to have illegal aerodynamic devices/enhancements. NASCAR's Jim Hunter said both infraction is considered as serious as the one that caused #48-Johnson's crew chief to be suspended after Daytona 500 qualifying last year. While the crew chiefs have not been suspended, NASCAR has not rules out anything, penalties are forthcoming. Both Kahne and Kahne will be allowed to start their respective Duel 150's from the rear.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show), #17-Kenseth had qualified 11th, #9-Kahne 28th. See the revised qualifying results on my Daytona Qualifying/Grid Page.(2-11-2007)
UPDATE: The qualifying times for both drivers were disallowed because inspections found unapproved changes to the body of both cars. Kenseth was 11th and Kahne was 28th in the qualifying speeds. Hunter said penalties will follow for both teams, probably in an announcement on Monday. "We found unapproved devices that enhanced the aerodynamics of those cars," Hunter said. "There were holes where it was supposed to be sealed. One of the cars had holes in the wheel well." Both cars will be allowed to start at the back of the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race on Thursday. Both teams are guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500 because they were among the top 35 teams in points last year.(ESPN.com)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR is meeting today over the #17 and #9 times being disallowed, penalties will not be announced today [Monday], probably Tuesday or as late as Wednesday this week.(2-12-2007)
UPDATE 3: on ESPN's NASCAR Now, Marty Smith said that NASCAR told him penalties would not be announced until late Tuesday afternoon at the earliest or as late as Wednesday.(2-12-2007)
UPDATE 4: at the beginning of Brian France's State of NASCAR address, there was no announcement on the penalties, but NASCAR's Jim Hunter said the announcement would come later this afternoon. Sirius NASCAR Radio reports that the crew chiefs will be suspended immediately, fined and the team/drivers could be penalized points.(2-13-2007)

Reiser reups with the #17 team: After speculation that Robbie Reiser would step off the Nextel Cup Series pit box sooner, rather than later, and take a higher-level position with Roush Racing, the driver's crew chief said Friday he has signed a three-year contract extension to maintain his crew chief position with the #17 team. "The other position that everyone was talking about, that was the drivers pushing that," Reiser said. "That wasn't so much me talking about it as it was Matt and Greg Biffle. I'm not saying I wouldn't take a position like that down the road, but right now, I wasn't quite ready for something like that." Reiser, who has served as Kenseth's crew chief since 1997, has helped the Cambridge native to 14 Cup victories and the 2003 Cup championship. Late last season, Kenseth suggested Reiser might be on his last legs as a crew chief. The 43-year-old Reiser reportedly wanted to spend less time traveling and more time with his wife, Tracy, and their sons, Ryan, Rhett and Reed. "Robbie's future has come up at the end of each of the last three years," Kenseth said. "We didn't really talk about whether he should work with the DeWALT team or work with the Roush organization. What I always tell him, though, is that whatever he wants to do, I'll support that. This business is a long grind, so whatever makes him happy makes me happy. I think you go through years where you get dragged down and tired because you have so much going on, but then you have years where you're running good and you realize that what your doing is the thing you really love to do. ... Robbie loves the thrill of the chase and calling the race and being on the pit box. And I think he would really have missed that had he taken another role in Roush Racing." Reiser decided to sign the contract extension shortly after Christmas. "I'm gone from home about 75% of the time, so (the travel) does take a toll on you," he said. "But I'm not quite ready to sit down and watch all the action from afar. I like being in the battle and I like to win races and championships. I ain't going to do that sitting at home."(Wisconsin State Journal)(2-13-2007)

Fenway Sports Group/Roush deal completed, announced the 14th: A group of investors led by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry has completed a deal to buy a 50% stake in the Roush Racing NASCAR team, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday. Although team owner Jack Roush is selling half of the team to the Fenway Sports Group, Roush will continue to run the team's competitive operations, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. Both parties have scheduled a Feb. 14 news conference at Jackie Robinson Ballpark [105 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach], a minor league facility near Daytona International Speedway. Roush, who was wearing his trademark fedora as he supervised his drivers at Daytona International Speedway on Friday evening, declined comment.(Associated Press)
also Roush Racing announced a major announcement with Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) executives; Red Sox players and Roush Racing drivers on Wednesday, February 14 at 5:30pm/et(Roush Racing PR)(2-10-2007)

Negotiations progressing between Roush and Red Sox owner UPDATE 2: The negotiations in the sale of a portion of Roush Racing to Boston Red Sox owner John Henry's Fenway Sports Group are progressing well, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Saturday. Many of the major points have been agreed upon since the negotiations began in earnest in September. "The big principal points, that's all buttoned up," Smith said. "I think by the first of the year, we'll [know]. We're going along pretty fast. By Daytona for sure." One of those pieces involves what percentage of the racing organization the Fenway Sports Group will own. Jack Roush will not relinquish control of the team. "We have been open to being all the way up to equal [partners], but not more than equal [for them],"(SceneDaily.com)(11-19-2006)
UPDATE: the [Red] Sox deal for a half-interest in Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR racing, is done. Reported price: $62 million. Formal announcement to follow.(at the bottom of a Boston Globe article)(1-5-2007)
UPDATE 2: Jack Roush says his deal with the Fenway Sports Group is not complete, but his Roush Racing team has scheduled a "BIG" announcement Feb. 14 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. That would be an appropriate place for Roush to announce that he has partnered with FSG, the marketing arm of Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. Roush said the contracts are in the hands of the lawyers, and he would expect a decision by the end of March. He indicated that there could be a name change to the team. FSG has been negotiating with Roush for about the last five or six months. Roush said FSG's ownership role could be anywhere from 25 to 50%.(SceneDaily.com)(1-24-2007)
UPDATE 3: The principal owner of the Boston Red Sox could close a deal next month to buy half of Roush Racing, one of the most prominent teams in NASCAR, officials said Wednesday. Negotiations between John Henry and Jack Roush , the owner of the racing team, are in their final stages, and if all goes well, details could be disclosed before the Daytona 500 race on Feb. 18 , said Mike Dee , the president of Fenway Sports Group , which handles Henry's non baseball sports ventures. That disclosure came hours after Roush told a group of reporters in Charlotte, N.C., that a deal was close and could be unveiled in Daytona on Feb. 14, comments that apparently caught the Red Sox off guard. "Obviously we're not going to refute what Jack said," Dee said in a telephone interview yesterday evening. "Our goal has always been to try to have this all completed by the start of the racing season, and racing season starts Feb. 18, so that would be consistent with the goal that we have been trying to work toward."(Boston Globe)(1-26-2007)

Past 2006 News

Arby's to Sponsor Kenseth at Birstol:: The Arby's brand will be the primary sponsor of 13 races on Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford Busch Series entry beginning with the season opener at Daytona. Arby's also will appear as the primary sponsor on Kenseth's Nextel Cup Ford in the Spring 2007 race at Bristol Motor Speedway.(Roush Racing PR)(12-7-2006)

Wypall Wipers Crowns Crew Chief Champions: Wypall Wipers announced Robbie Reiser, Trip Bruce and Rick Ren as the winners of its 2006 Crew Chief Challenge. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge has been a season-long contest to determine the best crew chiefs in the garage. At the conclusion of each event in racing's top-three series, a panel of judges, including Tony Eury Sr., Director of Competition at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., a member of the local media and a Wypall Wipers representative, decided which crew chief did an outstanding job. It wasn't necessarily the crew chief that went to victory lane, but it was always the crew chief that made the biggest difference to his team. The crew chief in each series with the most weekly wins won top honors as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge spotlights the crew chief's efforts to get his team in Victory Lane.
Robbie Reiser, crew chief of the Nextel Cup Series #17 Roush Racing DeWalt Ford, earned Crew Chief of the Race accolades at five events this season, narrowly edging Kenny Francis, crew chief of the #9 Dodge Dealers Dodge, who won the award four times. Reiser received $20,000 as the Crew Chief of the Year.
Trip Bruce, crew chief of the Busch Series #9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger, won the Crew Chief of the Race award five times this season, beating out Shane Wilson, crew chief of the #21 Coast Guard Chevrolet, who picked up four wins. Bruce won $10,000 for his achievement.
Rick Ren, crew chief of the Craftsman Truck Series #23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota, won a close competition over Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief of the #30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota, for Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year honors. Ren won the Crew Chief of the Race award five times throughout 2006, earning a $10,000 grand prize as the champion.
Wypall Wipers will return in 2007 with its Crew Chief Challenge and continue to spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto Wypall.com.(11-27-2006)

Roush buys out Martin's share of #17 team: Jack Roush has bought Mark Martin's share of the #17 Nextel Cup team that Matt Kenseth drives. Martin is listed as the owner of the car, though it was Roush that sat at the head table with driver Matt Kenseth when the team won the 2003 championship, and it is the Roush Racing umbrella under which the team competes. Martin is leaving Roush after this season as he stops competing full time in NASCAR, at least for next season. Martin plans to share the Bobby Ginn-owned MB2 Motorsports #01 with rookie Regan Smith next season, with Martin driving in 22 races.(SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)

New Nextel Cup GM for Roush: Max Jones, who has led the Craftsman Truck and Busch series programs at Roush Racing the past two years, was named general manager of the Nextel Cup program yesterday.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-6-2006)

Crew Chief Changes Planned at Roush Racing: Jack Roush confirmed Sunday that a multi-team, crew chief shakeup is in the works in his five-team Nextel Cup operation [#'s6,16,17,26,99], but he said he hasn't decided which crew chiefs to pair with which drivers, though veteran Jimmy Fennig "might be a good choice" for David Ragan [in the #6] next season. Will Wally Brown be back as #99-Carl Edwards' crew chief? "That's one of our dream-team packages," Roush said. "Wally Brown is one of my heroes; he's done a great job. But his dad, in Pennsylvania, isn't doing well, and Wally is missing his dad, and we've been talking, and Wally may have a change in venue, and in his career. If we lose Wally, it would be a huge loss."(Winston Salem Journal)(10-23-2006)

Kenseth to help unviel Homestead Pace Vehicles for Ford Champ weekend UPDATE: #17-Matt Kenseth will join Ford and Homestead Miami Speedway officials in hosting the official unveiling of the 2006 Ford Championship Weekend pace vehicles on Tuesday, Oct 17th. This year's pace car fleet includes a 2007 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500, a 2007 Ford Edge and a 2007 Ford F-150 FX2 Sport.(Ford PR)(10-17-2006)

UPDATE: Earlier Tuesday, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford cars that will pace NASCAR’s season-ending races at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. Matt Kenseth helped Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology, and Curtis Gray, president of the Homestead-Miami Speedway, unveil the new pace vehicles, a 2007 Ford Edge, a 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, and a 2007 Ford F-150 FX2 Sport.(Ford Racing PR)(10-18-2006)

Carhartt colors for the #17 at LMS: Matt Kenseth and the #17 team will be flying the Carhartt colors this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the third and final time in 2006.(Roush Racing PR), see an image on the #17 Team Schemes page.(10-11-2006)

Reiser on the move at Roush? Robbie Reiser, who has been #17-Matt Kenseth's crew chief since his debut in 1999, laughed over talk that he could become a general manager at Roush Racing. Not that he wouldn't want the job, but he knows that decision belongs to Jack Roush. "That's Matt Kenseth-Greg Biffle talking in the media program," Reiser said Oct. 8. "I've been hired to be a crew chief and that's what I do. That's a question you need to ask Jack. I can't answer that." Reiser won the Cup title in 2003 with Kenseth.(SceneDaily.com)
AND Robbie Reiser could have a new role at Roush Racing in 2007, according to several drivers within the organization. It has been discussed that Reiser, who has been the crew chief for 2003 Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth since 1998, take on general manager position over all the teams. Reiser said that was a question for team owner Jack Roush, but admitted he is interested in such a position. Roush declined to comment.(NASCAR.com)(10-9-2006)

Kenseth to make 250th Cup start: When #17-Matt Kenseth takes the green flag in this Sunday's UAW-Ford 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway, he will be making the 250th Nextel Cup Series start of his nine-year career. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Champion, will become the 76th driver in NASCAR history to reach the milestone. Kenseth broke into the Cup Series in 1998 at Dover International Speedway, where he drove to a sixth-place finish while filling in for #94-Bill Elliott. Together with crew chief and fellow Wisconsin native, Robbie Reiser, and car sponsor DEWALT, Kenseth made the leap into full-time competition in NASCAR's Cup division in 2000. That year, Kenseth became the only rookie ever to win the Coca-Cola 600, a victory that helped propel him to Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. In 2003, Kenseth brought car owner Jack Roush his first Cup Championship by claiming the final championship of the Winston Cup era. Since then, Kenseth has won the 2004 IROC Championship, won the 2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway and is one of only three drivers to have made NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup all three seasons.(Roush Racing PR)(10-3-2006)

More on the Roush Racing/Fenway Sports Group 'deal': Team owner Jack Roush said there is not yet an offer on the table from John Henry's Fenway Sports Group as the entity discusses buying into Roush Racing with team President Geoff Smith. Roush said Friday that he's not sure when the sides will next talk but added that's not out of the ordinary. "I don't do the money very well," Roush said with a smile at Dover International Speedway. "Right now, there are discussions going on. There's not a deal on the table. There may not be a deal that makes it to the table. What do I think the chances are that John Henry will become an investor in the Roush organization? On one day it looks like the glass is a little more than half full; on other days it looks like it's definitely [less] than half full. And I don't get a report every day on what's going on." Roush said talks are sometimes conducted via email, but added that several members of FSG were at the team's North Carolina shops prior to the race at New Hampshire. If an agreement is reached, Roush said he wouldn't sell more than 50 percent of the organization to Henry's FSG, which is a separate entity from the partnership that owns the Boston Red Sox. And he said this simply isn't a way to get around NASCAR's ownership rules, which will eventually limit him to fielding four full-time Nextel Cup Series teams. If an agreement were reached, Henry would be an investor in Roush Racing, not fielding teams under the Fenway Sports Group umbrella as a separate entity. "Our plan is to operate four NASCAR stock car racing teams past this decade," Roush said. "We think if I can spread my base and do an expanded marketing and sponsorship involvement program that would have a component of interest in the Northeast that we'd be stronger through that." Anyone thinking this is Roush's way of preparing to retire is mistaken according to the owner. "For anybody that thinks Jack is looking for a way to get off stage now, or in the foreseeable future or that retirement's my plan, just hide and watch [me]," he said. "I'm not going to retire. I'm not trying to back away from the races. I'm not trying to put somebody between me and the race teams. One of my challenges my managers have on the race teams is, 'How do we get Jack out of the way so we can do what we need to do.'"(SceneDaily.com)(9-23-2006)

Boston Red Sox owner in talks to buy part of Roush: While Roush Racing president Geoff Smith isn't sure where discussions with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group will lead, he doesn't envision a scenario in which Jack Roush would relinquish control of the operation. Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the summer, Smith said late Tuesday afternoon. He's not sure what percentage of the team - which competes in all three of NASCAR's national series - could be sold, if any, but expects one thing to remain the same. "I can't see Jack Roush giving up control of Roush Racing," Smith said. "I don't see that as an outcome." Roush and Henry, who heads the NESV partnership, have been friends for several years, sparking occasional rumors that Henry was looking to buy into Roush Racing. In the past, though, Smith said the two sides were just discussing marketing possibilities, not a sale. The two were seen together on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway and Roush Racing released a statement Tuesday that confirmed discussions about selling an interest in the team were ongoing.(in part from the SceneDaily.com)
AND: According to multiple executives briefed on the negotiations, Fenway Sports Group is in talks to buy as much as 50 percent of privately held Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR, for something north of $50 million. No deal is imminent, these executives cautioned, and the negotiations, which have started and stopped before, could still falter. Both the Fenway Sports Group and Roush Racing confirmed the talks, but both said there is no agreement. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, called the Red Sox unit "attractive partners" because of its marketing capabilities, particularly in the Northeast. Said Mike Dee, president of Fenway Sports Group: "If these discussions are fruitful, we will be happy to talk about them."(in part from the Boston Globe)
AND II: “Roush Racing confirms,” said Geoff Smith president of Roush Racing, “It has entered into discussions to sell an interest in Roush Racing to Fenway Sports Group, Boston. Should these discussions ultimately materialize into a definitive agreement Roush Racing will provide further information on the topic.”(Roush Racing PR)(9-19-2006)

Kenseth wins at Bristol: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 2nd consecutive win in the night race at Bristol [first driver to do so since Dale Earnhardt in 1987-88], his 4th win of 2006 [tied for the lead with Johnson & Kahne] and 14th of his career. #5-Kyle Busch finished 2nd, followed by #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #10-Scott Riggs, #24-Jeff Gordon, #11-Denny Hamlin, #99-Carl Edwards, #12-Ryan Newman, #31-Jeff Burton [led the most laps 263] and #48-Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth and Johnson have clinched a spot in The Chase, #2-Kurt Busch, the pole sitter, was involved in a wreck, then had transmission problems and finished 37th down 54 laps and has been eliminated from The Chase. #9-Kasey Kahne finished 12th and is now 90 points out of 10th and The Chase, the only driver with a realistic chance of making it in the top-10. There were 7 leaders with 18 lead changes and ONLY 10 cautions for 62 laps.
Race Results on my Bristol Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Bristol page
Race Rundown: see my Bristol Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(8-26-2006)

Kenseth wins at Michigan: #17-Matt Kenseth won the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway for his 2nd win at the track, 3rd win of 2006 and 13th of his career. Kenseth led the most laps with 87 [of 200] dominating the 2nd half of the race. #24-Jeff Gordon finished 2nd, followed by #20-Tony Stewart, #9-Kasey Kahne, #6-Mark Martin, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.[who led 40 laps], #16-Greg Biffle, #41-Reed Sorenson, #11-Denny Hamlin and #19-Elliott Sadler [in his first race in the #19 and the first top 10 of the year for the team]. #38-David Gilliland lost a tire mid-race and finished 38th in his first run for Robert Yates Racing. Pole sitter #31-Jeff Burton came into the race 4th in points, never led a lap and lost an engine early to finish 42nd, dropping to 9th in points. #2-Kurt Busch wrecked twice, finishing 40th and out of the race and is pretty much out of the chase. #99-Carl Edwards ran strong all day, but something went amiss at the end of the race and he finished 22nd, pretty much ending his shot at the Chase. #9-Kasey Kahne finished 4th and picked up 5 points on 10th place #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 49 points out of 10th and pretty much the only driver not in the top 10 who have a chance to make it in The Chase. There were 11 leaders with 26 lead changes and a record 10 cautions for 36 laps.
Race Results on my Michigan Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after MIchigan page
Race Rundown: see my Michigan Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(8-20-2006)

New Associate Sponsor for #17: Rinnai Corporation: DEWALT announced that Rinnai Corporation has joined its #17 racing team as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2006 Nextel Cup Series season. Based in Peachtree City, Ga., Rinnai is the world's largest gas appliance manufacturer offering a complete line of tankless water heaters, ductless heaters, fireplaces and cooking appliances. The Rinnai logo will be featured on the deck lid and, in selected races, the TV panel of Roush Racing's #17 DEWALT Ford Fusion driven by Matt Kenseth.. For more information about the Rinnai Corporation and the Rinnai tankless water heater product, visit www.foreverhotwater.com.(Roush Racing)(8-17-2006)

Gordon looking to talk with Kenseth: When #24-Jeff Gordon arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday, he said he was looking for #17-Matt Kenseth - and not just to push him out of the way like he did at the end of Sunday's race in Chicago. "I'd certainly like to see him before I leave here," Gordon said before the third day of testing began. "I was hoping just to see him here because I figured we'd all be here."(Associated Press)(7-13-2006)

USG Colors for Kenseth at Chicago: Kenseth’s #17 Ford Fusion will carry the USG Sheetrock colors this weekend in the USG Sheetrock 400. It marks the second of three times this season Kenseth will pilot the USG Sheetrock Ford; the first was at Bristol in March (finished third) and the last will be at Phoenix in November.(Roush Racing PR), see image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(7-4-2006)

Bires beats Kenseth and Stewart: On a night when 10,000 fans crammed around Madison International Speedway to see two of NASCAR's biggest names, not only did the stars put on a show but so did a comparative unknown who walked away with the victory Tuesday night at the All-Star Challenge. Kelly Bires, a 21-year-old from Mauston, won the 100-lap feature, fighting off a charge by Cambridge native Matt Kenseth during the final 11 laps. Bires' fastest lap around the half-mile oval was 18.252 seconds. Kenseth finished second. Bobby Wilberg was third. Tony Stewart, defending Nextel Cup champion, finished eighth but made perhaps the biggest jump in the field. He started 19th.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-28-2006)

Jack Roush Honored by Ford: Jack Roush received the highest honor Ford Motor Company can bestow on anyone in racing when he was presented with the Spirit of Ford Award in front of approximately 450 employees at Ford World Headquarters Thursday. Edsel B. Ford II made the presentation during a pep rally involving many of Ford's NASCAR drivers who will be competing in the Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck Series races at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Roush was hired as an engineer at Ford in 1964, but got the racing bug when he joined a group called 'The Fastbacks' two years later. The group was made up of Ford employees who competed in drag racing on weekends. Since then, Roush has won championships in all three of NASCAR's top divisions, including back-to-back Nextel Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. In addition, he has three Pro Stock drag racing championships, 24 road racing titles and 10 consecutive victories in the prestigious Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. The Spirit of Ford Award goes to a person who has made significant contributions on and off the track to the sport of auto racing. Other stock car recipients of the Spirit of Ford Award include: Bud Moore, the Wood Brothers, Junie Donlavey, Bill Elliott, Richard Petty, the France family, and Ned Jarrett.(Ford Racing)(6-16-2006)

Kenseth wins at Dover: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2006 and 12th of his 12th win of his career [ties with Newman for 30th overall]. Kenseth passed teammate #26-Jamie McMurray with 3 laps to go to gain the victory. McMurray held on to 2nd, followed by #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #5-Kyle Busch. #48-Jimmie Johnson fell off the lead lap early, spun once causing the 4th caution, but got back on the lead lap later by not pitting and wound up 6th, keeping the points lead by 74 over Kenseth. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran in the top 15 all day and ended up 10th. The win is Roush Racing's 92nd, tying the owner with Holman-Moody for 5th place overall. The win is the third for Ford, Kenseth has two and #16-Biffle has the other one. The pole sitter, #12-Ryan Newman, led 12 laps and finished 14th. There were 23 lead changes among 12 drivers and 9 cautions for 51 laps.
Race Results on my Dover Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Dover page.
Race Rundown: see my Dover Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(6-4-2006)

Kenseth running R&L Carriers colors at LMS: This Sunday, at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Matt Kenseth will pilot the yellow and green #17 R+L Carriers/DEWALT Ford Fusion. R+L Carriers joined Roush Racing in January as an associate sponsor on the #17 DEWALT team, but this weekend becomes the primary on the car driven by Kenseth. For the first time since 1997 R+L Carriers, the family owned trucking company out of Wilmington, Ohio, will be the primary sponsor on a car in NASCAR's top division. The Coca-Cola 600 marks the first of three races during the 2006 season in which R+L Carriers will serve as the primary sponsor for Kenseth and Roush Racing's #17 NEXTEL Cup team. The other two races are the July race at Daytona and the October race at Martinsville. Based out of Wilmington, Ohio, R+L Carriers is a family owned and operated company that with over 40 years of committed service to their customers, has grown to be one of today's leaders in the Less than Truckload (LTL) industry. With nearly 10,000 employees, R+L Carriers Inc. currently services 49 states, as well as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and all of Canada.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-26-2006)

Forbes: Roush Most Valuable: Forbes magazine says Roush Racing is currently the most valuable organization in NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch series competition, with a net worth the publication estimates at $218 million. In its June 5 edition, Forbes says Roush's five Cup and six Busch entries have lined up sponsorship estimated at $108 million this year and have earned $8.3 million on the track this season. Hendrick Motorsports ranks second with a value of $146 million for four Cup and two Busch entries. Forbes calculates the team's sponsorships are producing $77 million revenue this year. Joe Gibbs Racing ranks third ($103 million), followed by Richard Childress Racing ($100 million) and Chip Ganassi Racing ($79 million).(SceneDaily.com)(5-25-2006)

Congrats Rich: congrats to buddy and Matt Kenseth's Busch spotter, Rich Woodland. Rich got married recently in Las Vegas [by Elvis?] to Kelly Suter.(4-7-2006)

Matt Kenseth Educates, Paints with Dallas Area Kids: #17-Matt Kenseth took time out of his work schedule on Thursday morning at Texas Motor Speedway to visit with teenagers from Dallas / Ft. Worth area middle schools and after-school programs to teach them about teamwork, achievement, and the importance of making a difference in their community. The national educational initiative called 'Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Youth Program' is a partnership between Ameriquest Mortgage Company, non-profit organization Portraits of Hope and Roush Racing that bring together youth from schools, hospitals and after-school programs to explore personal goals and societal issues through education and art. Portraits of Hope is an organization that develops creative projects merging the healing arts with inspirational public art. Middle schoolers from Boles Jr. High School (Arlington), Dunbar 6th Grade Middle School (Ft. Worth) and Girl's Inc., a non-profit youth organization based in Arlington, participated in the program. As part of the interactive workshop, teens and Kenseth shared their creative expressions by creating murals replicating the shapes and colors depicted on Kenseth's #17 Ameriquest Soaring Dreams race car that he will drive in Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the second of four Ameriquest Soaring Dreams workshops and paint schemes this year. Last month in Bristol, Kenseth's teammate, Carl Edwards, participated in the Ameriquest Soaring Dreams workshop with a local high school. Mark Martin will do so later this month in Phoenix (Apr. 20) and Greg Biffle at Dover (May 30). Ameriquest Mortgage Company is the primary sponsor of four of Roush Racing's NBS teams in 2006, which includes Kenseth, Edwards, Martin and Biffle.(Alan Taylor Communications)(4-7-2006)

Kenseth: My Fault: Matt Kenseth disagreed with NASCAR's decision to fine Gordon $10,000 and place him on probation for shoving Kenseth at Bristol. "The deal was my fault," Kenseth said. "I made a mistake and I should have known better than to go over there and try to apologize."(Dallas Morning News)(4-1-2006)

Gordon push to be looked at by NASCAR: Although not giving as firm a statement as typical when penalties are imminent, NASCAR officials said they will review the Jeff Gordon shove of Matt Kenseth, which occurred on pit road after the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Sunday night that NASCAR will follow its typical procedure and review the incident in the next few days, probably Tuesday. Kenseth and Gordon were involved in a crash on the final lap, where Kenseth sent Gordon spinning. Kenseth went over to Gordon to apologize after the race, and Gordon shoved him away. "I would have been ticked off, too," Kenseth said. "I probably should have known better than to go over there, but I just think when you do something wrong, you should try to be a man about it and apologize." Both drivers and crew chiefs were called to the hauler after the race. "I'm sure he didn't mean to do it and all that stuff, but I wasn't happy about it," Gordon said. "I showed it to him after the race."(SceneDaily.com)(3-27-2006)

USG Scheme for #17 at Bristol: For the first of three times in 2006, Matt Kenseth will pilot the #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion. USG Sheetrock will also be the primary sponsor for the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in July and the November race at Phoenix International Raceway.(Roush Racing PR)(3-22-2006)

Kenseth comes from the back to win @ Calif: #17-Matt Kenseth took the lead late in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway after starting 31st with a green-white-checkered finish.. It is Kenseth's first win of 2006, first since Bristol last August and 11th of his career. #48-Jimmie Johnson backed up his Daytona 500 win with a 2nd place finish, followed by #99-Carl Edwards, #9-Kasey Kahne and #31-Jeff Burton. #16-Greg Biffle lead 168 laps until his engine let go, finishing 42nd. 2005 Nextel Cup champ, #20-Tony Stewart finished last [43rd] when his engine expired. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured 11th after being down a lap and getting a lucky dog pass. Johnson maintains the points lead, 39 points over #42-Casey Mears, who finished 7th. There were 7 cautions for 26 laps. There were 18 lead changes with 9 leaders.
Race Results on my Daytona Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after California page.
Race Rundown: see my California Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(2-26-2006)

Kenseth and Stewart...still no speak UPDATE speak: #17-Matt Kenseth says he has yet to hear from #20-Tony Stewart about last weekend's incident in the Daytona 500 that sent Kenseth into the wall. "I'm sure we'll talk eventually," Kenseth said Friday at California Speedway. "I don't feel like I need to go talk to him because I didn't feel I was in the wrong at all. Obviously, he does, but I don't feel like I did anything wrong." Stewart ran Kenseth into the grass in turn 3 last weekend. That came after Stewart said Kenseth nearly caused him to spin by taking the air off his spoiler earlier in the race. "He started the whole thing, and I finished it," Stewart said after last week's race. NASCAR penalized Stewart for aggressive driving after Kenseth hit the wall. Stewart had to restart at the rear of the field. Series officials did not talk to Stewart about his post-race comments this week and didn't plan to talk to him this weekend. Kenseth admits the incident has been difficult to forget. Kenseth ran well until the incident. He finished 15th; Stewart placed fifth.(Roanoke Times)(2-25-2006)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart has had a busy weekend even before starting today's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway. Stewart said he talked to Matt Kenseth about last week's incident at Daytona this weekend and spoke with Kyle Busch for about 90 minutes Friday night. Stewart was one of a few drivers who complained about Busch's aggressive driving at Daytona. Stewart was upset with Kenseth at Daytona after Stewart nearly spun while running underneath Kenseth. Later, Stewart ran Kenseth down the track and into the grass. Kenseth spun back up the track and hit the turn-3 wall. Stewart declined to reveal details of that conversation. "What we talk about is between Matt and me," Stewart said.(Roanoke Times)(2-26-2006)

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Kenseth signs multi-year deal with Roush: Matt Kenseth has signed a multi-year contract with Roush Racing to continue to drive the #17 DEWALT Ford. Kenseth and Roush Racing's relationship dates back to 1999. "We are very pleased that Matt extended his contract with Roush Racing last fall," said Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing. "Matt is one of the most talented drivers in the garage and he'll always hold a special place in our organization, having helped to bring us our first Cup championship in 2003. It's very assuring knowing that he will be staying on with us and I know that the first goal on his agenda is to take that championship trophy back."(Roush Racing PR), no terms mentioned.(1-27-2006)
UPDATE: Terms were not disclosed, beyond the deal being described as "multi-year." Team owner Jack Roush has said he has driver and sponsor agreements for all five of his Nextel Cup cars until 2010 or beyond.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(1-28-2006)

Roush and NASCAR agree on downsizing: Five-Team Owner [#'s 6,16,17,26,99] Jack Roush said he and NASCAR have agreed on the basics of how to get his Nextel Cup team down to four cars, which was mandated by the sanctioning body late last season. “We will go back to four teams, but it’s not immediate,” Roush said. “There is a cap of four [Cup teams]. I will comply with that when I’m past my commitments I have with drivers and sponsors. We’ve finally got an understanding of what is possible and what we can do.” Roush would not speculate on when his team might go back to four cars, but said his existing commitments expire between 2009 and 2011.(Ford Racing)(1-25-2006)

R+L Carriers to sponsor Kenseth in 3 races: #17-Matt Kenseth is scheduled to pilot the R+L Carriers Ford at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, the July race at Daytona and and Martinsville Speedway in Oct.(RacingOne), see an image there or on my #17 Team Schemes page.(1-3-2006)

Past 2005 News

Roush Crew Chiefs all back in 2006: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Sunday that the team has re-signed all of five of its crew chiefs for 2006, although it has some unfilled crew vacancies remaining. Roush is one of the few teams that had no midseason crew chief turnover and return of its five team leaders should help the organization get off to a strong start next season.(Speed Channel)(11-21-2005)

Sad News: John Reiser, father of #17 crew chief Robbie Reiser and Matt Kenseth’s long-time Busch Series car owner, has passed away. John had been battling cancer for the past few months. Sympathies are with his wife, Alice, and Robbie, and the rest of the family this weekend. More details when they have them.(Matt Kenseth site)(11-19-2005)

Changes at the #17, Kenseth not happy...and Get Well: Roush Racing’s Matt Kenseth, who recently lost his spotter (Mike Califnoff) and car chief (Jeff Vandermoss left to take a crew chief gig at Ganassi #40 team) NOT his crew chief (Robbie Reiser), said poaching of race-team employees is worse this year then he’s ever seen before. “I think we’ll probably lose some people at the end of this year, probably more than we have before as a group at Roush Racing,” said Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion. “That happens. Roush has been really successful over the last three years, winning a couple championships and having all five cars in the Chase. When that happens, you always have other teams come in and offer them a bunch more money than they would offer them if we were running 15th every week. This year, I’ve seen a lot more teams come in and try to raid us than in years past and they seem to be more successful than they have in years past.”(Speed Channel)
Get Well Robbie Reiser, the Nextel Cup crew chief for #17-Matt Kenseth, wasn't in Texas on Friday. He was in Wisconsin with his ailing father.(ESPN.com/AP)(11-5-2005)
AND: Kenseth was without his crew chief, as Robbie Reiser was home with his ill father. "It's a lot different without Robbie being here," Matt Kenseth said. "I think it was hard for him to be away [Friday]. It's a little different group over there but Robbie's laid a great foundation, done a great job of organizing everybody, so even if you miss a person or two, everything keeps on right along."(NASCAR.com)(11-5-2005)

Kenseth's New Spotter: been told that Bob Jeffrey will be handling the spotter duties for #17-Matt Kenseth for the remainder of the 2005 season while the team looks to fill the position permanently for 2006. Jeffrey, who is actively being sought after by several teams and drivers for the 2006 season, was voted the Best Spotter in NASCAR by The Sporting News in 2003 (the only year the publication conducted the "Best of NASCAR" poll). Jeffrey, who has been in NASCAR racing over 20 years, got his start in the Busch Series, where one of the first drivers he worked with was the late Dale Earnhardt and has worked with Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick and other drivers over the years.(10-29-2005)

New Crew chief for #40? hearing that #17 car chief, Jeff Vandermoss, will leave and take the #40 Ganassi Racing team crew chief gig for 2006 when David Stremme takes over.(10-24-2005)

Kenseth loses spotter after 2005 UPDATE: As #17-Matt Kenseth's spotter for the last six years, Mike Calinoff [stockcarcity.com] has experienced the highs and lows of NASCAR's top series. Certainly, Saturday night was the latest of milestones since he guided Matt to rookie-of-the-year honors in 2000. He was the "eyes in the sky" for the #17 Dewalt Ford when Matt delivered Jack Roush's long-awaited first title. But he's also witnessed the frustrations of maintaining a championship caliber team over the long haul. When the cars roll out at Daytona next February, Calinoff's unmistakable bass will be booming over #40-David Stremme's radio channel. In addition to his spotting duties, Calinoff will also oversee the day-to-day business aspects for the Ganassi Racing up-and-comer. There's an opportunity for growth with Ganassi, whereas the Roush spotter's gig didn't offer for the chance for advancement. And like any new relationship, Stremme's deal will be loaded with firsts -- first pole, first win and if Calinoff is lucky, a first title.(Sporting News)(9-1-2005)
UPDATE: Sunday's Subway 500 at the Martinsville Speedway marked the final race of Mike Calinoff's six-year term as Matt Kenseth's spotter. The two mutually agreed that an early separation would afford Kenseth the time to audition a new spotter, and allow Calinoff the opportunity to begin handling the management chores for Rookie David Stremme. For the remainder of the season Calinoff, who was featured this weekend on NBC's Today Show, will serve as spotter for Reed Sorensen's Nextel Cup debut races in Atlanta and Texas, as well as Stremme's entry in Homestead and his remaining Busch Series events.(PR)(10-24-2005)

Busch not happy with Kenseth UPDATE: #97-Kurt Busch wasn't happy with his teammate, #17-Matt Kenseth, early in Sunday's race because he wouldn't let him lead a single lap - and gain five bonus points in the championship race. Kenseth said there are no company orders to help teammates, especially when that teammate is a competitor in the playoffs. "When you get in the Chase you've got to get all the points you can," Kenseth said. "You can't give points away. I'm sure (Busch) is mad at me." Jack Roush said he doesn't want his drivers to play favorites. "I don't expect them to do that," he said. "In fact, I'd be disappointed if they did that."(Augusta Chronicle)(10-10-2005)
UPDATE: Matt Kenseth admits he should have allowed teammate Kurt Busch to pass him for the lead early in Sunday's race at Kansas so Busch could gain the five bonus points for leading a lap. Kenseth didn't do that and defended his actions over his team's radio. "When it gets to the chase, we're all racing each other for the championship, and I'm not going to get beat by four points at the end of the year because I gave away a free five (points) somewhere," Kenseth said during the race. Tuesday, Kenseth changed his tune after talking with Busch and Busch's crew chief, Jimmy Fennig. "I think what I probably did wrong is when he was all over me, I probably should have let him lead a lap just because we were both abusing our cars. He ended up blowing a tire, and I ended up losing some track position because I was running so hard and my car didn't handle the way I thought it would and it ended up getting real tight. Things happen when you're in the car and the racer comes out in you, and that's what it's about is racing. I was looking behind me and I saw five (championship) chase cars behind me and I certainly didn't want everybody to get up there and get a bunch of points that they didn't have to."(Greensboro News and Record)(10-12-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: The Chase for the coveted NASCAR NEXTEL Cup continues, and so does your chance to win big. Fans who pick the correct finishing order of the Gillette Young Guns - Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Matt Kenseth - by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com during the first six races of the "Chase" will have the chance to win $1 Million and a trip to the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20. Each week provides fans with a new opportunity to win. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun at Talladega Superspeedway, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the sixth time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(10-9-2005)

Kenseth renegotiating with Roush: #17-Matt Kenseth was busy testing last week at Kansas and Charlotte, and while his immediate concern was working on his Busch setups, the 2003 Cup champion and his fellow Roush racers also have been thinking about the personnel turnover that will come at the end of this season. "Definitely people come at your good guys with money, especially during contract years," Kenseth says. "It's not as bad as the NFL yet, but that's all part of the sport. You have to audit your own system and keep up with incentives and keep up with the payroll because other teams will do what it takes to get your drivers and your crew members that they want." Kenseth is renegotiating his own contract but says, "I'm certainly planning on staying at Roush."(Sporting News)(10-5-2005)

Reiser Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award at New Hampshire: Matt Kenseth caught a bad break in this weekend's Sylvania 300, literally. Following a routine stop for service, Kenseth's front brake locked up as he was exiting the pits and the driver of the # 17 DeWalt Ford was forced to plow around the track until he could reenter his stall. With crew chief Robbie Reiser calling the shots, the crew fixed the problem and put Kenseth back in the hunt for a win. The team's rebound brought Kenseth a third-place finish and moved him ninth to fifth in the championship standings. For orchestrating his team's comeback, Reiser was awarded the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award.
"We got a lug nut caught between the hat and the rotor," said Reiser. "The guys do an awesome job each week and today was no different. They never gave up. They fixed the problem and got him (Kenseth) back in it. We followed that up with a two tire pit stop to get back the track position we lost and everything fell into place from there. The crew had stellar stops all day. Hopefully we can keep this string going over the next nine weeks."
"The DeWalt guys did a great job," said Reiser. "We had great pit stops. Came back from that problem and didn't really tear anything up and were able to work our way back through there through pit strategy and having a good car. It feels good to come here and get a good finish and I look forward to going to Dover." The panel of voters; including Chuck Givler of the Easton Express-Times, a Wypall Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr.; voted for Reiser as the crew chief who did the most outstanding job.
Doug Richert leads the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson is in second place with three wins. Bob Osborne, Jimmy Fennig, Greg Zipadelli, Robbie Reiser and Robbie Loomis are tied for third place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Greg Erwin, Slugger Labbe and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for fourth place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. Fans can also vote for their choice at wypall.com.(SMC 500)(9-19-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Sony HD 500 at Fontana, CA, on September 4, Sue K. of Cottonwood, AZ, was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Sue picked Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the fifth time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Comminications)(9-9-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 27, Linda H. of Paducah, KY was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Linda picked Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the fourth time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(9-1-2005)

Kenseth dominates in win at Bristol: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Sharpie 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway, dominating the race by leading 415 of 500 laps and vaulting himself into 11th in Drivers Points, only 11 points out of 10th. The win is Kenseth's first in 56 races, when he won at Las Vegas in March 2004. The win is the 10th of his career. #31-Jeff Burton was 2nd, his best finish since his 3rd at Phoenix in April. The rest of the top-5 were #16-Greg Biffle, who was a lap down and got the lucky dog, #21-Ricky Rudd and #2-Rusty Wallace. Points leader, #20-Tony Stewart lingered around 15-20th most of the race, but was able to come home 8th and increased his points lead to 213 points over #48-Jimmie Johnson who DNF'd with a broken motor. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. went down a lap three times, got the lucky dog all three times and after the crew made numerous changes, Dale Jr. finished 9th. #24-Jeff Gordon finished 6th and is now 10th in the points and currently in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, leading 11th in points #17-Kenseth by 11 points. #88-Dale Jarrett let his emotions get the best of him and took out #12-Ryan Newman, along with himself and innocent #29-Kevin Harvick [who should had followed #25-Vickers thru the wreck]. Newman had spun Jarrett a few laps before and Jarrett caught up to Newman a few laps later and hit Newman in the rear, spinning both, pretty much killing Harvick's chance of making The Chase and really hurting Jarrett's chance. Newman is still in the Chase, in 9th. #0-Mike Bliss made a late race charge, after getting spun out in the Jarrett/Harvick mess and getting a Lucky Dog, finishing 7th for his best finish of the season.
For my race rundown with lap leaders, caution info, race notes and lucky dogs, see my Bristol Race Info/Rundown Page
For race results and links, see Jayski's Bristol Race Results Page. (8-27-2005)

Reiser Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award at Bristol: Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser brought a new meaning to the word dominance this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kenseth not only sat on the pole for the Sharpie 500, but led 415 of 500 laps before the #17 DeWalt Ford took the checkered flag. For sweeping the weekend, Reiser was voted the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Kenseth's victory snapped a 57 week winless streak and put the 2003 champ back in the thick of the Chase for the Nextel Cup. He currently sits 11th the championship standings, only eleven points out of 10th. "This team hasn't run that well this year, but the last couple of weeks it's really been coming around," said Reiser. "These guys have stuck to it and I don't have one guy that has spent the season complaining. They've pretty much just gone to work. The last two months have been real strong for this team and these guys are behind it 100 percent. I think when everybody had written us out of the chase that was more than a challenge than anything else and they wanted to step up to the challenge and turn the thing around. There are a lot of guys on the 17 (team) that have been there a long time and those guys have a lot of pride and they aren't going to go down without a fight."
The panel of voters; including Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal, a WYPALL Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr.; all cast their vote for Robbie Reiser as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Doug Richert leads the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson, Bob Osborne, Greg Zipadelli and Robbie Loomis are tied for second place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Jimmy Fennig, Greg Erwin, Slugger Labbe, Robbie Reiser and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for third place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. Fans can also vote for their choice at wypall.com.(SMC 500)(8-29-2005)

Kenseth to renew with Roush? #17-Matt Kenseth, after watching all the fallout from other driver negotiations the past few weeks, is expected to quickly sign a contract renewal with car owner Jack Roush.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-27-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 21, Rita J. of Toledo, OH was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Rita picked Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun by going to

www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Kenseth. This is the second time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(8-25-2005)

Kenseth staying at Roush? #17-Matt Kenseth, whose name has been in the news lately too about possibly moving on? "We have a great sponsor in DeWalt, that has been with him a long time, and I really have difficult seeing Matt turn his back on a sponsor that has built his career," Smith said. "I believe Matt is very happy being with us. The economic piece is there, and the competitive piece is there, so the expectation is there wouldn't be a switch."

Kenseth to the #11? Word is that #17-Matt Kenseth, whose contract with Roush Racing is up at the end of 2006, may be under consideration for a ride with Joe Gibbs in Gibbs' third [#11Chevy ] team, which has struggled this season, despite hefty sponsorship from FedEx.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-21-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking #17-Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 7th, Tony E. of Sussex, WI was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Tony picked Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the first time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(8-11-2005)

Kenseth and Penske? Busch? Rumors persist that Roush Racing's Matt Kenseth is the top choice to replace Rusty Wallace, who's retiring, in the #2 Penske Racing car. Sources say Kenseth is sponsor Miller Brewing Co.'s first choice. Plus, Kenseth and his wife, Katie, are good friends of Penske driver Ryan Newman.(Sporting News)
BUT: ....there were reports yesterday that Roger Penske had indeed approached Jack Roush with an offer of some sort for Kenseth, but that Roush had dismissed it out of hand. Penske continues to decline comment on his driver search. Is Kenseth's contract for sale? "Absolutely not," Roush Racing's Geoff Smith said. However, Smith said he hasn't had an opportunity yet to talk with Kenseth about the Penske report. "I've been traveling around on sponsorship business, and I've been trying to track him down to ask him," Smith said. Smith says he's confident that Kenseth will remain with Roush: "Matt is very happy about being at Roush Racing, and we've had some discussions about going forward." Kenseth's contract with Roush runs through the end of 2006, and Smith says he is working on a long-term renewal. Penske is down to two men in his search for a driver to replace Rusty Wallace next season. Penske will make his announcement by Sept. 1.(Winston Salem Journal), also hearing it could be Busch, but he is signed thru 2006.(8-8-2005)

DEI has a driver for the #15...if NAPA stays UPDATE 2 Denials: If Dale Earnhardt Inc. [DEI] can keep NAPA as a sponsor for a third car next season, an already topsy-turvy "Silly Season" could get even wilder. DEI Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said yesterday the team is negotiating with the auto-parts supplier about staying with the #15 being vacated by Michael Waltrip after 2005. Gilmore said DEI already has lined up a driver to team with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. for the 2006 Nextel Cup season. Gilmore wouldn't disclose a name but said it was someone prominent on another race team "that's been on our wish list for some time."
"[NAPA] has some options with us, Michael and some other race teams," Gilmore said. "We've put about a two-week window on it where they've got to make the decision and we've got to make a decision and go forward. But we have a driver kind of laid out, and everything laid out."(Richmond Times Dispatch)
MORE: The rumor mill says Matt Kenseth [#17 DeWalt Ford, contract thru 2006] will be leaving the Roush stable soon and that a spot at DEI [#15?] may be in his future.(RacingOne)(8-5-2005)
UPDATE: DEI's bid to hold sponsor NAPA to field a third team next season hinges on DEI's signing one particular, unnamed driver, which DEI executives yesterday said they didn't expect to happen. Earnhardt said he hopes to have a third team running next season, "But we don't know quite what we're going to do with that team." NAPA could stay with Michael Waltrip, who is finishing his DEI contract, and that could mean Waltrip would be able to field his own Cup team next season.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-6-2005)
UPDATE 2 - Denials: #17-Matt Kenseth and #41-Casey Mears on Saturday denied recent speculation that they would leave their respective teams in favor of driving the #15 Chevrolet at Dale Earnhardt Inc. "Am I going to DEI? No," Kenseth said following Nextel Cup Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'm happy at Roush Racing."
"I'll say right now I'm 99.9 percent sure I'm going to be with Ganassi next year," Mears said. "We had a meeting a few days ago and everything looks real positive to do something for next year, and right now we're 100 percent effort to try to make something happen for here, next year, for Ganassi. Without making any announcements, we're trying to put things together for here at Ganassi."(NASCAR.com)(8-7-2005)

McMurray wants Truce with Kenseth: #42-Jamie McMurray is ready to put an end to his three-week feud with #17-Matt Kenseth. McMurray was livid at Kenseth after being knocked out of a race three weeks ago at Loudon, N.H., and refused to return Kenseth's phone calls. They are due to become teammates when McMurray replaces Mark Martin at Roush Racing in 2007. Perhaps sitting in the rain all day Friday finally cooled McMurray off. "I need to find Matt this weekend and get it all worked out. It doesn't do any good to let it go on," he said. "It's probably somewhat my fault. I didn't call him back (because) I didn't really know what to say at the time. I'm over it."(Indianapolis Star)(8-6-2005)

Sad News: Helmer Ellsworth Kenseth, age 96, of Cambridge, died on Wednesday, July 27, 2005, at his home. Helmer was born in Cambridge on April 16, 1909, son of Martin and Hilda (England) Kenseth. Kenseth was Matt Kenseth's grandfather. Kenseth driver the #17 DeWalt Ford for Roush Racing in the Nextel Cup Series. Those wishing to express their sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Willerup United Methodist Church. Nitardy Funeral Home, Cambridge, is assisting the family. See full obit for info and services at the Capital Times.(7-29-2005)

Congrats: Congrats to Mike Calinoff and Jenn Kovach on their marriage this past Friday night in Pocono. Family and friends celebrated with them at the Chateau Resort in Tannersville, PA. Mike is the spotter for #17-Matt Kenseth and David Stremme, while Jenn handles the marketing and public relations for CitiFinancial at Robert Yates Racing. The couple is honeymooning in Montego Bay Jamaica.(2-25-2005)

Kenseth not happy about new teammate? Speaking of Roush drivers, 2003 champion Matt Kenseth, who wrecked McMurray at New Hampshire, said on Sunday's TNT prerace show from Pocono that he might be teammates with Mac in 2007 and he might not [and he said cause his contract runs out at the end of 2006]. Kenseth wasn't happy to learn about McMurray's future arrival at Roush on the Internet.(Sporting News)(7-25-2005)

Kenseth to stay at Roush: #17-Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champ, has no plans to move. Expect him to get his next contract with Roush Racing locked down early. Kenseth, who finished second on Sunday (his best finish of the season), reportedly is signed through the 2006 season and has no plans to change teams. "We've never had any problems," Kenseth says. "Roush has always been fair to me, and I feel like I've done the same thing. They've done great things for my career, and I can't imagine racing anywhere else."(Sporting News)(7-11-2005)

#200 for Kesneth: #17-Matt Kenseth will start his 200th career Nextel Cup race this weekend at Infineon Raceway.(6-21-2005)

Roush 2006 lineup complete.....almost: Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said Friday that the Roush lineup for 2006 is all but complete, with sponsors and drivers for four of its five Nextel Cup cars showing no major changes. DeWalt will return to Matt Kenseth's #17, National Guard/Subway/etc. to Greg Biffle's #16, Rubbermaid/Smirnoff and others with Kurt Busch's #97, and all races accounted for with Carl Edwards's #99. The million-dollar question, of course, has been who will take over for retiring veteran Mark Martin in the flagship #6. Sponsor Pfizer will leave after this season, as has been known for weeks, but Smith said the sponsor issue is more a matter of placing the right company with the right driver. Smith continues to hint that Jon Wood, still under contract with Roush while driving on loan in the Busch Series, could be the front-runner for the job. "We have at least one sponsor who is very interested in Jon," Smith said. Smith also dismissed reports that Valvoline, one-time primary sponsor of Martin and the #6, could return as sponsor of Martin's Roush-backed Craftsman Truck effort next season. Smith said Roush Racing has a company-wide supplier agreement with Quaker State [Pennzoil], and that such a nostalgic coupling would not be possible.(Ford Racing)(6-18-2005)

#8 Crew Chief Candidates: The two men most prominently mentioned yesterday as candidates [to be #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new crew chief] were Jimmy Elledge, who is Earnhardt's brother-in-law [married to Kelley] and also crew chief for Chip Ganassi and #41-Casey Mears, and Robbie Reiser, crew chief for 2003 champion #17-Matt Kenseth and owner Jack Roush.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-27-2005)

Kenseth changes scheme for Darlington: #17-Matt Kenseth will be running a special paint scheme this weekend in the Darlington Cup race. The #17 will be sporting the copper and black colors of Carhartt. This is the first of three races in which the #17 will be sporting the Carhartt paint scheme. The other two are Michigan in June and Lowe's Motor Speedway in October.(Roush Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-3-3005)

Jeff Gordon, Newman and Kenseth to test at Indy UPDATE: #24-Jeff Gordon is scheduled to begin preparations today for what could be a historic victory in August at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The four-time Brickyard 400 champion is representing Chevrolet in a closed two-day tire test at the Speedway. He'll be joined by Ryan Newman (Dodge) and Matt Kenseth (Ford) as Goodyear checks to see how its new, softer tire compounds fare on Indy's newly paved surface. All the teams can be expected to test at the Speedway either before or after the Nextel Cup race July 10 at Chicagoland Speedway. The sessions are scheduled July 5-6 and 11-12. Rain is in the forecast for today, which could disrupt a test already postponed once. It was pushed back to allow for grinding of the track after a Firestone test in preparation for the Indianapolis 500 produced unusual tire wear. A subsequent Firestone test indicated the grinding had done its job.(Indianapolis Star)(4-26-2005)
UPDATE: Goodyear will attempt -- again -- to hold its NASCAR tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway today after Tuesday's session was rained out. The tire manufacturer postponed a similar session earlier this month when the track's surface was being grinded. Today's test is closed to the public.(Indianapolis Star)(4-26-2005)

Seven Drivers in Tylenol Spots: Johnson & Johnson has signed endorsement deals with seven Nextel Cup drivers to promote the launch of Tylenol's Extra Strength Rapid Release Gels, Street & Smiths's SportsBusiness Journal reports. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler make up Team Tylenol. The campaign will include television ads during race broadcasts and sponsorship at 11 tracks. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon are scheduled to be featured on packages of the product sold during the third quarter of the year. Exact financial terms of the deal were not reported, but the story by Terry Lefton says the entire campaign is "an eight-figure investment."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-8-2005)

Matt's streak ends: #17-Matt Kenseth's streak of 71 races inside the points standings' top 10, which dated to the March 2003 race at Atlanta, ended with an engine failure and 42nd-place finish at Daytona.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-21-2005)

Roush and Red Sox rumor resurfaces: Roush Racing executives have been working with their counterparts in the Boston Red Sox front office on ways to tap into the New England fan market. Possible alliances include a Red Sox paint scheme and Roush-themed television shows on the team's regional cable network. "I'm hoping to find out a way to affiliate our teams more closely with the Red Sox," Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said. Smith said Red Sox majority owner John Henry is a "semiprofessional" computer race car driver, playing the same sophisticated online racing simulator game that drivers such as Earnhardt play when they aren't racing. The Roush team brought Henry to a race at New Hampshire International Speedway last year, leading to rumors Roush would sell a stake in his team to Henry. But Smith said beyond the two teams' marketing plans, "there is nothing on the table." Smith doesn't rule out the team possibly entering a partnership.(USA Today)(2-18-2005)

Young Guns back: After a highly successful 2004 season, the Gillette Young Guns are kicking the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series into high gear with new sweepstakes and consumer promotions that will give fans and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) the chance to win prizes ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. The Gillette Young Guns - #97-Kurt Busch, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #29-Kevin Harvick, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #17-Matt Kenseth and #12-Ryan Newman - dominated their inaugural 2004 season, winning over 50 percent of the 36 Cup races. Busch won the 2004 championship, followed by fellow Young Guns Johnson and Earnhardt Jr., who finished second and fifth in the final points standings, respectively. Newman and Kenseth finished in seventh and eighth place, respectively, and Harvick finished 14th overall for the season. Collectively the Young Guns won 22 of the 36 races in 2004, claimed 70 top-fives and 109 top-10 finishes along the way. Gillette will again leverage these drivers and its NASCAR sponsorship with a comprehensive marketing communications program on several levels throughout the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. The program includes consumer promotions and retail events, a national "Watch & Win" consumer sweepstakes, dedicated NASCAR print and broadcasting advertising, licensing, interactive on-line consumer promotions, charitable contributions and hospitality. Consumers can celebrate the beginning of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season with the Gillette Young Guns $1 Million Watch & Win Sweepstakes. If the year end Chase for the NEXTEL Cup isn't exciting enough, consumers will have the opportunity to win big by following the Gillette Young Guns over six of the last seven races of the season. By correctly predicting the finishing order of the six Young Guns for each race, fans will automatically be entered into a points race of their own. One lucky fan that wins this unique points race will win a trip for two to the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami and the chance to win up to $1 million. Cnsumers also will be able to register online to predict the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun prior to each of this season's 36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events. Each week, all correct entrants will be automatically entered in a drawing for a $5,000 prize. More info on my Racing Contests page or at www.gilletteyoungguns.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(2-11-2005)

USG to the #17 UPDATE: nothing official, but looks like USG will leave the #01 MB2 Motorsports team and go to #17-Matt Kenseth, running the USG scheme at the races at Californinia in February, The Brickyard 400 and Atlanta in the fall. See an image of the car on my 2005 #17 Paint Schemes page.(11-18-2004)
UPDATE: USG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of building materials, including the renowned Sheetrock Brand, announced that its 2005 NASCAR program will include a new partnership with DeWalt Racing, Roush Racing and champion driver Matt Kenseth. USG Sheetrock Brand will be a primary sponsor on Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford Taurus at three Nextel Cup races -- Feb. 27 at Fontana, Calif., Aug. 7 at Indianapolis and Oct. 30 at Atlanta. At all of the other 2005 Cup races, USG SHEETROCK will assume a major associate sponsorship role on the DeWalt Ford, owned by Roush Racing. USG will continue as a NASCAR promotional partner in 2005 with the "USG Improving The Finish" contingency award at each of the 36 Nextel Cup point races and as a sponsor of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The USG Improving The Finish award will pay $5,000 at each race to the driver who gains the most places from the opening green flag to the closing checkered flag. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, the driver who earns the most USG Improving The Finish points will be awarded a $100,000 bonus. USG will sponsor "USG Night at the Races" at 26 local tracks that are part of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The events are intended to provide customers an opportunity to enjoy an evening of stock car racing. USG Corporation, based in Chicago, is a Fortune 500 company with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their key product groups: gypsum wallboard, joint compound and related gypsum products; cement board; gypsum fiber panels; ceiling panels and grid; and building products distribution. For more information about USG Corporation, visit the USG home page at www.usg.com.(Roush Racing PR)(1-26-2005)

IROC 2005 UPDATE 2 the drivers: there will be an announcement at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, Jan. 19th to announce the 2005 IROC [International Race of Champions - www.irocracing.com] drivers and new paint schemes for the four race 2005 season. Expect 5-6 Nextel Cup drivers, the Busch Champ [Truex Jr.], Truck Series champ [Hamilton] a few IRL, WoO drivers nad maybe a surprise or two. The 2005 Crown Royal IROC Series will feature 12 drivers from different forms of auto racing in equally prepared cars. The 2005 driver field will consist of seven drivers who captured their respective series championship in 2004 [Busch, Truex Jr., Hamilton, Kanan, Kinser, Kenseth (IROC) and ?]. This year's Crown Royal IROC Series champion will take home a $1 million first-place purse. Also for info on 2004, see my 2004 IROC page.(1-17-2005)
UPDATE the drivers: the following drivers will run the 2005 IROC Series:
Matt Kenseth - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Crown Royal IROC champion)
Kurt Busch - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Series champion)
Mark Martin - NASCAR Nextel Cup (4-time Crown Royal IROC champion)
Sebastien Bourdais - CHAMP CAR (2004 Series champion)
Bobby Hamilton NASCAR - Craftsman Truck (2004 Series champion)
Steve Kinser - World of Outlaws (2004 Series champion)
Max Papis - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Scott Pruett - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Martin Truex Jr. - NASCAR Busch Series (2004 Series champion)
Helio Castroneves - IRL IndyCar Series (2-time Indianapolis 500 champion)
Buddy Rice - IRL IndyCar Series (2004 Indianapolis 500 champion)
Danny Lasoski - World of Outlaws (2001 Series champion)(1-18-2005)
UPDATE 2: Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) officials have announced the driver field for the 2005 Crown Royal IROC Series. The invitational series will feature 12 champion drivers from different forms of auto racing, including seven drivers who won their respective series titles in 2004. The Crown Royal IROC Series will kick off its 29th season on Friday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Following the season opener, the series will shift to Texas Motor Speedway (April 15), followed by Richmond International Raceway (September 8) and conclude at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (October 29).(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(1-19-2005)
IMAGE: see an image of the 2005 IROC car on my 2005 Paint Schemes page.(1-20-2005)

Some Crew Changes: Chief engineer Chad Walters is the latest to defect from Dale Earnhardt Inc. Walters, who worked with former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Gary DeHart on Terry Labonte's #5, will bring his expertise back to Hendrick and the #5, which will be driven by Kyle Busch. Ed Young, who was the shop foreman for Matt Kenseth's #17 team, has left Roush Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing. Justin Nottestad, who also is Kenseth's front tire changer, will take over Young's duties.(FoxSports)(1-10-2005)

Past 2004 News

Ford Racing enters the Daytona Rolex 24 with Busch, Kenseth, Biffle: The new Crown Royal Special Reserve/Multimatic Ford entry in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the twice-around-the-clock road racing classic Feb. 5-6, 2005, will feature three NASCAR champion drivers from Ford and Roush Racing: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch, 2003 NASCAR Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, and NASCAR Busch (2002) and Craftsman Truck (2000) Champion Greg Biffle. The three Roush Racing Ford pilots will be joined by Multimatic Ford driver Scott Maxwell, who has won six professional road racing championships in his career, but may be best known for his victories in both the 24 Hours of LeMans and the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The potent foursome will look to capture an overall victory in the 2005 season-opener of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, it was announced today. "It's a dream team, that's for sure," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. "We started talking last summer about getting a chance to put this type of team together for the Rolex 24, and because of the cooperation of Roush Racing, Multimatic, and Crown Royal Special Reserve, we have an effort and a class of drivers that will be able to make a run for the overall win." The Crown Royal Special Reserve Multimatic Ford is an updated version of the race car that won the Daytona Prototype class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2003. A Ford Modular Cammer V-8 motor prepared by Roush-Yates Engines will power it. (Ford Racing PR)(12-21-2004)

Crew Changes at the #17: #17-Matt Kenseth fell from last year's title to eighth this year, and his crew will be overhauled. At least five crew members are expected to either come off the road or change teams completely, but owner Jack Roush says he won't do any crew swapping in the off-season. "Some of the people have had their jobs for a long time, and Robbie (Reiser, crew chief) is going to reassess the motivation and capabilities, both the physical attributes and the mental attitudes, of everybody," Roush says. Some will be reassigned, and others will move on.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-22-2004)

Sad News: Jessica Renee Hunley, 16, daughter or Roush Racing's Chris Hunley, was killed in a single car accident Thursday night. She went to North Davidson High School in Welcome, NC where she was a junior and a softball player. Family and friend visitation will be Sunday the 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Davidson Funeral home located at: 858 Hickory Tree Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27127. There will be a private Funeral service held on Monday. Memorials may be directed to the North Davidson High School softball team, 7227 Old Highway 52, Lexington, N.C. 27295(11-13-2004)

Diageo Announces Relationship with NASCAR UPDATE: Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, today announced one of the company's spirits brands would participate in NASCAR for the first time ever beginning with the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Earlier today, NASCAR announced spirits companies would be allowed to participate as team sponsors and that Diageo would lead the spirits category's entry into the sport. Diageo, which has a history in NASCAR with its flavored malt beverage brand Smirnoff ICE, will utilize its new sponsorship in NASCAR to continue to educate consumers about the importance of responsible drinking. Diageo's sponsorship, which will feature the Crown Royal brand, will be built around the company's existing relationship with Roush Racing, one of the premier racing teams in all of motorsports with over 280 wins and 30 championships. In 2003, Smirnoff ICE partnered with Roush Racing as an associate sponsor of the #17 car, driven by Matt Kenseth, which won the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. That associate level sponsorship has continued throughout the 2004 season. In addition to the Smirnoff ICE sponsorship in NASCAR, Diageo has a presence in motorsports with the Crown Royal International Race of Champions Series. The Crown Royal IROC Series, which is an invitational series matching 12 championship drivers from different disciplines of auto racing, was captured in 2004 by Matt Kenseth. For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR), doesn't say what team they will be with, but #97-Busch gets the Smirnoff Ice sponsorship.(11-11-2004)
UPDATE to the #99?: Shortly after NASCAR president Mike Helton announced that the sanctioning body was lifting its ban on sponsorships by hard-liquor distillers, Diageo announced that it would sponsor a Roush Racing car next season featuring its Crown Royal brand. The sponsorship likely will go to Roush's #99 Ford, which is driven by Carl Edwards. Crown Royal also sponsors the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.(Las Vegas Sun)(11-13-2004)

Smirnoff Ice to the #97 in 2005: Smirnoff Ice, Diageo's malt beverage product, will move from Roush Racing's #17 and Matt Kenseth to the #97 of Kurt Busch in 2005.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Smirnoff Ice has been the primary in a handfull of Cup races on the #17, no idea how many races Smirnoff Ice will be on the #97 as a primary in 2005.(10-17-2004)

Roush to be honored in his hometown: Adams County [Ohio] native Jack Roush will again be honored at his hometown of Manchester, OH on Sunday, Oct. 17. A full day of activities are being planned with a cruise-in, auto parade, food, games, raffles and split the pot. All proceeds will benefit the Manchester Christmas Light Fund. The events start at noon with a home-cooked meal with Roush at the community building. Also at noon, a fall festival honoring Jack will start at the River Barn on U.S. 52 where all the activities of the day will be held. At that time, there will be a gospel lunch, a cruise-in and games for the children. Line-up for the automobile parade, with Roush as Grand Marshall, is at 1 p.m. at Brown Hill Road. The parade will proceed down Jack Roush Way, west on U.S. 52 to the Riverbarn.
The first annual Jack Roush Car Show will be held at the Riverbarn beginning at 8 a.m. with judging at 10:30 a.m. and trophies awarded at 11:15 a.m. Free dash plaques will be awarded to all show cars. Entry fee is $10.
After the grand parade, Roush will host an autograph signing until 4 p.m. An auction, featuring many special race items, will begin at 3 p.m., at which time the winners of the car show will be announced as well as raffle winners.(People's Defender)(10-16-2004)

New Associate for Kenseth: Trex Company, manufacturer of TrexR decking and railing, announced today that they are becoming an associate team sponsor in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for the 2005 racing season. Trex Co. will partner with DEWALT Tools, the primary sponsor, for a series of 38 racing events, including two non-point special events during the year. The companies will sponsor the #17 car driven by Matt Kenseth, as the two building products industry leaders share the spotlight with car logos and promotional events throughout the racing season. For the Spring Atlanta race, Trex decking will have the opportunity to be the primary sponsor of the car, to be referenced as the #17 Trex Ford. Trex Co. will also be featured in DEWALT's Rolling Thunder 6,400 sq. ft. trackside pavilion which features product demos, driver guest appearances, entertainment and give-aways. Rolling Thunder is DEWALT's mobile display and entertainment unit that travels to selected race markets. Trex decking and railing is a splinter-free, weather-resistant decking lumber available at more than 3,300 lumber dealer locations in the U.S. and Canada. For an authorized Trex dealer or TrexProT contractor near you, call 1-800- BUY-TREX (289-8739) or visit the Trex Co. website at www.trex.com.(PR), looking to have a new deck built at my place in Mooresville and plan on looking into Trex.(Mercury Marketing / Trex PR)(10-14-2004)

Next win for Roush is #300: Roush Racing is going after its 300th victory this weekend in Kansas City. Founded in 1984, Roush Racing has 299 victories in NASCAR’s NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and road course events (IMSA, SCCA)(Roush Racing PR)(10-6-2004)

Free Saws: - As the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series heads to the most brutal arena on the circuit this weekend, otherwise known as Bristol Motor Speedway, DEWALT Tools is set to hand out some gifts that may come in handy during the race. As part of their new product launch, DEWALT will be gifting each and every Nextel Cup crew chief with their brand new 18-Volt XRP Reciprocating Saw. The saws will be delivered via UPS Trackside on Friday morning at Bristol. This newer version is the most powerful reciprocating saw on the market, capable of turning 2,900 strokes per minute in a one-inch stroke length. According to Pete Morris, the Cordless Product Manager of DEWALT, the saws have an applicable duty on pit road.(Roush Racing PR)(8-25-2004)

Roush helps the Boy Scouts: Multi-team owner, Jack Roush, is the latest in a long line of NASCAR dignitaries to grace the 14th annual MIS/NASCAR Boy Scout Benefit dinner that raises funds for the Great Sauk Trail of the Boy Scouts. The Great Sauk Trail covers six counties, Jackson [MI] included, and has benefited to the tune of $994,000 in the 13 previous events at MIS. The events raise much of the money through an auction of items donated by NASCAR and other organizations and auctioned off by racing legend Benny Parsons. Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Roger Penske have also been featured guests at the event, which typically attracts a number of NASCAR drivers. The benefit dinner also will contribute funds to Kyle and Pattie Petty Victory Junction Gang Camp, and the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports. But the big winners of the night were the Boy Scouts, especially the two Eagle Scouts who were awarded $10,000 scholarships. Sixteen high school graduates have been awarded scholarships since 1997, and Christopher Zavicar of Onsted and Mark Spencer of Ypsilanti were the latest recipients.(Jackson Citizen Patriot)(8-21-2004)

Kenseth's Father no longer promotor at Madison track: For the most part, Roy Kenseth and Terry Kunes have patched up their differences and have agreed to disagree. But that doesn't change the fact that Kenseth is out as promoter at Madison International Speedway -- a position track owner Kunes will take over for the remainder of the season. Kenseth, who is the father of defending NASCAR Cup champion Matt Kenseth, was hired shortly after Kunes purchased the track in November of 2002. Kenseth was instrumental in organizing several successful events at MIS, and brought Matt in on four occasions to participate in races which drew thousands of spectators in 2003 and 2004. Kenseth said he will promote two to three races next year which will feature Matt, and he is in discussions with organizers at The Milwaukee Mile, Dells Motor Speedway, Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna and La Crosse Motor Speedway about their interest in hosting a late-model event.(Capital Times)(8-17-2004)

Kenseth's Backup deal: Matt Kenseth called it a dumb mistake, like someone running into a door backing out of their garage. He wrecked his primary #17 Ford in practice Friday and had to go to a backup when he hit the wall near pit road. He qualified 15th. "I just wasn't paying attention," Kenseth said. "I just hit the corner of the wall [on the entrance to the garage] and opened up the side like a can opener. We had the backup car prepared well, and it's the car we had here the last time so I feel good about it." The wrecked car was experimental, Kenseth said. "It wasn't driving very good this morning, which might turn out to be a good thing. I wanted to get a whole weekend on it and hoped it would work better to run it at [Indianapolis]. But what we have here is kind of tried and true."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(7-31-2004)

Jarrett helps out [$$] Kenseth? At least two people inside the NASCAR garage said Dale Jarrett gave fellow Ford driver Matt Kenseth a large bill to help pay his $25,000 fine for last week's bumping incident with Kevin Harvick.(The State)(6-20-2004)

Still Feudin': #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick continued their feud from last weekend's race at Pocono in dueling news conferences Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Kenseth and Harvick each spun out in incidents involving the other in the final four laps of last Sunday's Pocono 500. This week, NASCAR fined each $25,000 and placed both on probation until Aug. 11. Harvick said Kenseth's spin was the result of Kenseth brake-checking in front of him, while Kenseth said he retaliated against Harvick because if "I was going to lose those spots (on the track), then he was going to lose his, too." While Kenseth spent much of his time with the media contradicting Harvick's account of the incident, Harvick directed most of his comments at NASCAR officials, saying he was penalized him without cause. "We presented NASCAR with everything they needed. (Kenseth's) skid marks are very evident on the race track and I wish now I had taken a picture of them. There's no way you can spin someone out under caution without at least knocking the grille out of your car," Harvick said. "Just like (Nextel Cup Series director) John Darby told me, 'Your past is probably why you're getting a fine.' I don't think that's the right way to go. But then, what has been right the past few weeks?" Harvick said he would not appeal the penalty. "The appeals process doesn't work. It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong, you're going to lose," he said. Harvick and his team owner, Richard Childress, remain adamant that Kenseth instigated both incidents under caution. "I've done a lot of wrong things, and that's the first time I have ever talked to Mike Helton twice and presented everything we presented," Harvick said. "Whether they like it or not, they are hard, cold facts." Kenseth denied he brake-checked, triggering the first spin. After both news conferences, Darby again asked both drivers to visit the NASCAR hauler, where they met for several minutes before the start of Friday's practice session.(see full story at ThatsRacin.com)(6-19-2004)

Harvick and Kenseth dropped in final finishing order UPDATE and fined $25k: after meeting with #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick for their beating and banging and spinning each other out, NASCAR moved both to the tail end of the lead lap. So Kenseth goes to 21st and Harvick goes to 20th. Unofficial results already had Kenseth in 21st due to his pitstop, Harvick drops from 10th to 20th but maintains 9th in the driver points standings.(Speed Channel's Speed News coverage)(6-13-2004)
AND the official results are now posted at the Pocono Race Results/Awards page.(6-14-2004)
AND II Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick were penalized for bumping each other at the end of the Pocono 500. With Sunday's race about to end under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield in Turn 3 on Lap 197. Kenseth then did the same to Harvick on the backstretch on the next lap. Both Kenseth, the 2003 series champion, and Harvick were interviewed after the race by NASCAR officials, who then dropped them to 20th and 21st. Harvick originally finished 11th, and Kenseth had finished 10th. More penalties could be coming later this week, NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "It boils down to a frustration level between the 17 [Kenseth] and the 29 [Harvick] that got played out on the race track, under caution, and that's something we frown on ... greatly," Helton said.(CNNSI/AP)(6-15-2004)
UPDATE - Kenseth and Harvick fined: Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth were each fined $25,000 by NASCAR and placed on probation until Aug. 11 for bumping incidents between the two during the final laps of Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, and Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford, took part in bumping and spinning out each other during the final caution period of the race, which extended from Lap 197 to 200. Both drivers were penalized for involvement in an altercation with another competitor during a caution period. The rift began 11 laps from the finish when Harvick passed Kenseth coming out of Turn 1 and cut in front of Kenseth's car. Kenseth then used the front of his car to lift Harvick's rear wheels and passed him again as the final caution came out. While the race was under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield in Turn 3 on lap 197. At the time, no penalties were assessed or drivers or crew chiefs called to the NASCAR hauler. Kenseth then returned the favor on the backstretch on the following lap, after which NASCAR called both drivers and crew chiefs to the hauler after the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-16-2004)

Special Scheme for Kenseth at Michigan: This weekend, the #17 Ford will sport a Carhartt paint scheme, as one of the team’s largest associate sponsors takes over the primary role. Headquartered in nearby Dearborn, Mich., Carhartt (established 110 years ago) manufactures the most rugged, high quality workwear on the market.(Matt Kenseth Site), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Paint Schemes page.(6-15-2004)

Kenseth Not Happy: Late in the race, while the number of lead-lap cars had already been reduced dramatically through attrition, leader Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth spun in oil dropped on the track by Casey Mears' Dodge and wrecked in Turn 4. Kenseth, the reigning series champion, complained that NASCAR waited to call a caution knowing Mears had dropped oil. He also criticized the safety crews for not sending an ambulance to get him. "I think race fans should be mad. First, NASCAR spends 40 laps under caution screwing around for who knows what. Then a car blew up half a lap before we got (to the turn) and they never threw the caution. They just let it go green until we all rode down in there and wrecked," he said. "We've run two laps under yellow and haven't seen an ambulance. Glad I'm OK. I haven't seen anybody check me out yet."(ThatsRacin.com)(6-7-2004)

Roush to buy out Yates? Garage sources have told Sporting News insider Lee Spencer that Roush Racing has offered to purchase Robert Yates Racing, expanding their engine partnership to team ownership in an effort to pool Ford's Nextel Cup resources. The Yates camp says the rumors are rubbish.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-11-2004)

Kenseth to FX: No thanks to reality show: Cable TV channel FX debuts its weekly unscripted program "NASCAR Drivers: 360" on Friday. The show will feature drivers and their families during their day-to-day lives. The drivers will include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeremy Mayfield, Jamie McMurray, Ward Burton, Casey Mears, Scott Wimmer, Brian Vickers, Kenny Wallace and Rusty Wallace. Matt Kenseth said he was approached by the network about being one of the subjects, but declined because of the amount of time needed for filming.(Rockford Register Star)(5-9-2004)

Kenseth wins ASA Late Model Race: Matt Kenseth made a one race visit to the American Speed Association Late Model Series, but he made the most of it. By winning both the pole and race for the first-ever ASA Late Model Series event, the Blaine's Farm & Fleet/DeWalt/Carhartt 100, Kenseth etched his name in the history books. The event was held at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis., before a near-capacity crowd. "I always wanted to go in ASA's history books somewhere," Kenseth claimed. "I've never been able to win an ASA touring series race before, so that's pretty cool. I've ran in a few of them, but never been able to pull one off so it's cool to win one of these Late Model races." A former ASA National Tour competitor, Kenseth has made 16 career starts in ASA competition between 1994 and 1997. The win didn't come easily as Kenseth and second place finisher Ron Breese battled side-by-side for nearly a dozen laps prior to the race being called prematurely due to rain. Breese led for 49 consecutive laps with Kenseth stalking him, patiently waiting for an opening. As the pair circled together, Kenseth could get through the turns better to close the gap, and then Breese would get a slight edge down the straightaways. The action kept the crowd on their feet, and Kenseth finally made the pass stick on lap 67. "You don't get racing like that very often," Breese said after the race. "We came in second, but I tell you what, this was the most fun I've had in a long time. We took second to the Winston Cup champion, but I would have liked to have won." Kenseth echoed the feelings about what it was like in the cockpit. "It was fun. We might have had a little different gear because I could get him off the corner then on the straightaway he pulled me back. It was a great race and we were both getting through the corners good and putting on a good show." Kenseth won the pole earlier in the afternoon with a lap of 18.116-seconds around the 0.50-mile oval. Ultimately, he started the event in seventh position due to the inverted start. Unfortunately, the scheduled 100-lap event was red flagged for weather on lap 75. The sky lit up nearly all evening with lightening, and once the rain started to fall the track quickly went away. In ASA Late Model Series competition, caution flag laps don't count towards the total, fortunately for the fans as the yellow flag flew a total of 16 times. There were four lead changes among three drivers. Of the 32 cars starting the race, 17 finished on the lead lap. The top 10 finishers in the event were Kenseth, Breese, Kluever, Bobby Wildberg, Bobby Stremme, Dave Lawrence, Adam Shackelford, Brad Osborn, Jeff Watters and Doug Mahlik. Travis Kvapil, the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, retired early with ignition problems. The ASA Late Model Series is next in action at Baer Field Speedway in Ft. Wayne, Ind., on Sunday, May 16. The American Speed Association is based in Pendleton, Ind., and has offered stock car racing programs since 1968, including the ASA National Tour, ASA Late Model Series, several regional touring series and the ASA Member Track programs.(ASA PR)(5-9-2004)

Kennseth vs. McMurray: #17-Matt Kenseth and #42-Jamie McMurray traded bumps in the closing laps and then McMurray spun Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford on pit road after the race was completed. Kenseth "hit me two or three times going into Turn 1 when we took the green. He's not typically like that," McMurray said. "I got into him a little bit, trying to get him out of the way so I could get by him. It's just one of those deals. I'm shocked Matt acted that way." Of the post-race spin, McMurray said: "You can't really get out and punch somebody in our sport, so I just wanted him to know I was mad." Kenseth said he simply was retaliating on the track to McMurray's moves. "He just knocked me out of the groove and I did the same to him," Kenseth said. "They say nice guys finish last, I guess. "He didn't wreck. I didn't wreck, except for when he wrecked me on pit road." Kenseth and McMurray and their crew chiefs were all called to the hauler. A penalty is likely for McMurray's spin after the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-29-2004)

Matt Still Confused Over Darlington: A week after being penalized for passing cars under the caution at Darlington, #17-Matt Kenseth remains bewildered by NASCAR's actions. Kenseth was involved in an accident and pitted before pit road was open. He was penalized and had to go to the rear of the longest line. He did before pit road opened. So, when the pits opened, all the lead-lap cars stopped. Kenseth said that should have put him in the lead, but a few cars exited pit road ahead of him. So Kenseth passed them, incurring a penalty for passing during the caution. A NASCAR official stated Kenseth couldn't lead after taking the first penalty. "I read the rule book pretty thoroughly, I didn't read the whole entire thing, so I can't tell you for sure that there's not a rule, but they said that a car getting penalized with one to go can't lead a lap, well I never found that, maybe I missed a page somewhere," Kenseth said.(News and Record)(3-27-2004)

Mr. Kenseth Goes to Washington: [a day old and already happened but....] Matt Kenseth is slated to make a trip to the nation’s capital tomorrow [actually Tuesday], as he will be attending the 2004 March of Dimes Gourmet Gala. At the invitation of NASCAR, Kenseth and invited guests Jack Roush, Richard and Lynda Petty and Mike Joy will all participate in this year’s festivities at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Other honored guests attending the gala will be Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Congressman Robin Hayes of North Carolina. Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, the President and CEO of the March of Dimes will be the keynote speaker with Mike Joy filling in as the emcee. The gala is a dinner of sorts, with a cocktail reception and regional specialties of food. Just before the sit down dinner, Kenseth will sign a few autographs near the No. 17 DEWALT Tools Ford show car for dignitaries and large donors. The next day, NASCAR representatives will make a breakfast presentation on Capital Hill about stock car racing, its popularity, competitiveness and its national appeal. A question and answer session will follow. Kenseth will only appear at the previous evening’s festivities, as he will be traveling to Texas that same evening to attend a "Winner's Circle" appearance on behalf of Texas Motor Speedway. Kenseth is slated to visit over a dozen television and radio outlets in Texas to promote the upcoming Samsung-Radio Shack 500 on April 4th.(DeWalt Site)(3-24-2004)

So What Happened to Kenseth? Series points leader #17-Matt Kenseth was involved in an accident on Lap 161 that collected six cars in Turn 1, but Kenseth's problems grew worse when he was assessed a one-lap penalty for passing cars under caution. Kenseth had to pit while pit road was closed immediately following his incident, and was sent to the end of the longest line. While the rest of the lead-lap cars went to pit road, it appeared Kenseth would take over the lead if he stayed out. But while he passed the cars that had pitted, NASCAR assessed the penalty. Kenseth's crew chief, Robbie Reiser, became involved in a heated confrontation with several NASCAR officials after the incident. "It seems these days you need a rule book for every race track we go to, but I don't know what the rule was and I don't really know what happened," Reiser said. "The penalty for pulling up to pit - we didn't pit. So, whatever you want to tell us, I'm sure I'll understand it after they get done with me." NASCAR's Jim Hunter said since Kenseth was assessed a penalty, he was never the race leader during the caution. "The fact is he passed some cars, and you cannot pass people under caution," Hunter said. Kenseth's damage ended up being more extensive and he required several pit stops later in the race and finished 31st.(ThatsRacin.com and more at Speed Channel)(3-22-2004)

Mooresville Seminar in May: On May 28th from 7-10 PM at the NASCAR Busch Series shop of ppc racing (#22-Jason Keller), Mike Calinoff's "Get Into Racing" Seminars will take place - an opportunity for those interested in a career in professional motorsports. The "Get Into Racing" [ www.getintoracing.com] program is not your typical seminar format. Traditionally, participants sit for several hours and try to absorb as much information as possible, while jotting down notes and thinking silently of questions they need answered. There is usually one host who does all of the speaking. The "Get Into Racing" program takes a totally different approach. While Mike Calinoff, serves as the primary speaker, he is complimented with a panel of experts who are in the business. Race team members, owners, public relations, media, marketing and administrative specialists [and maybe a certain internet site dude] have been carefully selected to bring as much information to the seminar as possible. Your are encouraged to bring your resume as well. The seminar is being sponsored by Jenkins & Jenkins, one of the most unique sponsors in motorsports. During the 20-minute break and at the conclusion of the program, you will have the opportunity to meet the panel members for some one-on-one conversation. The program is upbeat, humorous and informative. It addresses your real-life aspirations for a position in motorsports and brings to you the realistic opportunities that exist. Heavy concentration is placed on career development, interview skills and what race teams are looking for in a candidate. This is a no-holds-barred, in-your-face seminar. All of the time is spent discussing the real issues and opportunities that will help bring you into a whole new world. Visit the website for more information or call 1-877-RACEJOB.(3-19-2004)

Sad News: F.C. "Charlie" Roush, father of NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, passed away early Tuesday morning in Manchester, OH following a lengthy illness. Roush was known to many in the NASCAR garage as a regular and loyal supporter of the Roush Racing teams. He is survived by his wife, Georgetta; and sons, Jack and Frank. Private family services will be held Friday in Manchester, OH. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" to benefit the education of disadvantaged youth. All donations can be sent to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" in care of Roush Racing, 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC, 28027.(Roush Racing Site)(3-16-2004)

Former Car Owner Working on Diversity at Roush Racing: Sam Belnavis was the first black owner in more than 30 years to run a team full time in NASCAR's top series last year, owning the #54 cars Todd Bodine drove. Yet, when Belnavis' sponsor, National Guard, moved to Roush Racing after the season, Belnavis couldn't find a replacement and closed shop. The legacy Belnavis wanted to bequeath his family and minorities also appeared to fade. As one opportunity disappeared, another emerged. Car owner Jack Roush hired Belnavis to be the organization's chief diversity officer. "I have far more resources and Jack is committed to the diversity effort," Belnavis said as crew members - almost exclusively white - worked on cars in the garage area last Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "We're going to institute some programs that are going to be in the name of diversity. That's my job." A few blacks have tried ownership but have not had enough success to sustain a full-time effort. There have been fewer drivers. The late Wendell Scott is the only black driver to win a NASCAR race, and that was in 1963. Bill Lester is the only black driver with a full-time ride in the NASCAR's top three series. He competes in the Craftsman Truck Series for Bill Davis Racing. Now, there are a number of programs. Joe Gibbs Racing has a diversity driver program that has a black driver and a Hispanic driver competing in Late Model races. A program supported by NASCAR will place five minority drivers with various Late Model teams in the Southeast. There is also the Roush Racing program that Belnavis heads. Belnavis selected Morty Buckles to compete this season in Late Model races in Virginia, primarily at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas and Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron. Belnavis also said that he's working with a pair of black go-kart drivers, ages 15 and 16, in the Northeast. Belnavis said he knows that whenever a minority driver moves to the Cup level that person will face many challenges. "There's a tremendous amount of pressure on the teams as well as whomever that individual is in their initial stages of their career," said Belnavis, who has been involved in auto racing for more than 20 years. "So the teams, we have made this commitment that we're going to make sure that whoever we identify as our quote-unquote diversity driver is going to be ready."(Roanoke Times)(3-12-2004)

Smirnoff Ice 2004 Sponsor Schedule:
May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s
July 3 Pepsi 400 at Daytona
July 25 New England 300 at New Hampshire
August 8 Brickyard 400 at Indy
September 5 Pop Secret 500 at California
October 3 EA Sports 500 at Talladega
Smirnoff will also have secondary sponsorship on the DeWALT car for the remaining 2004 races

Pennzoil Car Schedule?: heard the following is the races the #9 Pennzoil Busch Series Ford will run in 2004:
Daytona, 2/14, Mark Martin
Las Vegas, 3/6, Matt Kenseth
Texas, 4/3, Mark Martin
Chicago, 7/10, Jeff Burton
Michigan, 8/21, Mark Martin
Richmond, 9/10, Mark Martin
Kansas, 10/9, Matt Kenseth
Phoenix, 11/6, Mark Martin
Darlington, 11/13, Matt Kenseth.(1-14-2004)

'Young Guns' go for three-peat and now we know why Dale Jr. has no facial hair this year: By picking Matt Kenseth as the top Gillette Young Gun finisher in the Subway 400, Brian F. of Cary, NC was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 challenge. Brian picked Kenseth to win the race by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. With the victory and thus being the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Kenseth. Every week, fans can register to win $5,000 in the Gillette Young Guns Weekly Challenge by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline at midnight PT the day before the race. If you correctly predict which Gillette Young Guns driver [Kenseth, Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick] will place highest in the next race, your correct entry will be automatically entered in a random drawing for $5,000. So far both NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events have been won by Gillette Young Guns -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona and Matt Kenseth at Rockingham. More info and to join at: www.gilletteyoungguns.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR), Tim Sullivan of Alan Taylor Comm was interviewed by Claire B. Lang of NASCAR Radio and was asked if the reason Dale Earnhardt Jr. was clean shaven in 2004 was due to the Young Gun deal, and was told YES. Now we know why Tony Stewart is not in the program.(3-2-2004)

Kenseth Gift Shop to break ground: Matt Kenseth, the winner of the 2003 Cup Championship from the Cambridge [WI] area, has broken ground on a building for a gift shop in the nearby town of Christiana. The store, known as Matt Kenseth’s MK Race Wear, is expected to include Kenseth merchandise for sale amid memorabilia, including race cars from his 15-year career. “It’s a place for people to come and see how my career started with my dad (Roy Kenseth) and where its at today and as we go on,” he said at the groundbreaking Thursday. Kenseth will own the store, and his fan club, run by his sister and brother-in-law Kelley and Mike Maruszkewski, will operate it. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. We just decided to go get it done,” Kenseth said.(Post-Crescent/AP)(2-29-2004)

Roush/Yates Engine Woes Update: Reigning series champion #17-Matt Kenseth said Roush Racing has determined what caused the engine failures in teammates #6-Mark Martin and #99-Jeff Burton last weekend in Daytona and is confident the problem is corrected. Kenseth said each engine had something different wrong with it.(Fayetteville Observer), however, was not specific on what that something was.(2-22-2004)

Cup still on the counter: Three months after Matt Kenseth clinched the final Winston Cup championship at North Carolina Speedway, the trophy is still sitting on a countertop in his home in Terrell, NC. "I'm waiting for that carpenter guy to come over and finish my trophy room," Kenseth said. "I've got a little place I'm going to have built and stick it in the wall. It's kind of a neat little place. It hasn't been done yet, so it's just sitting on the counter. One of these days, though, I'll get it put away."(Charleston Post and Courier)(2-22-2004)

Smirnoff and DEI? Several teams were hoping for a strong showing to attract potential sponsors, including the #1 DEI Chevy with John Andretti. DEI is in discussions with Seagram's Smirnoff brand.(Yahoo Sports), however, it was recently announced that Smirnoff Ice re-signed with Matt Kenseth and the #17 Team.(2-16-2004)

Smirnoff Ice Back with Kenseth: Smirnoff Ice will sponsor Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth in six races during the 2004 season:
May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s
July 3 Pepsi 400 at Daytona
July 25 New England 300 at New Hampshire
August 8 Brickyard 400 at Indy
September 5 Pop Secret 500 at California
October 3 EA Sports 500 at Talladega
Smirnoff will also have secondary sponsorship on the DeWALT car for the remaining 2004 races.(Mattkenseth.com), see images of the car and a new DeWalt scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(2-4-2004)

Jack Roush Named First SKF X-Tracker Award Recipient: SKF has awarded its first X-Tracker Award for Extraordinary Achievement in the North American Automotive Industry to Jack Roush, Chief Executive Officer of Roush Industries and owner of the Roush Racing Team. The international award recognizes an individual who has achieved success in the face of extreme challenges or adversity. Jack Roush was selected as the first X-Tracker Award recipient due to his legendary success in the automotive and racing industries and his perseverance through his recovery from life-threatening injuries sustained in a 2002 airplane crash. More information about SKF is available at http://www.skf.com.(PRN Newswire/WPVI.com)(1-18-2004)

Roush and Yates? UPDATE 3 mergine engine programs: hearing Robert Yates Racing and Roush Racing are teaming up to build engines together at Yates engine shop?
hearing it's a two way technology transfer as chassis info is headed back to Yates' group from Roush. It's along the lines of GM's "Key Partners" group. The idea is to have the gear as optimized as it can be, then race amongst themselves for the win ---- which is what GM's been doing with great success this year.(11-13-2003)
UPDATE: hearing more and more unconfirmed rumors that Roush Racing is buying out Roberts Yates two car operation [#38 and #88], but that Yates would maintain the engine side of things and build engines for all seven teams [Yates #38, #88; Roush's #6, #16, #17, #97, #99] and run an engine lease operation.(1-4-2004)
UPDATE 2: been told that Roush is not buying Yates out, but Yates is supposedly doing some engine work for Roush.(1-5-2004)
AND see a column at FoxSports: A Roush-Yates alliance could be RAD for Ford.(1-6-2004)
UPDATE 3: A few versions of how it's playing out: "Jack Roush is buying Robert Yates Racing"; Robert Yates Engines has become the "Official Ford Engine builder of NASCAR" or, as a longer story has it, a Ford Motor Company executive one day wondered why Ford's top teams didn't collaborate on their stock car programs. "Ford has encouraged them to work together, particularly with the new cylinder head having been approved by NASCAR during the offseason," Ford Motorsports spokesman Dan Zacharias said Tuesday. "Roush has not bought Robert Yates; Yates is not building all of the Ford engines used in NASCAR." Finally, the story continues, the Ford executive got the guys together and asked them: "Why don't you all just work together?" Everyone involved supposedly likes the idea that each would no longer waste money on producing something that the other can bring to the table and have, supposedly, already started doing just that. "They've established a cooperative arrangement to work together instead, to get everybody up to speed."(in part from a Daytona Beach News Journal column)
UPDATE 3a: Two of the biggest names in NASCAR racing, car owners Robert Yates and Jack Roush, are merging their engine-building operations, in a stunning development for the two long-time rivals. The move comes, Roush said, to meet the challenge of a tremendous influx of European Formula One technology into stock-car racing over the past 18 months and the pending Toyota challenge. At the moment, the Roush-Yates merger involves only engine technology, but sources said that the opportunity is now there for much tighter work between the two Ford camps - Yates, with drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler, and Roush, with drivers Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. "Ford has encouraged Robert and me to have a 'technology transfer' to become competitive with what Toyota is bringing and what Chevrolet is doing and what Dodge has done," Roush said. The Ford thing has been disjointed. Robert and I didn't cooperate, and Ford was not in a position to carry any amount of meaningful technology to both of us, even though both of us were being funded for different projects. The agreement was to help our programs singularly, but that is just not going to work going forward, because you can't have half a program and get the whole result. So we're working to organize how to build better engines by taking both programs and putting them together. Beyond that there are discussions that could lead to deeper involvements, but those aren't finalized at this point." Some crewmen sense an even deeper merger of the two camps may be looming.(Winston Salem Journal)(1-7-2004)

Assoc sponsor re-ups with the #17: GE Advanced Materials announced that it has renewed as an associate sponsor of 2003 Winston Cup Champion, Matt Kenseth, and the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus for the 2004 NASCAR racing season. The extension marks the second year that GE Advanced Materials has teamed up with DEWALT and Roush Racing to promote its LEXAN brand of polycarbonate plastic, which is used as an ingredient component in many consumer products. The #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus will once again feature the green LEXAN resin logo across the back. LEXAN resin is one of the toughest and most versatile polymers in existence and can be found in everything from DVDs to automotive headlamps and steering columns, to camping equipment, cell phones, and computer housings. LEXAN is a registered trademark of General Electric Company.(Business Wire)(1-6-2004)

Kenseth's Busch team sold? hearing that #17 Busch Series team that Matt Kenseth drives for and owned by John Reiser has been sold to Roush Racing.(1-6-2004)

Past 2003 News

Kenseth honored in a hometown parade: Entering his hometown, Matt Kenseth was greeted with NASCAR flags flying from every pole and a temporary population sign that reads, "Cambridge: Population 1,100 and Matt." Kenseth was in awe Saturday as thousands of fans cheered on their hometown hero in a parade down Cambridge's Main Street. Later in the day some 2,500 supporters gathered at the Alliant Center for a fan club party. Storefront signs congratulated and greeted Kenseth and his wife, Katie. "It's pretty overwhelming," Kenseth said. "You never really totally get used to it. It seems like a dream." A sea of fans wearing the black-and-yellow colors of Kenseth's DeWalt sponsorship filled Cambridge for the parade, which featured floats promoting a local pancake breakfast, race cars, the Red Hot Dixie Jazz Band and various members of the Kenseth family. After the parade, Kenseth, who now lives in North Carolina, was presented a key to the village of Rockdale. A key to Cambridge was presented by Bob Nodolf - Kenseth's driver's education teacher.(full story at Wisconsin State Journal and an AP one at The State)(12-28-2003)

Cambridge building to house Kenseth memorabilia: Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup champion from Cambridge, WI, will display memorabilia from his racing career in a new building in his hometown scheduled to open next spring. Matt Kenseth wants to give back to the place he calls home. And he believes a venue that will display memorabilia from his burgeoning racing career is the perfect way to do that. The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup champion has purchased an 18-acre triangular parcel in the Village of Cambridge at the west edge of town, and construction will begin in February on an 11,000-square-foot building which will showcase a collection of race cars and memorabilia that spans his entire 15-year career. Kenseth merchandise, Internet sales and his fan club also will be housed in the building. Village of Cambridge president Don Trieloff anticipates that the facility, which is scheduled to open in May or June 2004, will bring new visitors, excitement and renewed interest in other businesses in the area. One detail that has been discussed but has yet to be finalized is what to call the building. The 31-year-old Kenseth hesitated to call it a museum, but that may most accurately describe the scope of plans and size of the structure.
The business will be operated by Kenseth's sister Kelley Maruszewski, who currently runs Kenseth's fan club and sells merchandise out of the family-owned business. The Matt Kenseth Fan Club Store doubles as a video store, and the family also operates a laundromat and the 10-unit Village Motel in Cambridge. Roy Kenseth, who is the track promoter at Madison International Speedway, will help the contractors oversee construction of the project. The building will not encompass the entire parcel, and further residential or commercial development is planned for the future. While discussions are ongoing for finalizing utilities, road access and sewage structures, Roy Kenseth said the response from officials with the village has been positive. "It's going to be a beautiful building and will be almost like the gateway to Cambridge," said Roy Kenseth, whose parents and grandparents also grew up in area. "It is going to bring a lot of people to Cambridge. I suppose there are going to be a small minority of people who won't like it, but the majority of people will like it. It will be good for the town."(Capital Times)(12-24-2003)

Kenseth to run ASA Late Model: The American Speed Association has announced the ASA Late Model Series will begin its 2004 season at the .50-mile Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis. on Saturday, May 8. Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion and former ASA competitor, will compete in the season-opening event. Labeled as the fastest half-mile oval in Wisconsin, Madison International Speedway is one of the premier short tracks in the Badger State with a full array of suites in turn 1 and seating capacity for more than 10,000. ASA National Tour car owner and Chicago-businessman Terry Kunes purchased the track in November, 2002. Kunes appointed Roy Kenseth, father of NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, to promote and manage Madison. “I can’t think of a better start of the ASA Late Model Series season than at Madison in 2004,” said Roy Kenseth. “The series will receive significant exposure with Matt (Kenseth) returning to the speedway. It’s going to be a highlight of the season.” Matt Kenseth, of Cambridge, Wis., made 16 starts in the ASA National Tour, recording a best finish of second at the 1997 season-opening race at Southern National Speedway. He produced three top-five finishes and nine top-10s. Kenseth earned the 1994 Madison International Speedway track championship.(ASA Site/PR)(12-19-2003)

Smirnoff Ice back with Kenseth? hearing that Smirnoff Ice will return to sponsor 2003 Winston Cup champ, Matt Kenseth, somehow in 2004. There had been rumors that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black would move to the #29 team and Kevin Harvick.[see #29 Team News and Links page for that old rumor].(12-11-2003)

Kenseth in USA Today Ad: To honor 2003 Winston Cup Champ Matt Kenseth and his #17 Roush Racing teammates for their outstanding year, Smirnoff Ice Triple Black has taken out a full-page color advertisement in USA Today, which will run in its December 4 edition. The ad contains a black background with a large, white #17 in the upper half of the page. The seven is crossed out in red, and a red number sign is next to the No. 1, which reflects Kenseth’s Winston Cup points finish. The bottom half of the advertisement contains the Smirnoff Ice Triple Black logo with the message: "Congratulations to Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 Roush Racing Team, 2003 Winston Cup champions, from your fans at Smirnoff Ice." The driver’s Ford Taurus racecar is positioned below the message, and the brand’s responsible driving campaign tagline "Be Smart, Drink Responsibly" is positioned in the bottom left-hand side of the ad.
"The Smirnoff Ice Triple Black family is very proud of Matt and the entire No. 17 Roush Racing Team," said James Stammer, Smirnoff Senior Brand Manager. "It was a fun and exciting championship season, and we were happy to be along for the ride." Kenseth drove his No. 17 Smirnoff Ice Triple Black car in seven of the Series’ 36 races this season, promoting the brand’s responsible drinking program.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(12-2-2003)

Roush and Yates? hearing Robert Yates Racing and Roush Racing are teaming up to build engines together at Yates engine shop?
hearing it's a two way technology transfer as chassis info is headed back to Yates' group from Roush. It's along the lines of GM's "Key Partners" group. The idea is to have the gear as optimized as it can be, then race amongst themselves for the win ---- which is what GM's been doing with great success this year.(11-13-2003)

Kenseth sets Modern-era record: Newly crowned NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth was a showcase for consistency throughout his championship-winning season and that characteristic earned him an impressive series’ modern-era record in addition to the prestige and financial rewards that accompany the title. Kenseth spent 33 consecutive race weeks ranked No. 1 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship race, which established a modern-era record and paces this month’s NASCAR Top 10 list.

The previous record was 30 consecutive weeks, established by seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champ Dale Earnhardt during his first title-winning run in 1980. Kenseth tied Earnhardt’s mark following Atlanta on Oct. 26 and earned the record outright the following week (Nov. 2) at Phoenix. Kenseth’s streak began March 9 following a fourth-place finish at Atlanta that vaulted him past Michael Waltrip for the No. 1 ranking through four races of the season. The performance at Atlanta allowed Kenseth to improve one position from his previous ranking of No. 2 and open a 49-point advantage over No. 2 Tony Stewart. The rise to No. 1 also marked the first time in his career that he was the top-ranked driver at any stage of the season.

The closest any of his pursuers came to threatening his No. 1 position during the streak occurred when Dale Earnhardt Jr. narrowed the gap to 20 points following Richmond, the 11th of 36 championship-points races. However, the following race at Charlotte was pivotal as Kenseth’s runner-up finish – coupled with a 41st-place finish by Earnhardt Jr. – increased the margin between the two to 160 points. Kenseth held a comfortable margin the remainder of the way and his largest lead of the season was 436 points over No. 2 Kevin Harvick following Dover on Sept. 21, race 28 of 36. He closed the season with a 90-point spread over series runner-up Jimmie Johnson. See the NASCAR Top 10 for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the championship on my Stats and Stats Links page.(11-20-2003)

So how did? Matt Kenseth do a burnout in a car that had a blown motor [lap 28 engine blew] at Homestead? simple, the team pulled out his backup car in order to do the celebratory laps.(Palm Beach Post)(11-17-2003)

NASCAR Press Conference UPDATE Gillette Young Guns: NASCAR will be announcing a sponsorship deal involving six of NASCAR's top ten drivers this Friday, Nov. 14 at 12:45pm/et from Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway. On hand will be 2003 champ Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.(11-12-2003)
UPDATE: hear it is something with Gillette.(11-13-2003)
UPDATE 2: Gillette Co. is expected to unveil a $10 million-plus sponsorship deal today with NASCAR and six of its most prominent young and aggressive drivers. The Hub razor maker is gunning for a huge and growing group of auto racing fans with a sweeping deal to be unveiled in Miami. As an official NASCAR partner, Gillette and its Duracell and Oral-B brands will gain exclusivity in the shaving, battery and oral care categories, industry sources say. Gillette also will sponsor six young drivers including #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #29-Kevin Harvick and this year's Winston Cup Champion, #17-Matt Kenseth. The six - to be dubbed Gillette Young Guns - will anchor promotional programs designed to drive sales. Gillette is expected to spend more than $10 million on the effort overall. The deal is comparable only to Coca-Cola Co. (KO: chart, news)'s sponsorship of 13 drivers under its Coca-Cola Family of Racers campaign.(Boston Herald)(11-14-2003)
UPDATE 3: Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman have been called "young guns" for some time. Next year, they'll get paid for it. In a deal worth a reported $20 million a year, Gillette has signed a multiyear agreement for those Cup drivers to endorse Gillette razors, Duracell batteries and Oral-B toothbrushes. The deal also includes "official" sponsor status for Gillette. The agreement also includes a weekly contest for fans, who can register online at www.gilletteyoungguns.com, to predict the highest finisher among those six in each 2004 race. All correct entrants will be entered in a drawing for a $5,000 prize. If those six drivers finish in the top six in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May or the Ford 400 at Homestead, and a consumer correctly picks the order of their finish, the prize would be $5 million. Gillette will also donate at least $1,000 per week to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition as part of the program. None of the money in the deal goes any of the race teams involved. The agreements are with NASCAR and the individual drivers.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-16-2003)

Kenseth at Homestead: #17-Matt Kenseth clinched the NASCAR Winston Cup points championship with his fourth-place finish Sunday at the North Carolina Speedway. Kenseth made history in becoming the last "Winston" Cup champion in series history. Kenseth will have a formal championship ceremony as 2004 champion immediately following the Ford 400.(HMS PR)(11-10-2003)

Roush the 2nd to win all three: #17 team owner, Jack Roush became only the second NASCAR team owner to win championships in all three national divisions - Winston Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck. Roush driver Greg Biffle won the Busch title last season, and the truck crown in 2000. Richard Childress Racing has also hit the trifecta, scoring six Winston Cup titles with the late Dale Earnhardt, a truck title with Mike Skinner in 1995, and a Busch championship with Kevin Harvick in 2001.(Charelston Post and Courier)(11-10-2003)

DeWalt's 2003 King of the Drill: Mike Rennie has been crowned as the 2003 DEWALT "King of the Drill." The 34-year-old drywall contractor from Kirkwood/Seattle, WA won first place in the DEWALT "Million Dollar Challenge" national cordless screwdriving contest, sponsored by Chevy Trucks. The challenge was to see who could drive five screws into a piece of wood the fastest with a DEWALT cordless drill. Contestants had to start a timer, pick up the drill, drive the screws, and stop the timer with the drill. Rennie competed against the 13 other fastest "drivers" from the U.S. and Canada during the final contest held November 1-2 at the Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona. The 14 contestants were seeded tournament-style. A process of elimination determined the final winner. Rennie sank five screws in 7.6 seconds in the 4th round to win the event along with $25,000 and a new Chevy Silverado pick-up truck. He also had the chance to earn a $1,000,000 grand prize if he could sink five screws under 6.5 seconds during the grand finale. Standing front and center on the start/finish line, Rennie was on pace to beat the clock but got hung up on the fourth screw. He ended the million-dollar round with a time of 8.06 seconds.(DeWalt Site)(11-6-2003)

Hot Wheels and Roush Racing: Mattel and Roush Racing announced that the parties have extended their mass retail market die-cast through the 2006 race season. The agreement also includes exclusive rights to the Wood Brothers famed Number 21 program based out of Stuart, Virginia. Team owner Jack Roush, President of Roush Racing, Geoff Smith, Tony DaDante, Vice President / General Manager of Hot Wheels® Racing and NASCAR drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and current NASCAR points leader Matt Kenseth were in attendance for this special occasion. Hot Wheels cars thundered into the toy world in 1968. Nearly 35 years later, Hot Wheels is a global lifestyle brand and a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of vehicles, playsets and track sets. In addition to leading the way with speed, power and performance, Hot Wheels cars are also Cool Collectibles for adults. For the latest information on Hot Wheels® products, make a break on the information superhighway and cruise over to www.hotwheels.com.(Mattel PR) Also, see info about the Hot Wheel Hall of Fame in my Hall of Fame/Museums page.(11-4-2003)

Pennzoil and Roush in 2004 MORE: Acting to position Pennzoil motor oil squarely at the forefront of NASCAR competition, Roush Racing and Pennzoil have announced a lubrication sponsorship and technology partnership across all Roush Racing teams in all NASCAR series. The program will include Pennzoil participation and associate identification on all Roush Racing NASCAR Nextel Cup (NNC) teams, beginning with the Daytona 500 in 2004. Additionally, Roush Racing will feature a special Pennzoil design and paint scheme on the #16 Greg Biffle NNC entry at Pocono Raceway next June. Capping the sponsorship announcement was the news that Mark Martin, the winningest driver in the history of the NASCAR Series will 'unretire' to race the Pennzoil colors as part of a three driver Busch Series 'Pennzoil Super Team' consisting of Martin, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton. The three drivers will combine to race different Pennzoil entries in nine Busch Series events during 2004, beginning with Mark Martin at Daytona in February. The Pennzoil-Roush partnership draws on Pennzoil's advanced lubrication technologies, and will provide Roush Racing with not just lubrication products but also with the expertise to maximize the performance side of the engineering equation. An announcement regarding the entire nine race 'Pennzoil' Busch Series schedule for Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton will be made at a later time. Mark Martin will kick off the 2004 Busch Series season at Daytona in a Pennzoil Roush Ford.(Pennzoil PR)(11-2-2003)
More on the deal...and a Kodak mention: The money for the new Roush sponsorship is estimated at $10 million, enough for associate sponsorship decals on all Roush cars and for a 9-race Busch program that will kick off at Daytona. Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth will each run three Busch races. "This is a full 10-car associate sponsorship," said Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing. "So this is a different strategy, and there are different advantages. You have Coke with multiple drivers and now Pennzoil with multiple drivers." Kodak has been interested in a similar program, instead of backing a single team.(Winston Salem Journal), see an image of the scheme on my 2004 Busch Series Paint Schemes page.(11-3-2003)

More Teams For Roush? Roush hinted yesterday he might expand to nine or 10 teams next year. He currently fields seven NASCAR teams - five in Winston Cup and two in Busch [actually Truck, none in Busch]. Asked if he would have more than five Cup teams, Roush responded: "Well, right now it's six if you count the Wood Brothers. But it might be more than that." Before expanding, the most pressing issue for Roush still remains signing a primary sponsor for the No. 99 of Burton.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-3-2003)

DEWALT's Million Dollar Challenge contest at Phoenix: Earn $1,000,000 in 6.5 seconds. That’s what the fastest 14 drill slingers in North America will try to do as they compete November 1-2 in the DEWALT “Million Dollar Challenge” cordless screwdriving contest, sponsored by Chevy Trucks. The challenge is to see who can drive five screws into a piece of wood the quickest with a DEWALT cordless drill. Contestants must start a timer, pick up the drill, drive the screws, and then stop the timer with the drill.
Contestants include:
Ben Palmer - Russelville, AR - 7.03 seconds
Dan Rancourt – Wilton, NH- - 7.19 seconds
Jaime Mills - Holland, OH - 7.23 seconds
Eric Howard - Concord, CA - 7.47 seconds
Mike Rennie - Kirkland, WA - 7.51 seconds
Kane Powell - Panora, IA - 7.7 seconds
Mark Martin - Ostrander, OH - 7.7 seconds
Mike Fischer - Huntley, IL - 7.99 seconds
Rocky Lane - Loudon, TN - 8.18 seconds
Tom Holland - Philadelphia, PA - 8.42 seconds
James McAnally - Longwood, FL - 8.68 seconds
Sergio Romero - Tucson, AZ - 8.7 seconds
Alex Mealer - Columbus, OH - 8.9 seconds
Kevin Brunette – Calgary, Alberta (Canada) - 10.09 seconds
The 13 Americans and one Canadian will be seeded tournament-style according to their times. Contestants will be eliminated until the last two men clash head-to-head in the final “screw off” November 2. The “King of the Drill” is guaranteed to win $25,000 and a premium Chevy Silverado pick-up truck. To win the $1,000,000 grand prize, the champion must sink five screws under 6.5 seconds during the final round in front of thousands of spectators at the Phoenix International Raceway. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Most of the contestants built their own screwdriving practice stations using plans posted on DEWALT’s web site. Some of the finalists have driven more than 450,000 screws in practice, while a few have even videotaped themselves to see where they can cut time. This is the second year for the national screwdriving challenge. Earlier this year DEWALT staged qualifying contests in more than 100 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada where people tested their prowess driving screws. More than 100,000 people entered. Regional contests were held last month to finalize the top 14 competing in Phoenix. The 2003 DEWALT Million Dollar Challenge is presented by DEWALT Power Tools and Accessories, Chevy Trucks, the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Bombardier ATV, Richard Petty’s Driving Experience, Carhartt contractor clothing, Greenlee storage boxes, and Adrian Steel commercial van and truck equipment. Visit www.DEWALT.com for contest information.(DeWalt PR)(10-30-2003)

DEWALT Donates To “Race For Relief”: DEWALT announced that they plan to donate several of their tool lines to California Speedway’s “Race For Relief” fund today. The wildfires that have plagued the area of Southern California recently necessitated the gift to the men and women on the frontlines of the fires. Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, who is scheduled to make a media stop through Los Angeles on Monday, echoed their sentiments. “From what we’ve all seen on television lately, it’s been a tragedy for the homeowners out in the area,” stated Kenseth. “I hope that the donation will be well received. DEWALT has been a wonderful sponsor for me throughout my career and gestures like this one remind me that they are a class organization,” he added. Kenseth also had some words of encouragement for the front line firefighters currently battling the blazes. “I think the job they do is remarkable considering the circumstances and we wish them safety and success during this tough time,” he stated. The DEWALT tools were sent to the firefighters via California Speedway and their fund as of Wednesday, October 29th.(Roush Racing PR)(10-30-2003)

Roush Back in Busch: According to garage sources Roush Racing will announce, at Phoenix, new NASCAR Busch Series team effort for 2004. Roush Racing’s three senior members will drive the car on Saturdays next year with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth all taking turns behind the wheel. Sponsorship will come from oil company Pennzoil/Quaker State for the program. Additionally, Roush Racing will soon announce a fulltime NBS effort for Greg Biffle. He is expecting to make the show in all but two of the races when the #60 returns to the track fulltime in 2004. A suitable replacement will handle the car in the two races Biffle can’t drive. No word on who will sponsor the Biffle package.(Ford Racing)(10-26-2003)

Roush to be honored: On Sunday, October 12, hometown boy [Manchester, OH] Jack Roush [owner of the #6,#16,#17,#97,#99 Cup cars] will return to Manchester for an event in his honor. Main Street, (SR 136) will be renamed Jack Roush Way. Festivities will start at 2:00pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony and parade. Participants with classic, antique, Mustang and racing cars are asked to line up at 1:30pm on 7th and 8th streets for the parade. The parade will conclude at the Riverbarn on US 52 and festivities for the rest of the afternoon will include an autograph session by Roush, entertainment, a concert by Bobby Mackey beginning at 6:30, and raffles to benefit the Manchester Christmas Light Fund. (People's Defender)(10-10-2003)

Special Scheme for Kenseth add another scheme for the Lowe's Motor Speedway Cup race, Matt Kenseth will run the #17 Carhartt scheme, they are an associate sponsor for the team.(Roush Racing PR), see image of the scheme on my 2003 Winston Cup Paint Schemes - Car #'s 0-23 page.(10-8-2003)

Kenseth contributes: Winston Cup points leader #17-Matt Kenseth finished a season-worst 33rd at the EA Sports 500 last Sunday, but still donated $25,000 to the Recording Artists/Actors/Athletes Against Drunk Driving (RADD) program. Kenseth was to donate $250 to RADD for every lap he led at Talladega. He led only one lap, but a minimum donation of $25,000 was set aside.(Delaware News Journal)(10-2-2003)

Kenseth Racing for Charity at Talladega: #17- Matt Kenseth will be racing for more than a trip to Victory Lane during the EA Sports 500 on September 28 - he'll be racing for charity as well. As part of Smirnoff Ice Triple Black's "Race for Charity,". $250 will be donated to R.A.D.D. for every lap Kenseth leads at the Talladega Superspeedway. This event is part of the Smirnoff Ice Triple Black "Be Smart, Drink Responsibly" program to promote responsible drinking. At a minimum, Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will donate $25,000 to the organization. "Smirnoff Ice Triple Black's Race For Charity is part of our multi-faceted motorsports presence to promote our social responsibility programming to devoted adult NASCAR fans," said James Stammer, Smirnoff senior brand manager. "From a charitable standpoint, I don't think R.A.D.D. would want to have any other driver racing than the points leader racing for their cause." The EA Sports 500 is the fifth of seven races this year that Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will serve as primary sponsor of Kenseth's No. 17 Ford, furthering its "Be Smart, Drink Responsibly" program. To help fans at Talladega get more involved in the "Race For Charity," Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will distribute 10,000 flags on designated seats in the track's grandstand, instructing fans to wave the flags each time Kenseth leads a lap during the race.. Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will also have giant flags and banners on hand to ensure fan participation. During Winston Cup's only other visit to Talladega earlier this year (April 6), Kenseth finished ninth.. For the year, he has finished in the top 15 in all but two races, has 20 top 10 finishes, 10 top five finishes, and has held the Winston Cup points lead in 23 of 26 races.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(9-23-2003)

Smirnoff and the #99? or to Penske? UPDATE 2 to the #29>: hearing that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black could end up being the sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton, either in a full time capacity or similar to what they are doing with #17-Matt Kenseth this year [seven races as a primary sponsor on the car], OR could re-up with Kenseth for another year OR could do a similar deal with #12-Ryan Newman [not sure how Miller Lite would like that] also being a sponsor on one of Penske's IRL cars [who is losing Marlboro] with one of their hard liquior labels, which is allowed in the IRL but not in NASCAR. While mulling over this one, kmowing it looks like a sponsor will stick with NASCAR, check out their contest: Smirnoffice.com - Hang With Matt & The Crew [that Chris Brock seems fun to hang out with](7-28-2003)
UPDATE: now hearing the sponsorship [7-8 races, like it is for this year] is between staying with the #17 team or going to the #29 RCR team and Kevin Harvick.(8-28-2003)
UPDATE 2: hearing Smirnoff Ice will end up going to the #29 team, running seven or so Cup races as the primary, as it did with the #17 in 2003.(9-10-2003)

Looking Good for Kenseth to win the final Winston Cup: #17-Matt Kenseth leads the points standings by 351 points [with 12 races to go], and no driver has ever lost a lead that big in the race for the championship. In 1981, Darrell Waltrip was 341 points behind Bobby Allison with 17 races left, but came back to win the title by 53 points.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-25-2003)

Roush, Yates and Wood Bros re-up with Ford: Ford Racing officials on Friday announced they had signed new, five-year contract extensions with three of the top Ford teams in Winston Cup - Robert Yates Racing, Roush Racing and Wood Brothers Racing. Together, the organizations field eight Cup teams each weekend and include such drivers as 1999 champion Dale Jarrett, current series leader Matt Kenseth and veterans Mark Martin and Ricky Rudd, among others. "Loyalty is something that we just take extremely seriously at Ford," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing. "We like to reward loyalty and these three organizations have been so loyal to us that I felt it was important for Ford and Ford Racing to demonstrate our loyalty to them. We've picked our dance partner and for Ford Motor Co. and NASCAR, these are our dance partners." These organizations were also instrumental in the development of the 2004 Ford Taurus, which will be officially submitted to NASCAR this week for competition beginning next season. "The kind of commitment that need to made for research and development and pooling of information and for the development of strategies can't be made on an ad hoc basis," said team owner Jack Roush. They can't be made annually. They almost have to me made with a decade in mind, and this certainly is moving in the right direction."()(8-1-2003)

Parrott to PE? maybe Roush? UPDATE 3 looks like neither: Sources in the garage say former Robert Yates Racing crew chief Todd Parrott could be coming out of retirement and headed for Petty Enterprises -- if the Pettys can afford the seven-figure price tag it would take to retain him.(more 'Dish' at Sporting News)(7-21-2003)
UPDATE: Earlier this year, Todd Parrott was released as director of competition at Robert Yates Racing. Earlier this week, there was a report that Parrott may wind up with Petty Enterprises, but a source told me Friday that Parrott could wind up at Roush Racing. We'll keep you posted on that.(Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR)(7-26-2003)
UPDATE 2: Crew chief Todd Parrott is shopping for a job, and two places he's applied are Petty Enterprises and Roush Racing. But sources say that Parrott won't be offered a job with Roush. 'Todd came to me, and I have talked with him,' Jack Roush said, without further explanation.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-28-2003)
UPDATE 3: Petty Enterprises has talked to Todd Parrott about its General Manager's job, but Kyle Petty says Parrott will not be joining the team. Petty continues to look for a GM for the team.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to view)(8-1-2003)

did ya know? that #17-Matt Kenseth failed to finish on the lead lap for only the second time all year at Chicago? he was 12th, 1 lap down.(7-14-2003)

Kmart back? on the quarter panels of the #17 Ford in the Busch Series that Matt Kenseth is driving at Chicago......The big Kmart 'K'.(7-12-2003)

Congrats: Jeremy West (rear tire changer for Matt Kenseth's No. 17 Winston Cup and Busch Series entries) and his wife Lisa (receptionist and travel coordinator at Innovative Motorsports) have announced the birth of their first child. Deegan James West was born on May 17th at 1:32 a.m.. He weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces.. Both Lisa and baby Deegan are happy and healthy.(5-22-2003)

Roush Racing to Open Destiny 3 Studio: Roush Racing will become the first NASCAR team to open its own in-house photography studio when Destiny 3 Studio opens June 16th. The full service studio will be located inside of Roush Racing’s newly built corporate headquarters located by its Winston Cup facilities in Concord, N.C. Destiny 3 Studio will be just one facet of the state-of-the-art 83,000 square foot Roush Racing world headquarters and museum opening this month. Destiny 3 Studio can accommodate a variety of shoots that include automotive, fashion, portrait, food, film and video. The facility is spacious enough to photograph five cars at once, from the ground level or from a second-floor catwalk. The 3,200 square foot facility will also have complete private hair, makeup and styling rooms, and a comfortable client lounge with work stations and internet access. Destiny 3 Studio will also be promoted to photographers, designers, ad agencies, film and video productions nationwide. In a related move, Action Sports Photography, Inc. will be relocating from Cornelius, N.C., to office space directly next door to the new facility and will also be using Destiny 3 Studios as its choice for studio photography. The new studio, as well as the new Roush Racing corporate headquarters, is located on Roush Place next to Concord Regional Airport, just minutes from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and a short drive from uptown Charlotte. The 25 acre complex is already home to Roush Racing’s five Winston Cup teams.(Roush Racing PR)(5-22-2003)

Kenseth's crew wins Mechanix honor: The pit crew for Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford, the world championship-winning crew in 2001 and 2002, has been named the first quarter winner of the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew of the Year Award. At season's end, the overall winning crew gets $75,000.(NASCAR PR)(5-21-2003)

Kenseth Commercial: #17-Matt Kenseth will be featured in television commercials to promote responsible drinking. The Smirnoff Ice Triple Black spots begin Monday. The commercials depict Kenseth arriving at a party in his #17 Ford. He slides out the window and reaches back to grab a six-pack of Triple Black. As he walks away, his pit crew rushes to the car, strips off the tires and places it on blocks. The pit crew then leaves, rolling the tires and carrying the steering wheel.(Rocky Mountain Times)(5-13-2003)

Kenseth wins at Madison: Roy Kenseth's voice cracked with emotion moments after his son, Matt Kenseth, won the Blain's Farm and Fleet/Dewalt 100 Friday night at Madison International Speedway. "This is like winning a Cup race. I can't explain it," Roy Kenseth said of Matt's victory in front of about 10,000 spectators at the one-half mile oval. Matt Kenseth, a Cambridge [WI] native and the Winston Cup Series points leader, led 83 laps and took home a $3,000 award. The victory was his 25th at the track and first in seven years. He started sixth in a car built by Kevin Laatsch of Janesville and took the lead from Sun Prairie's Scott Ollerman on Lap 17. Kenseth's main competition came from Ollerman and Dave Feiler, former MIS track champions, who had raced against Kenseth before at MIS. Kenseth returned to help MIS celebrate its grand re-opening. Roy Kenseth is the track promoter and Matt was more than happy to help his father pack the stands.(Capital Times)(5-11-2003)

DEWALT Extends Sponsorship with Kenseth and the #17: Roush Racing announced that DEWALT Industrial Power Tool Co. has signed a multi-year extension to continue as the primary sponsor of the #17 DEWALT Tools Ford driven by current point leader Matt Kenseth in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "The race program with Matt Kenseth and Roush has become a focal point for DEWALT's relationship with our customers and end users," stated Chris Allen, DEWALT’s Vice-President of Marketing. "We're really excited by the marketing gains the DEWALT team has helped us achieve and we look forward to several more years of on and off-track success with Roush and Matt," he added. In keeping with the practices of both companies, financial terms were not disclosed. "The extension of the DEWALT relationship means a lot to me," said the Cambridge, Wisconsin native. "DEWALT has been my primary sponsor since I began in the Busch Series and I’m happy to know that we’ll be together many more years in the Winston Cup Series. I think we've gotten off to a great start this year with our consistency and our goal is to do our best week in and week out in order to put ourselves in position to bring DEWALT and Jack Roush a Winston Cup Championship," he added.(DeWalt Site)(5-9-2003)

Roush Street: NASCAR multi-team owner Jack Roush was the keynote speaker during a luncheon Wednesday for the Motorsports Madness 2003 event held at Concord Regional Airport by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event unites businesses related to motorsports. Roush’s company employees about 1,800 people in five states, 350 of which are employed in this region. With Roush moving his world headquarters and museum to Cabarrus County, many more jobs are expected. Concord Mayor Scott Padgett honored Roush Wednesday by designating the road that leads to Roush Headquarters as Roush Place NW. It was formerly Downwind Boulevard.(Independent Tribune)(5-8-2003)

Sponsorships Up: Roush needs 4? Pennzoil looking? UPDATE 2: Car owners working the sponsorship marketplace are starting to put offers on the table, and the next few weeks will likely be filled with rumors of possible driver and team changes, rumors based on some contract negotiating points. Jack Roush needs to lock up sponsors for four of his five teams, and DEI's sponsorship deal with Pennzoil is up for renewal. The Pennzoil contract may be the hottest one at the moment, and it's not at all clear if the company will remain with DEI.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2003)
UPDATE: my records show that only the #99 is unknown, the #6 is thru 2005, the #16 and #17 are at least thru 2004 and the #97 is supposedly thru 2006.(4-15-2003)

UPDATE 2: Roush Racing’s president, Geoff Smith, spoke with Team Ford Racing regarding the status of the sponsorship deals on the five NASCAR Winston Cup cars his operation runs. Smith began by saying that of his five entries only Greg Biffle’s #16 Granger Ford is 100 percent locked-in with sponsorship, which spans through the 2005 season. Deals are pending with Matt Kenseth’s, Mark Martin’s, Jeff Burton’s and Kurt Busch’s existing sponsors, but are not complete, yet. Pfizer, via its Viagra brand, has a contract with Martin’s #6 team through the end of this year, with an option through the 2005 season. DeWalt, which sponsors Kenseth’s #17 Taurus, inked a one-year deal in 2002 for space. Burton’s #99 and Busch’s #97 both need renewals. Smith told TFR that he’s been “in detailed discussions for a period of time” with the four sponsors that are currently on Roush Cup entries and “in every case we’re past the stage of money.” Smith said that he hopes to have signed sponsors contracts near the end of May. His job is made somewhat easier, despite the tight economy, with programs among the strongest in the industry. As Smith works with potential sponsors the cars sit first (Kenseth) and fourth (Busch) in the point standings and the stable has two marquee drivers in Martin and Burton. Additionally, Smith said there is “interest in our programs beyond these [sponsors].”(Ford Racing)(5-1-2003)

Pocono's France award goes to Jack Roush: Winston Cup car owner Jack Roush [#'s 6,16,17,97,99] has been named the recipient of the 2003 Bill France Award of Excellence, presented annually by Pocono Raceway. The award, first presented in 1977, is named for the late NASCAR founder and is presented to a person, company or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the sport. The award is a sculpted and highly polished piece of anthracite mined in Pennsylvania and will be presented in a ceremony on June 7 at the speedway.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-26-2003)

Kenseth Leads Vote: The more than 42,000 fans who participated in first-quarter voting for Driver of the Year on the Speed Channel Web site tabbed Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth as their choice over Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip. But the 18-member media panel that voted via teleconference Wednesday leaned toward CART points leader Paul Tracy and Winston Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr. [not sure how as he was not one of the nominee's] The initial quarterly winner of 2003 will be announced during Speed News on Speed Channel at 6:00pm Saturday.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(4-17-2003)

Roush Drivers Featured on Collectibles Tins: Racing fans nationwide now have the opportunity to collect four limited edition tins designed by motorsports master artist Sam Bass featuring four of Roush Racing's drivers: Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton. Through June, each limited edition tin is free with the purchase of three-packs of Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dishes and Velveeta Shells & Cheese. "The tins are truly a collectors item for race fans nationwide," said Bass. "I'm expecting them to fly off store shelves because they are truly a unique keepsake. I'm betting they won't last in stores long!" A perfect gift for racing fans or motorsports memorabilia collectors, each of the four tins is a reproduction of a watercolor original that artfully depicts a Roush driver from the 2003 lineup, his number, two views of his car, and signature, as seen through Bass' unique perspective. Bass' renditions of Roush Racing drivers, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, and Jeff Burton showcase their determination to the sport, and their own colorful personalities. The competitive spirit they represent is evident in these intricately detailed illustrations. "It's a great honor to be selected for these limited edition tins that feature me and my Roush Racing teammates," said Jeff Burton, a Roush driver since 1996. "Known among race fans and drivers as the first officially licensed artist of this sport, Bass' participation in this program is an incredible opportunity to collect his racing memorabilia." Furthermore, Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese and Velveeta Shells & Cheese will donate $5,000 to Duke (University) Children's Hospital in Durham, NC, a cause that Burton and his wife have supported for years. The tin and three-pack, which retail for $4.99 each and can be found on special display or in the Macaroni & Cheese section of your favorite grocery store, make Bass' hot collectible illustrations available to a wider fan base, a goal shared by both Bass and Kraft. Noted John Kelly of Kraft Foods: "Considering Sam Bass is a recognizable leader in the field of graphic design and that Macaroni and Cheese is everyone's favorite, who wouldn't want to collect these one of a kind tins?" For more information on the Sam Bass Collectible tins, visit www.kraftfoods.com or www.sambass.com.(4-15-2003)

Roush Comments on the Restrictor Plate Racing: Jack Roush might have a new lease on life, and the accompanying attitude that a near death experience brings, but Roush has no love in his heart for the racing venues known as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Roush can rattle-off reason after reason why restrictor plate racing should become a thing of the past, including:
• Four races of the year cost the same as a whole program
• He’s tired of hauling wrecked cars home from such tracks
• He dislikes requiring his drivers endure the experience.
But, Roush sums-up the entire exercise — taxing. Add the new no call from NASCAR angle from last week’s Talladega race, where Roush had a vested interest in the winner, and he just shakes his head. “Five teams is probably a fifteen million dollar proposition,” Roush said regarding the investment that is made to prepare Mark Martin’s, Jeff Burton’s, Matt Kenseth’s, Kurt Busch’s and Greg Biffle’s cars for probable destruction on a plate track.(See full story at Ford Racing)(4-14-2003)

Skinner and Kenseth - No DNF's at 'Dega: #4-Mike Skinner and #17-Matt Kenseth are the only active drivers with at least three starts at Talladega who have not posted at least one DNF. Skinner has been running at the end of all 12 of his Winston Cup starts at Talladega, even though he was involved in Sunday's big wreck. Kenseth had done that for seven races.(Alabama Live)(4-7-2003)

#17 Special Scheme at Texas: Matt Kenseth's #17 DEWALT team will have a different look this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Smirnoff Ice will be on the hood and deck lid of the #17 Ford to kick-off a new partnership with the team. The crew will also be dressed in Smirnoff Ice uniforms. Smirnoff Ice will be the primary sponsor on Kenseth's car for seven races this season, starting with The Winston at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.(DeWalt Racing)(3-27-2003)

Roush 'Virtual' Engine? Some rival engine men say they believe that Roush Racing has been using an experimental engine-design program that creates a virtual engine inside a computer. If that is true, then Roush could be on the verge of a major breakthrough. And that would certainly be worth the risk of blowing a few motors. However, those rivals say that the problem at the moment is that those new engine designs need a lot more track time to prove their worthiness.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-25-2003)

What flew off Kenseth's car when he did his spin in the infield after winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway? Nothing. It was part of a drainage system in the grass of the infield at the track.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio - Subscription Required)(3-5-2003)

Kenseth wins at Las Vegas: in a race attended and enjoyed by Jayski, #17-Matt Kenseth won the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. DEI teammates #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 2nd and #15-Michael Waltrip was third, followed by #18-Bobby Labonte and #20-Tony Stewart.
See results at Jayski - Las Vegas Results or ThatsRacin.com and more links on my Racing Results page.(3-2-2003)

taken in Victory Lane by Jayski

17th the best for #17 in 7 wins: Matt Kenseth started 17th on Sunday, the same as his car number. Kenseth has now won seven Winston Cup races and hasn't started better than 17th in any of them.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-3-2003)

Kenseth and Smirnoff Ice? UPDATE: hearing #17-Matt Kenseth will race either 8 Cup or 8 BGN races with Smirnoff Ice as the sponsor, the BGN thing makes sense, since he is running 15 races with Bayer/Alka Seltzer, not sure about the Cup part of the rumor.(1-25-2003)
UPDATE: hearing this is for 8 Cup races, with at least one Richmond race to be part of it.(1-27-2003)
UPDATE 2: Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will sponsor Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford in a limited program of 2003 Cup races, beginning with The Winston all-star race in May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The program includes at least co-primary sponsorship of Kenseth's Ford Taurus, whose five wins in 2002 led the series, for eight races and secondary status for the balance of the season. The partnership includes driver appearances, the use of show cars and image rights, a large hospitality program and an extensive social responsibility agenda. A Smirnoff spokesperson said an advertising program was in the works featuring Kenseth, who said that was one of the "coolest" aspects of the program. Kenseth will drive the Smirnoff Ice car at The Winston, Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Brickyard 400, Southern 500, Richmond (Sept), Talladega (Sept) and Atlanta (Oct). The race at Texas on March 30 is a co-primary event with Dewalt Tools.(NASCAR.com, see an image of the car there - do NOT email it to me)(2-8-2003)

New Assoc for Kenseth: GE Plastics, a leading worldwide producer of engineering thermoplastics and a division of General Electric Company announced a one-year sponsorship of the #17 DeWalt Ford, driven by Matt Kenseth. GE Plastics is the manufacturer of LEXAN resin, a material that has long played an important role in NASCAR safety and stock car performance. LEXAN resin is one of the toughest and most versatile polymers in existence and can be found in everything from the bullet resistant canopies on fighter jets to camping equipment, computers, cell phones, CDs and DVDs. 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of GE Plastics' invention of LEXAN polycarbonate. The company is celebrating this important milestone with events and activities throughout the year. For more than 15 years, LEXAN polycarbonate technology has contributed to driver safety and is a critical component to the sport of NASCAR. Most NASCAR stock cars feature front windshields composed of LEXAN resin. The LEXAN resin is then coated with a patented GE polycarbonate adhesive film that can quickly be peeled away during a race when it is soiled by oil, grease, and other race debris, revealing a new, clean windshield. LEXAN resin is also used in the shells of drivers' helmets because it is lightweight and impact resistant.(Business Wire - need to register to read)(2-7-2003)

Million Dollar Challenge again UPDATE: DeWalt's is set to launch their Million Dollar Challenge promotion once again giving fans and end-users a chance to compete for one million dollars.(Roush Racing)(1-28-2003)
UPDATE: hearing the #17 Ford will run the Million Dollar Challenge at the Budweiser Shootout and then at Phoenix, supposedly the same scheme as last year, with a few minor decal changes(2-5-2003)

Kenseth Re-ups with Roush? UPDATE: hearing it was reported on Wisconsin's The LTN Hour radio show that Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford with Roush Racing, has signed a four(4) year extention to remain at Roush. His contract was due to run out at the end of the 2004 season.(2-2-2003)
UPDATE: Roush Racing announced today that Matt Kenseth has been signed to new multi-year contract to continue driving for Roush Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "The renewed commitments that Kurt and Matt have made to the organization, and the reciprocal commitments that Jack Roush has made to them, will help solidify the already strong momentum that Roush Racing has in the industry," said Geoff Smith, Roush Racing president. "All Roush Racing drivers are now signed for long term periods, which will keep 'silly season' disruptions to a minimum this year and allow all of our teams to focus solely on racing and building sponsorship value," Smith continued. Said owner Jack Roush, "The signing of Matt and Kurt, along with the agreements already in place with our other outstanding drivers, completes our competitive Winston Cup structure and provides us with an unmatched and quite remarkable line up for the next several years."(ThatsRacin.com)(2-3-2003)

Biffle to use Kenseth backup at Daytona: #16-Greg Biffle said that the team plans to use a backup car from teammate #17-Matt Kenseth for the Daytona 500 rather than one of their cars following a poor test session during NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona earlier this month.(NASCAR PR)(1-29-2003)

2002 News

#17 Crew Changes? hearing that the tire changers [Phil Drye and Dave Smith] for the #17 DeWalt Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Championship title team have left [Smith to the #24 and Drye to the #8 team], supposedly replaced by current #17 Front Tire Carrier Justin Nottestad and Jeremy West [from the #2 Truck team](12-2-2002)
UPDATE: Robbie Reiser, crew chief for Roush Racing's #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth, has named two new pit crew members for the 2003 Winston Cup season. Reiser has named Justin Nottestad and Jeremy West to the squad that has won the last two Unocal 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competitions. Nottestad moves up from front tire carrier to the tire changer position with the team, while West, who is new to Roush Racing, will be the rear tire changer. They replace Phil Drye, front tire changer, and Dave Smith, rear tire changer. "We hated to see those guys go," said Reiser. "But we understand that they made the decision to move to another team because they felt like that was what was best for them personally. I can appreciate and respect that. I knew it wasn't going to be easy to replace those two -- they're both really talented -- but we have filled the positions, and we're excited about next year."(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-3-2003)

Kenseth's Dad to Promote Track UPDATE: Madison International Speedway will have its third different owner since the track re-opened in 1992. Terry Kunes is in the process of finalizing the purchase of Madison International Speedway. Mr. Kunes has announced that Roy Kenseth, father of Winston Cup star Matt Kenseth, will be the promoter/manager of the Speedway.(Madison International Speedway site)(11-19-2002)
UPDATE: Madison (Wis.) International Speedway has been sold to Chicago-area businessman Terry Kunes and will be managed by Roy Kenseth, father of Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth. The sale was announced Saturday.(Rockford Register Star)(12-12-2002)

A Kenseth Stat: If things don't improve at Homestead, Matt Kenseth is poised to post the worst points finish by any driver who won the most races on the Cup circuit since 1976 when 9th place points finisher David Pearson had 10 wins, 1 more than champion Cale Yarborough. Pearson and the Wood Brothers team were only part time in 1976 and won 10 of 22 races they entered.(Matt of RacingOne)(11-11-2002)

IRWIN Rough to Finish Award: Despite running out of fuel earlier in the race, Matt Kenseth and the #17 team used a two-tire pit stop late in Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway to score their NASCAR Winston Cup Series-leading fifth victory of the season. For his race-winning pit strategy, team crew chief Robbie Reiser takes home this week's IRWIN "Rough to the Finish" Award. Starting in the 28th position, Kenseth quickly moved up to 10th position on lap 28 with a lightning fast pit stop under caution. Kenseth continued his charge to the front, eventually taking the lead before pitting under the green flag. As he made his way down pit road, Kenseth ran out of gas. The team scurried to spray ether in the car to restart it, and Kenseth made it back out onto the track in 24th place. Kenseth continued to move through the field, but the turning point of the race came on lap 259 when the team pitted for the final time for two tires. Kenseth exited pit road in the lead with 46 laps to go in the 312-lap event and never looked back. "I am proud of this team for the persistence and determination they showed all day today," said Reiser. "We put our best motor in and watched Matt drive that thing up through traffic all day long. He picked 'em off one at a time, and raced this race track well. He did a heck of a job, and my hat' s off to him and our whole race team. That just goes to show how strong we can be."
Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, Irwin, makers of professional power tool accessories like Marathon Plus saw blades and Speedbor flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor the crew chief who had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to help his team to a strong finish. The IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award includes an assortment of tools for the crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the racing team's name.. The year-end winner of the crew chief points standings will win a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.. Race fans wanting to make a contribution to the Fund may do so by sending it to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund, PO Box 443, Ellerbe, NC 28338. In addition to the crew chief award, Irwin is also sponsoring the weekly nationally syndicated radio show, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", throughout the upcoming year.(Golin Harris PR)(11-14-2002)

One Million Dollar Winner: Contractor Jon Smith of Delaware, OH knew he was fast with a cordless drill. Now he has a million dollars to prove it. Smith beat out 15 other contestants Sunday in DEWALT's national Million Dollar Challenge cordless screwdriving contest sponsored by Chevy Trucks. To win the million, the Ohio man had to sink five drywall screws flush into a piece of pine wood in less than seven seconds with a 14.4-volt cordless drill/driver. He did it in 6.77 seconds. Smith and the other finalists were seeded tournament-style during the contest, which ended Sunday at the Phoenix International Raceway. Contestants were eliminated until the two fastest men clashed head-to-head Sunday at the Start/Finish line before Sunday's Winston Cup Race in front of 100,000 spectators. Smith beat out Mike Fischer from Illinois by one second for his chance to become a millionaire. Then, in his last "screw-off" calmly picked up his drill and drove out a time of 6.77 seconds to win the grand prize. DEWALT and Chevy Trucks launched the skill contest earlier this year. From April through August more than 50,000 people entered local qualifying contests in 100 cities nationwide, including Phoenix. The fastest 460 local qualifiers were then narrowed to 16 finalists, who each won a new segment busting 2003 Chevy Express contractor's van with industry exclusives such as all wheel drive, left hand door and unique access panels filled with $2,000 worth of DEWALT tools and accessories.(GM PR)(11-11-2002)

DeWalt News - 2003 Scheme, flames return at Phoenix, and winners: The 2003 DeWalt Power Tools Ford Taurus paint scheme will be unveiled at DeWalt's Rolling Thunder on Saturday, November 9th at 11:45am. AND The 16 regional winners have driven their five screws in record time and will vie for a chance to win the Million Dollar Challenge during the pre-race ceremonies at Phoenix International Raceway on November 10th. The regional winners are as follows:. Mike Fischer from Huntley, IL 8.19 seconds; Phillip Elliot from Glen Aubrey, NY 9.38 seconds; Jon Smith from Delaware, OH 9.94 seconds; Joe Fodera from Sommerville, MA. 10.23 seconds; John Seymour from Charlotte, NC 10.43 seconds; Ben Pece from Lyndhurst, OH 10.46 seconds; Darrell Fink from Citrus Heights, CA 10.71 seconds; Scott Brockbank from Orem, UT 10.86 seconds; Bill South from Litchfield Park, AZ 10.97 seconds; Mike Rennie from Kirkland, WA 11.10 seconds; James McAnally from Lake Mary, FL 11.24 seconds; Eric Anderson from Garland, TX 11.39 seconds; Darren Johnson from Pembroke Pines, FL 11.69 seconds; Kane Powell from Panora, IA 12.07 seconds; Dale Howington from Buford, GA 12.12 seconds; Ben Beachy from Mt. Joy, PA 12.56 seconds.
AND The #17 Ford will sport the DeWalt Million Dollar Challenge Flame paint scheme this weekend at Phoenix to commemorate the DeWalt Million Dollar Challenge Finals taking place throughout the weekend.(DeWalt PR)(11-6-2002)

Army looking at other options: In addition to continuing talks with MB2 (#36 Pontiac) and Andy Petree Racing (#33 and #55) about a 2003 sponsorship package, the U.S. Army is also talking to Roush Racing. MB2 and APR would likely be 1/2 season primary sponsorship deals with another company running the other 1/2 while Roush would be a major associate sponsorship deal on the #17 DeWalt Ford.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(10-4-2002)

Kenseth Spotter has team in place, included BGN: NASCAR All-Pro Series driver, Toby Porter of Greenville, SC, and Dirt Late Model driver, Adam Stevens of Portsmouth, OH, have been named as the primary drivers for MJ Motorsports [owned by #17 spotter Mike Calinoff] for the 2003 season. Porter, who has scored two wins on the All-Pro Series this season, will drive the Dodge Intrepids on the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. In addition, Porter will compete in a minimum of five BGN races in 2003 for MJ Motorsports. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to run the full Pro Cup Series with MJ Motorsports," said Porter, "The alliance that Mike and Jenn have made with Team Jesel in the Busch Series will give us the resources to go for the (Hooters Pro Cup) championship." Stevens, who at 23 has numerous wins on dirt, will compete as a Rookie and pilot the teams NASCAR Late Model Super Truck Dodges at the Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway. He currently works as a mechanical engineer for Petty Enterprises. "I am confident that a weekly racing program will help condition me for the future," said Stevens, "we've got great equipment and I feel that I can adapt well to asphalt racing." MJ Motorsports has recently formed a technical alliance with Team Jesel, who fields Dodges on the NASCAR Busch Series for drivers Casey Mears and Hank Parker, Jr. "I don't think that we could have picked two better drivers than Toby and Adam to spearhead our foray to the next level of motorsports," said Team Owner Mike Calinoff, who works for Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth and Busch Series competitor Casey Mears as their Team Spotter, "their talents will speak for themselves." Sponsorship announcements for both teams are forthcoming. More information at mikecalinoff.com.(9-17-2002)

NAPCM Pit Crew Of The Week - #17: Hard work along with great pit stops all night took the #17 DeWalt Crew from a 25th place starting position to tire troubles (twice) and finally to a first place finish. Congratulations #17 DeWalt Crew on overcoming adversity and earning the title of this week's NAPCM "Pit Crew Of The Week", sponsored by Toxabsorb, "21st Century Spill Magnet" and the "Official Spill Response Agent of the National Association Of Pit Crew Members". Visit www.toxabsorb.com for all Toxabsorb household and pit road uses. Check out the latest Mechanix Wear "Pit Crew Of The Year" standings, available ONLY at the National Association Of Pit Crew Members web site.(www.napcm.com)(9-11-2002)

Kenseth wins 4th race of 2002: winning at Richmond. It was Kenseth's 4th Cup win of 2002, he leads in that category. It was 2nd time a driver had come form 25th at Richmond to win (Bobby Allison did it in 1969). #12-Ryan Newman ended up 2nd again.
Race Results at ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com
and a Jayski race rundown, caution info and notes at the The Monte Carlo 400 with the Looney Tunes Race Info page.(9-7-2002)

Kenseth wins at Slinger: Matt Kenseth hadn't raced at Slinger Speedway in nearly three years, but his performance Tuesday night in the Miller Lite Nationals made it look as though he'd never left. Kenseth won the race and added another Nationals trophy to display alongside the one the Cambridge native collected in 1994, before he moved to the South to pursue his NASCAR dreams. As a near-capacity crowd of about 7,000 cheered Kenseth's victory, Lowell Bennett and Eric Fransen waged a whale of a side-by-side battle for second place, but at the checkers, Bennett was nearly half a lap behind. Two of the other visitors were involved in the first caution 20 laps into the feature. Ken Schrader, a longtime Winston Cup competitor, was working on Dave Teske when Teske spun and collected four-time Nationals champion Dick Trickle. The accident wrecked the bleeder valve in Trickle's left rear tire, causing the tire to loose air pressure. With the tire going down, he fell two laps down before he could get it changed, and he ended up 13th. Scott Wimmer, a Winston Cup and Busch driver from Wausau, ended up sixth despite brake problems and a spin that sent him to the back of the field. Rich Bickle, a two-time Nationals champion now racing in the CTS, struggled with handling and ignition trouble and finished 19th.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-24-2002)

Kenseth wins, Stewart Upset.....in Canada: Matt Kenseth pulled past CASCAR driver Don Thomson to ruin a fairy-tale ending at the Canada Day shootout at Cayuga Speedway before more than 15,000 fans -- the biggest crowd to watch an oval race in this country. Thomson, who had led most of the race, lost his chance to best Kennseth with eight laps to go in the 100-lap event. Kenseth, who already has won three Winston Cup races this season, was among six NASCAR drivers who raced in the event against Canada's best. Al Turner started third and finished third while battling Pete Gibbons and Thomson the entire 100 laps. Winston Cup stars Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney and Johnny Benson were never a factor in the race. CTS points leader Ted Musgrave ran in the top five for almost the whole race, but a pre-race decision to go light on fuel cost him a chance to win when his #1 Dodge ran out of gas with five laps left. In an incident near the end of the second 50-lap qualifying race Schrader and Stewart got together in turn two with the No. 20 Pontiac of Stewart ending up getting turned around. Once righted, Stewart went after the #36 of Schrader and pushed him into a spin in turn three. An obviously upset Stewart drove his Pete Vanderwyst-prepared Pontiac behind the pit wall for repairs without trying to better his place on the grid. (Toronto Sun and also see a story at WayMoreSports.com)(7-1-2002)

Dewalt Re-ups with Roush: DeWalt Power Tools has decided to return to Roush Racing as Matt Kenseth's sponsor next season, according to a story in this week's NASCAR Winston Cup Scene. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith says in this week's issue that the agreement has been reached with only the final details being ironed out. "Now you can take DeWalt and Matt Kenseth out of the rumor mill," Smith said. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the publication says the deal is for 2003 and that both sides hold options for 2004 and beyond.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-19-2002)

DeWalt and AT&T work together, special AT&T scheme: DEWALT Power Tools announced it will continue its marketing alliance with AT&T Broadband by spotlighting a special AT&T Broadband paint scheme at three races during the 2002 season. The AT&T Broadband paint scheme will be the primary signage on the #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth at the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona and the New Hampshire 300 at NHIS. In addition to the specially designed cars, AT&T will be featured underneath the DEWALT logo on the rear quarter panels of the car for the duration of the 2002 season.(Adair Promotions)(6-19-2002)

Kenseth wins at Michigan in the Sirius Satellite Radio 400. It is Kenseth's first ever win at Michigan, his thrid race win of 2002 and 4th career win. #88-Dale Jarrett almost got him at the end in a close finish after a red flag to allow the race to finish under green. See my Sirius Satellite Radio 400 Race Info page, for a rundown, caution info, some notes on the race, etc. Results can be see at ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com.(6-16-2002)

DEI and DeWalt? UPDATE: the LTN Radio show reports that Dale Earnhardt Inc is talking to DeWalt Tools to sponsor a team, DeWalt's contract with Roush Racing and the #17 Matt Kenseth team is over at the end of 2002. Roush is in negotations with DeWalt also.(6-3-2002)
AND - Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)
UPDATE: Officials from DeWalt Tools have told Roush Racing President Geoff Smith that it wants to return as sponsor of Matt Kenseth’s Ford for 2003. But until a deal is signed, Smith says he will listen if other perspective sponsors come calling. The contract that expires at the end of this season prohibited DeWalt from negotiating with other teams until June 1. Smith’s heard that the company has talked with Dale Earnhardt Inc. regarding a deal for next year, but isn’t sure if those talks are ongoing. Kenseth’s contract is up following the 2003 season, but it’s expected that talks of an extension will begin following this season.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-13-2002)

Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)

Kenseth gets BGN sponsor: Bayer Consumer Care is pleased to announce that it will partner with Reiser Enterprises and driver Matt Kenseth to compete in 15 selected BGN races throughout the 2003 racing season. The Bayer Consumer Care products of Bayer Aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Alka-Seltzer Plus and Aleve will alternate as primary sponsors on the #17 Ford owned by Wisconsin natives, John and Robbie Reiser. The 2003 season will mark the 11th season that Bayer Consumer Care has served as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Busch Series.. Over the past 10 years, Bayer Consumer Care has teamed with such racing notables as Chad Little, Terry Labonte, Buckshot Jones and most recently Tony Raines. Bayer™s association with NASCAR has helped to produce 10 wins, including six in 1996 with Chad Little. Kenseth will carry the Bayer Consumer Care colors for the first time in 2003 during the season opening BGB event at the Daytona International Speedway. Prior to last week's event at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, Bayer informed BACE Motorsports that Bayer Consumer Care would not be returning to their team as a primary sponsor for the 2003 racing season. In addition, the No. 17 Reiser Enterprise entry is also seeking major associate sponsorship for the 15-event schedule.(Motorsports ManagementPR)(5-31-2002)

Kenseth and Phones: PTN MEDIA, INC.announced that it has entered into an agreement with driver Matt Kenseth, to develop branded mobile phones, face plates and subscription services including Kenseth news and games delivered to mobile phones. Kenseth drives the #17 Ford which is owned by Roush Racing. The primary sponsor of his Ford Taurus is DeWalt Tools. The agreement calls for the creation of Matt Kenseth branded mobile phone handsets, phone covers as well as a subscription service which may include premium content, games, and ring tones. Subscribers to premium services will be able to receive daily messages from him on a variety of subjects such as qualifying, race results and fan club information. Additionally, subscribers will be able to use their phones to receive special communications prior to a race or personal appearance.(Business Wire)(5-30-2002)

Kenseth and DEI? Word from team sources that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would like to have Matt Kenseth (#17) as a teammate. Earnhardt and Kenseth were good buddies their rookie season, and Kenseth - who is low-key and would be unlikely to overshadow Junior - is a very solid driver who rarely tears up equipment.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-18-2002)

Roush Drivers Locked In thru 2003 UPDATE 3 But: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith says all his drivers are under contract through next season. The only negotiations he's involved in now are with Matt Kenseth's sponsor, DeWalt. And those talks are proceeding without any outside interference - the two have a "good faith" negotiation policy in effect until May 31. After that, each becomes a free agent. Smith was involved in the original contract between Elliott Sadler and Wood Brothers Racing. He said that contract can only be dissolved if it is beneficial to both.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-5-2002)
UPDATE: hearing a bit 'out there' rumor from many sources saying Jeff Burton currently driving the #99 CITGO Ford and his crew chief may move to the Hendrick #25 Chevy. BUT last I heard Burton is signed thru 2005 with Roush.(5-6-2002)
UPDATE 2: Rumors had Jeff Burton possibly taking over in the #25 car after reports of Burton being spotted at Hendrick Motorsports. Burton told reporters Wednesday he's confused about where he's supposed to be because the day he was supposedly seen at Hendrick he was in Boca Raton, Florida. Burton says he's 100% committed to Roush racing and sponsor CITGO. "Rick Hendrick and I have had no sit down conversation about me driving his cars nor anyone else. I'm committed to where I am. I have a true dedication for Roush Racing which I've shown over the period of time, and to give all that away would be stupid. Where I am is where I need to be and that's where I intend to stay". Noting that all of the Roush cars are currently top-10 in the point standings, Burton said "For me to say that I need to go some place else and race doesn't make any sense". Burton spent part of Wednesday pumping gas and giving away Coca-Cola at a Citgo station near Lowes Motor Speedway as drivers lined up around the block waiting for Burton to fill-up their cars.(PRN's Garage Pass)(5-8-2002)
UPDATE 2: When the Winston Cup Series arrived at Richmond, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth were part of a rumor mill that has cranked up just 10 races into the season. According to garage-area gossip, both drivers are talking to Hendrick Motorsports about replacing Jerry Nadeau on the #25 team, with each taking their crew chiefs with them. Both were also mentioned as possible replacements for Ricky Rudd at Robert Yates Racing if Rudd retires. Like Smith, Burton and crew chief Frank Stoddard shrugged off the rumors as nothing more than gossip. “The truth is, I’ve had absolutely no conversation about driving the 25,” Burton says. “I have not been to Hendrick Motorsports to sit down and talk. That’s what I heard yesterday, that I was over there the other night. None of that’s true.” According to Kenseth, neither has he. “That’s the first time I heard that one,” he said. “I don’t really pay too much attention to all that stuff to tell you the truth. The same thing happened to me last year and I’m still in the same place that I was last year, so I don’t really get too concerned over it.” For the record, Kenseth has a contract with Roush through 2004. Burton, meanwhile, has a long-term contract that was just extended two years ago, Smith said. Burton’s sponsor, Citgo, is signed through 2003, but the agreement for DeWalt Tools to sponsor Kenseth ends after this season. Smith says, however, that he is in negotiations with DeWalt on a new deal.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(5-9-2002)

Reiser wins Irwin award: Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT racing team showed their determination and resilience in fighting their way back from adversity early on in Sunday's rain-delayed Pontiac Excitement 400 to finish in sixth-place. As a result, team crew chief Robbie Reiser takes home this week's "IRWIN Rough to the Finish" award for the team's efforts at Richmond International Raceway.Body Dynamic PR)(5-8-2002)

#17 Crew Member needs surgey: Car chief and jackman of the #17 DeWalt Racing crew, Jeff Vandermoss, sustained a lower back injury that requires immediate surgery to repair. While recovering, Russ Strupp, crew chief of the Reiser Enterprises #17 BGN car, will fill in as jackman and assist crew member Dave Smith with car chief duties. Vandermoss is expected to resume his car chief duties approximately two weeks after his surgery, but will be unable to function as jackman for at least two months.(Roush Racing)(5-3-2002)

Kenseth fastest at Sears Point on Tuesday: #17-Matt Kenseth posted the top time during the first day of a NASCAR Winston Cup test session on Tuesday at Sears Point Raceway. Kenseth, one of six drivers testing the 10-turn, 2-mile road course in preparation for June's Dodge/Save Mart 350, toured the circuit in 1 minute, 18.42 seconds (91.813mph). He was followed by rookie #48-Jimmie Johnson (1:18.98 - 91.162) and #28-Ricky Rudd (low 1:19s - 91.139), a four-time pole-sitter at Sears Point. Other testers included #87-Ron Fellows (1:19.50 - 90.566), #97-Kurt Busch (1:19.70 - 90.339) and rookie #12-Ryan Newman (1:19.80 - 90.226). One change drivers encountered Tuesday was a tighter transition between Turns 12-1 because of the permanent separation of the road course from the drag strip, which has been a long-time criticism of Sears Point Raceway. Portions of the track have also been repaved. The facility is in the final stages of $50 million Modernization Plan. Busch, who won a NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series event at Sears Point in 1999, was pleased that the Winston Cup cars will no longer have to use the drag strip. Other improvements drivers will find for race weekend (June 20-23) include increased runoff at almost every turn on the road course, as well as a full 43 stalls on pit road, thus eliminating the need for the infamous "Gilligan's Island" on the inside of Turn 11. The entire circuit will be repaved in September.(Sears Point PR)(4-24-2002)

Kenseth's car too low? UPDATE 3 $30,000 fine: hearing rumors that the #17 Ford that won the Subway 400 at Rockingham has been found to be too low in it's roof height. Supposedly it was reported on Speed Channel. If true, a fine would be levied but the win will stand..(2-24-2002)
UPDATE: Kenseth’s car was found to be lower than the minimum 51-inch height requirement in post-race inspection - an infraction that usually brings with it a fine but no change the results of the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-24-2002)
AND: After the race, NASCAR inspectors discovered that the height of Kenseth’s car was a quarter-inch below the minimum of 51 inches. “As in recent years, this decision has not affected the outcome of race positions and should not in this case,” said Danielle Humphrey, NASCAR’s senior manager of communications. “Any penalties and/or fines may be decided (today).’’(Fayetteville Observer)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR will not make an announcement on a fine or penalty until Tuesday.(2-25-2002)
UPDATE 3 - #17 Penalty Announced: - NASCAR Officials announced that Robbie Reiser, crew chief of the #17 Ford Taurus, received a $30,000 fine for a rule violation found during post-race inspection following Sunday's Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C. Reiser was penalized under Section 12-4-T in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book, "Any car that is found to be under the specified height requirement after the completion… of the race." The minimum height requirement is 51 inches - the #17 car was approximately 1/4 of an inch too low.(NASCAR PR)
AND In a radio interview on "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons" on the Performance Racing Network Monday night, Kenseth said his car was too low because of a dent in the roof, which is where the height measurement is taken. Kenseth he did not know if the dent was made when he leaned over the car to celebrate with his crew, or by some sponsor products placed on the car's roof in victory lane ceremonies. Kenseth said all of the other parts of his car checked out OK in the postrace inspection.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-26-2002)

NAPCM Pit Crew of the Week: The #17 DeWalt Crew kept Matt in contention all day with lightening fast pit stops. Congratulations to the #17 DeWalt Crew for earning their trip to victory lane at the Rockingham Subway 400.(NAPCM PR)(2-26-2002)

Kenseth wins the Subway 400 at the Rock: under yellow after #36-Ken Schrader hit the wall and #31-Gordon spun and left a tire on the track with four races to do, NASCAR said there was not enought laps left to throw a red flag (direct ALL questions on that subject to them). #17-Matt Kenseth won the race after dominating the 2nd half of the race and leading the most laps, Kenseth wins his 2nd career Winston Cup race and first since Charlotte in May 2000 and it adds another driver to the 2002 The Winston (now 25 drivers). See ThatsRacin.com for a column: Matt Kenseth grabs Subway 400 win and see my Subway 400 Results page and
For Driver and Owners Points - see my 2002 Winston Cup Standings after Rockingham page, for standings last week, see my 2002 Winston Cup Standings after Daytona page, these will be available and linked all year on my 2002 Winston Cup Race Results page.(2-24-2002)

First from 25th? hearing that it is the first time a Winston Cup race has been won from the 25th starting spot in history. Matt Kenseth started from the 25th starting spot at Rockingham (2-24-2002). It was the only spot of the top 33 starting spots that there wasn't a winner.(2-24-2002)

Million Dollar Scheme: DeWalt and driver Matt Kenseth will have a Million Dollar Challenge paint scheme on the #17 Riush Racing Ford as Kenseth tries for the Winston No Bull 5 Million in Las Vegas on March 3rd. See my Paint Schemes Gallery for the image. DEWALT Power Tools is preparing to introduce the promotion that will leverage their presence in NASCAR racing and in the Power Tool industry in 2002 and beyond. The DEWALT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE will allow tool users everywhere to drill screws for a million dollars. Each year DEWALT has been in racing, fans across America have participated in the DEWALT CHALLENGE. Developed in the spring of 1992 by members of the DEWALT Marketing Team, the DEWALT CHALLENGE revolutionized event marketing within the Power Tool industry and has become a fixture at every DEWALT event since its inception. This year, DEWALT plans to elevate the stakes. The DEWALT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE will launch in the city known for its high stakes, Las Vegas, the same time DEWALT Racing's driver Matt Kenseth will battle for the Winston Million, on the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The course of the challenge will last for approximately six months throughout the prime builder's season. Contenders will have over 300 opportunities to take the challenge at DEWALT events throughout the United States as they vie for the chance to win a million dollars. Qualifying events will be held at various power tool distributors, on residential and commercial job sites, and at various NASCAR Winston Cup races. Throughout the course of the events, contestants will also be eligible to win one of 16 Chevrolet Utility vehicles, over $50,000 worth of DEWALT power tools and accessories, one of four Bombardier ATVs, and various other DEWALT prizes. Participants with the fastest times will advance to one of 16 regional events held at Chevrolet Truck dealerships. Regional winners will then advance to the DEWALT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE finals in Phoenix, AZ. The sixteen finalists will win an all-inclusive trip to Phoenix International Raceway during the NASCAR Winston Cup weekend to compete for the chance to win the grand prize of one million dollars.(DEWALT Racing PR)(1-18-2002)

Kraft Foods and Roush Racing Launch Sponsorship: Roush Racing announced that eight Kraft brands have become associate team sponsors on all five Winston Cup cars in the Roush stable, as well as one Busch series car. Kraft will launch its racing program in Daytona as the primary sponsor of Mark Martin's #6 Kraft Ford Taurus in the pre-season Budweiser Shootout on February 10. All eight of the participating Kraft brands will make their debut - through signage on the car - as Martin kicks off the program. Race fans will have Roush drivers and Kraft brands to root for once the official racing starts. Brand logos will be positioned prominently on the car of each respective driver. Mark Martin's #6 Ford will include Maxwell House Coffee as an associate sponsor in the regular Winston Cup schedule. Jeff Burton's #99 Ford features Velveeta, while Matt Kenseth's #17 Taurus features Kraft Singles, Miracle Whip Salad Dressing and Kraft Mayonnaise as associate sponsors. Kurt Busch's #97 Ford brandishes the Tombstone Pizza brand as an associate sponsor and Greg Biffle's #16 Winston Cup ride and #60 BGN Ford highlights the Taco Bell Home Originals brand as an associate sponsor.(PR), see my Paint Schemes Gallery for a couple images of the car/scheme - links fixed(1-18-2002)

Cup spotter to field race team: NASCAR Spotter, Mike Calinoff, will take on the role of Car Owner this year, as he announces the formation of MJ Motorsports. The team will field Fords out of their new Mooresville, NC shop in the NASCAR-sanctioned Late Model Truck Series at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway for 18-year-old Arthur “Aazie” Zimblemann. Calinoff works for Matt Kenseth in the Winston Cup and Busch Series. Known as the “Wizard of Aaz”, Zimblemann, a standout and fan favorite in Sprints and Modifieds throughout Iowa and the Midwest, moved to Mooresville, NC this past January to pursue a career in NASCAR racing. A recent test session at Hickory Motor Speedway yielded positive results and prompted Calinoff to form the team. “Aazie is really a terrific talent,” said Calinoff, “his focus and vision was very appealing. I have been looking for this type of situation for the past year – an opportunity to cultivate a team in a local setting, with a young driver, and then advance our efforts to the next level.” The 2002 NASCAR Winston Racing Series season at the Hickory Motor Speedway begins on April 6th.(MJ Motorsports PR)(1-3-2002)

2001 News

DeWalt and Watch The Bulls, Win the Tools: DeWalt Industrial Tools has partnered with the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR) and NBC Sports to create the "Watch The Bulls, Win the Tools" promotion. DeWalt will use its NASCAR Winston Cup sponsorship of the #17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford Taurus to advertise the November 25th live telecast of the PBR Bud Light Challenge on NBC. The #17 DeWalt Ford, driven by Matt Kenseth, will sport the PBR World Challenge and NBC Sports logos on the hood of the car. NBC announcers will promote the event as Kenseth vies for a victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway. The "Watch the Bulls, Win the Tools" promotion will allow race viewers a chance to enter to win $5,000 in DeWalt Power Tools. Viewers will be given a password at the World Challenge intermission and will have to log on to www.dewalt.com/pbr in order to register to win. DeWalt is thrilled about the partnership and the opportunity to combine two successful organizations, NASCAR and the PBR.(Grandstand PR)(11-15-2001)

Pit Crew Competition at the Rock UPDATE #17 WINS and results: The annual Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition will be held Saturday, November 3rd at North Carolina Speedway, and Jeff Burton along with his #99 Citgo SUPERGARD Ford crew are preparing to defend their title as the "Fastest Pit Crew" in NASCAR racing. Burton and team won last fall's pit crew competition and set a new world record with a time of 18.355 seconds. They defeated fellow competitors John Andretti, Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the $26,000 prize and bragging rights for a year as the best pit crew in the business. There will be a few changes in the line-up for this year's competition. Only those crews and cars of the top 25 car owners in the current 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship car owner point standings as of the completion of the October 28 NASCAR event will be eligible to participate. Total prize money for this year's event is $76,000, with $30,000 going to the winner and a $1,000 bonus if they set a new world record. The object of the competition is for each crew to empty 14 gallons of gas into the tank of the race car from two cans, each holding seven gallons, and change left and right-side tires in as short a time as possible. Penalties will be applied for loose lug nuts, fuel spills, and fuel left in can. Time will be added to each team's speed based on penalties they receive. The team with the fastest time becomes the new champion. The Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition is the only NASCAR sanctioned pit crew contest on the circuit. The event has been held annually at North Carolina Speedway since 1967. See more at the North Carolina Speedway site(10-31-2001)
UPDATE: Matt Kenseth's #17 team kept the Union 76-Rockingham Pit Crew Competition championship in the Roush Racing family on Saturday, ripping off a record-time to beat 24 other teams at North Carolina Speedway. Kenseth's team, led by crew chief Robbie Reiser, changed four tires and emptied two gas cans, each containing seven gallons of fuel, into the #17 Ford in 17.695 seconds. That broke the record of 18.355 seconds set by Jeff Burton's team, also part of Roush Racing, in last year's competition.(See Full story at That's Racin') and see the National Association of Pit Crew Members site for the Rank and Times of 2001 Pit Crew Challenge(11-4-2001)

Roush Team Intact for 2002: [#6-Mark] Martin is not retiring, moving on, slowing down or considering the end of his career. He is spending next season racing with Roush Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. According to Martin, neither is considering leaving the Roush fold. They plan to figure out the problems that have caused each of the teams to struggle this season. Martin's contract runs through 2005 - he's not thinking that the end of that contract will be the end of his commitment to racing.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-14-2001)

Kenseth Testing: #17-Matt Kenseth completes a two-day test at Rockingham today(Roanoke Times)(10-10-2001)

Checking Temps at RIR UPDATE: Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth will have new additions to their respective pit crews next weekend at Richmond. The additional pit workers will concentrate on how the drivers replace the fluids they lose during a race, as well as the cars' onboard temperatures. Scientists from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute will condict a pilot study on Martin and Kenseth to determine sweat loss, cardiobascular responses and heat stress in drivers during a NASCAR race. During an average race, cockpit temperatures can climb to 140 degrees, putting drivers at risk for dehydration and heat illness. The race-day test will help provide drivers with fluid replacement and heat illness prevention recommendations.(That's Racin')(9-3-2001)
UPDATE: #6-Mark Martin, and #17-Matt Kenseth, were the subjects of a hydration study that was conducted at the Chevy Monte Carlo 400 in Richmond. Scientists from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) monitored Martin and Kenseth throughout the 400-lap, three-hour and 13-minute event to determine how well NASCAR drivers replace the fluids they lose through sweat during a race. In the grueling heat of a race, cockpit temperatures can often soar well beyond 115 degrees, placing drivers at risk for dehydration, heat illness and impaired performance. Martin's estimated total sweat loss during the race was 4.5 liters (153 ounces), nearly equivalent to 10 lbs. of bodyweight. However, Martin replaced 78% of his total sweat loss by drinking 3.52 liters (119 ounces) of fluid. Martin still experienced a final bodyweight loss of more than 2 lbs., and a post-race urine sample indicated significant dehydration even with this modest 2-lb. fluid deficit. Kenseth also completed the race, but was off the track and out of his car for nearly an hour due to a mid-race crash. Because he spent less time exposed to intensive cockpit temperatures, Kenseth's fluid loss was less dramatic than Martin's. According to GSSI, Kenseth lost 2.1 liters (70 ounces) of sweat. Yet, by drinking 1.66 liters (56 ounces) of fluid during the race, Kenseth was able to replace 81% of the fluid he lost, leaving him fairly well hydrated. Overall, both Martin and Kenseth experienced levels of fluid loss similar to those experienced by other endurance and team sport competitors, such as marathoners and football players. But they did a better job of replacing fluids than several athletes GSSI has studied from these sports. For more information about sports nutrition and exercise science pertaining to The Gatorade Company, visit the Gatorade Sports Science Institute web site at www.gssiweb.com or gatorade.com.(Roush Racing PR)(9-26--2001)

Kenseth on the Today Show: Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth will appear on NBC's "Today Show" on Thursday(Aug 9th). The nature of the segment has not been disclosed, but one of Kenseth's #17 Ford show cars will also be used in the segment(That's Racin')(8-4-2001)
UPDATE: Matt Kenseth will be on the show at approximately 9:40am/et(8-9-2001)

#17 Paint Scheme at Indy: The #17 DeWalt Ford will debut its New Products paint scheme which will run from Indianapolis through Dover. The paint scheme is an integration of the new product line and the designs submitted through the DEWALT 2002 Paint Scheme contest. The winners were Robert Williams Lutherville, MD and Brian Grossman of Cincinnati, OH.(Grandstand PR), plus the car will feature the logo of Firehouse.com(7-31-2001)

DeWalt Paint Scheme Winners: Close to 7,000 entries were received… and DeWalt and Matt Kenseth announced the winners at DEWALT Employee Appreciation Day earlier this summer. Jesse "Ed" Pack with his Guaranteed Tough. Carbide Saw Blade Scheme and David Stanley with the DEWALT Yellow Magma Scheme have been chosen as the winners of DEWALT's 2002 Racing Paint Scheme Contest. Each will receive 2 tickets and 2 pit passes to the race of their choice and an autographed copy of their Paint Scheme. See images of the cars at the DeWalt Site: Paint Scheme Winners(7-13-2001)

McDonald's on the Move? UPDATE and DeWalt? The future of McDonalds' Winston Cup sponsorship is apparently on the line (currently on the #96 PPI Motorsports Ford with driver Andy Houston), according to NASCAR sources, with #9-Bill Elliott possibly in line to put the golden arches back on his uniform once again. And there are reports that Dodge's dealers association may only be backing one of Ray Evernham's two stock-car teams next season(Winston Salem Journal)(7-6-2001)
UPDATE: The Dodge Dealers might be picking up some primary sponsors on Ray Evernham's team. According to a garage source, don't be surprised if McDonald's rejoins Bill Elliott as his sponsor, and Matt Kenseth comes aboard with assistance from his long-time backer, DeWalt(Sporting News), don't know anymore on the DeWalt/Kenseth thing(7-9-2001)

Kenseth/Police Incident: A State Fair Park police officer grabbed NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth by the shirt and pounded his passenger car Sunday, according to witnesses of the confrontation after a race at the fairgrounds in West Allis. No report was filed, no citations were issued and no complaints were lodged with the department, said Inspector Wayne Romeis, the State Fair Police commanding officer. Kenseth said through a representative that he did not want to comment other than to say "there was no problem at all." The incident occurred on a road on the grounds that leads to an exit onto W. 84th St. Kenseth was in traffic on his way out of the park after finishing second in the Busch Series GNC Live Well 250. The officer was on foot, witnesses said, when he ordered Kenseth to stop and get out of his car. After a discussion with Kenseth and another man, the officer told Kenseth to get back into his car and leave.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-4-2001)

DeWalt Supports Firehouse.com: DEWALT Power Tools is joining forces with Firehouse.com in a collaborative effort to enhance brand and product awareness through the fire community. Firehouse.com is the preferred destination website for the Fire and Rescue community. For three races this year, the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus driven by Matt Kenseth, will sport Firehouse.com on the rear quarter panel, the Brickyard 400 at Indy, at Dover in Sept and at Phoenix. DEWALT was recently recognized by the Transportation Emergency Rescue Community (TERC) for its outstanding contribution to the field of extrication(Firehouse.com)(6-28-2001)

Won't Go Away: Despite the insistence of Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, that all his drivers are solidly under contract, that he has no plans to let any of them buy out, and that all will back again next season, reports are hotter than ever that some of those Ford stars will be in Richard Childress' Chevrolet camp next season. Greg Biffle has toured Childress' shop south of Winston-Salem, according to team sources who insist Biffle is still a very strong candidate for a ride with Childress. However, Bobby Hutchens, general manager for Childress' racing operations, denied reports that Jeff Burton had signed or was close to signing a five-year contract with Childress to drive a Lowe's sponsored car. Lowe's officials have said privately their big goal now is to back a team that can beat Home Depot's Tony Stewart and that cost is not an issue(Winston Salem Journal), see the #17 Team News and Links page(Kenseth), #6 Team New and Links page(Biffle) and #99-Team News and Links page(Burton) for the past news on these rumors and denials(6-18-2001)

Another Roush/Kenseth Rumor UPDATE 3 Kenseth says NO: seen in the June 1st edition of the Speedway Scene magazine - Despite a recent PR that denies any drivers might be leaving the Roush organization, it is expected that Matt Kenseth(driver #17 DeWalt Ford) and Robbie Reiser (crew chief #17 and owner of Kenseth's BGN team) will depart Roush Racing and 'do their own thing' (start own team) with Chevy and DeWalt Tools(6-3-2001)
UPDATE: and still hearing Kenseth to one of the RCR is close to if not a done deal also(6-4-2001)

Website on the #17: StockCarCity.com will appear on the "C" pillars of Matt Kenseth's #17 Dewalt Ford during this week.s "The Winston" and the Coca-Cola 600. "We are pleased to have StockCarCity on the car for the next two races," said Jon Howland, Motorsports Manager for DeWALT, "Mike (Calinoff) has been an asset in helping us promote our "Design the Paint Scheme" contest, plus he is also a member (spotter) of the race team." "This is exciting for us," said Calinoff, "especially since it is Matt's first venture into The Winston and we.re defending our Coca-Cola 600 title."(StockCarCity PR)(5-15-2001)
UPDATE 2: Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth is once again battling rumors that he is leaving Roush Racing at the end of the this season. Recent reports have Kenseth leaving Roush for a variety of teams, and the most-recent rumor has Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser leaving Roush to form their own team next season. Kenseth said Friday he has a contract with Roush Racing and has no plans to go anywhere else. "Honestly, when all this stuff started I just laughed about it because I had no idea where it was coming from," Kenseth said. "When somebody asked me about it, I just said `I don't know' and kind of left it alone. It's like a forest fire - somebody dropped a match and next thing you know the whole woods is burning down. Sooner or later you have to put it out." Kenseth said he is not happy with the way his #17 team is running this season, but remains happy with the Roush organization. "There are a lot of teams not happy with the way they're running. We've been getting a little bit better. I can't blame (problems) on what (car owner) Jack (Roush) provides; he gives us anything we want. … All the rumors about going to Richard Childress - there's no truth to that rumor at all. I'm planning on staying on where I'm at."(That's Racin')(6-8-2001)
UPDATE 3: Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, says there is "no way" that Childress or any other car owner will get any of Roush's drivers. Smith said he will insist on holding his drivers to their contracts. There have been reports that General Motors officials have talked with Matt Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser about moving to the Childress camp(Winston Salem Journal)(6-9-201)

#17 Special Paint: hearing the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford will carry an AT&T scheme of some sort this year at Sears Points and Daytona in the Pepsi 400(5-26-2001)
UPDATE: #17 sponsor DEWALT Industrial Tools and AT&T Broadband have formed a marketing alliance that will feature AT&T in a special paint scheme on the #17 Ford Taurus for two races this season, the companies announced today. The relationship will spotlight special AT&T Broadband paint schemes for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway on June 24 and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7. The car designs for these two races will feature AT&T as the primary signage on the #17 Ford Taurus driven by Matt Kenseth in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. In addition to the special paint schemes, AT&T will be featured underneath the DEWALT logo on the hood of the car for the duration of the season. AT&T Broadbandâ€™s integrated NASCAR program includes its sponsorship as the Official Communications Company of NASCAR, a designation that it shares with Motorola. .Together with Motorola, it has an agreement with NASCAR Winston Cup driver Rusty Wallace. .This year marks AT&T Broadbandâ€™s first year as an associate sponsor with two Roush Racing teams, the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus and the #99 CITGO SUPERGARD Ford Taurus driven by Jeff Burton. In addition, AT&T Broadband has relationships with three International Speedway Corporation tracks including Daytona International Speedway, the new Chicagoland Speedway and Miami-Homestead International Raceway.(Grandstand Communications), see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(6-7-2001)

Kenseth to RCR? UPDATE: it was reported on ESPN2's RPM 2Day on Sunday that #17 DeWalt driver, Matt Kenseth could be headed to Richard Childress Racing in 2002. Didn't say which car, the #30 AOL Chevy or the #31 Lowes Chevy if Skinner leaves(4-29-2001)
UPDATE: Matt Kenseth comments on Roush Racing.com - "Why would I consider going anywhere else?" Matt Kenseth said. "I have the crew chief of my choice, a great group of people building cars for me, the support of DeWALT and the unlimited resources of the equipment and employees at Roush Racing. I'd be foolish to give this up."(Roush Racing Site)(5-4-2001)

Kenseth's BGN Run: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 DEWALT car will compete in 20(not 21 and not 19) BGN races in 2001. Nineteen companion events with Winston Cup races and then run one at Milwaukee in July.(Roush Racing PR x 3)(2-6-2001)

#17 Special Scheme: With a year of Winston Cup experience and the 2000 Raybestos Rookie of the Year(ROTY) crown under their belts, the only thing "rookie" about Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT Racing team in the year 2001 will be the paint scheme of the #17 Ford Taurus. In honor of last season's well-deserved title, the #17 car will feature yellow paint with the Raybestos Rookie of the Year logo on the hood. The paint scheme will be featured at Daytona, Rockingham and Las Vegas. In addition to the Rookie of the Year paint scheme, DEWALT Industrial Tools is launching a new product line for 2001 which is expected to be larger than their original launch in 1992. To market the new tools, DEWALT has decided to use the #17 car to help create excitement about the launch. Kenseth will have four new paint schemes throughout the season to compliment DEWALT's new power tools(DeWalt Racing PR). See images of the car at my Paint Scheme Gallery(1-19-2001)

2000 News

Rookie of the Year UPDATE: nothing Official yet but looks like Matt Kenseth will win the ROTY. See stories at NOL: Kenseth rules rookie class in 2000 and from That's Racin': Kenseth, team celebrate rookie crown(11-21-2000)
UPDATE - it's Official: Matt Kenseth has officially been crowned the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2000 season. The driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford accepted his award Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony held at his Roush Racing shop. He was awarded a leather jacket in the ceremony, but will have to wait next month's NWCS banquet to receive his $50,000 prize from Raybestos Brakes Corp(NOL and SpeedVision), have not seen the official points breakdown yet, have it calculated without the season ending bonus points on my ROTY page(11-22-2000)

Pit Road Fire UPDATE: there was a scary incident on pit road at Rockingham when a gas can erupted into fire in #17 Matt Kenneth's DeWalt Tools team pit. The Gasman for the team, Rick Machinski, who also works in Roush's engine department was transported to a local hospital with 2nd degree burns to his neck and from inhaling the fire extinguisher fumes/chemicals. Two safety workers were also being looked at due to breathing in the fumes from the extinguisher. Great job by the safety workers and surrounding crews in handling the fire which was quickly put out. Also, from That's Racin'/AP: 3 Hurt when fire flares in pits. Firefighters Wayne Partin, Herman Andrews and Harold Andrews were released after being treated for minor burns at the infield medical center of North Carolina Speedway(AP), image of the fire at Speed Magazine(10-22-2000)
UPDATE: It was reported on ESPN2's RPM 2Night that Machinski (no relation to Jayski) is home and doing ok, no scarring but is on medication, good to hear(10-23-2000)

#17 Penalty: NASCAR officials announced today they have penalized NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief Robbie Reiser for a trailing arm that was modified to be lighter than the specifications in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book discovered in preliminary inspections on Friday for the NAPA AutoCare 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 1, 2000 in Martinsville, Va. Reiser, crew chief of the No. 17 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, was fined $5,000 for violations of Section 20-12-A in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "If an I-Beam style trailing arm is used, it must be constructed using two (2) C-channels of a minimum one (1) inch in width by three (3) inches in height magnetic steel with a minimum wall thickness of 1/8 inch... welded back to back, creating a vertical wall of two (2) 1/8 inch wall thicknesses..." Reiser was penalized under Section 12-4-Q: "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR."(NASCAR PR)(10-11-2000)

Kenseth to the Trucks UPDATE 3 yes..no? Matt Kenseth has entered the Craftsman Truck Series race at RIR in September(Daily Press)(7-26-2000)
UPDATE 1 No: Matt Kenseth has just a few more race weekends left with only one race to compete in. Kenseth will step back into his Robbie Reiser owned Busch Series car at Michigan on August 19, racing all of the remaining conjunction events this season, except Bristol. Kenseth will not be competing in any Truck Series races in 2000(Racin' Network)(8-4-2000)
UPDATE 2 Yep: Matt Kenseth revealed he had plans to drive a truck at Richmond, in addition to the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford he drives in Cup and the #17 Visine Chevy he drives for Reiser Enterprises in BGN. So Kenseth will drive in all three races at RIR(NOL)(8-28-2000)
UPDATE 3 the pinball - yes, then no, then yes, then no..... from a source - Kenseth WILL NOT be driving in the truck race at Richmond. He was never scheduled to do it. There is a conflict with the race and an off-track promotion for the No Bull 5 event. He is, however, competing in the Busch race(8-29-2000)

Crew Member Burned: Matt Kenseth’s front-tire changer, Phil Drye, sustained minor burns on his chin and blistering on his wrist while working on Kenseth’s radiator Saturday night. He was burned by steam from the radiator when the cap was removed(Times Dispatch)(8-28-2000)

#17 Paint Scheme: hearing a black/reverse DeWalt paint scheme will be used at Bristol in August(7-14-2000)

Talladega Testing: Talladega Superspeedway is hosting an open test session on Tuesday, June 20, 2000. Scheduled to test are the #16 and #17 Cup cars owned by Jack Roush(Talladega PR) This may change now with the Pocono 500 race being delayed until Monday, June 19th(6-18-2000)

One owner, three winners? That's Racin' brings up a good question. When was the last time a team owner had three different drivers win in the same season? as Jack Roush has now done this year with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. The last to do it was Rick Hendrick in 1989 with Darrell Waltrip (six wins), Ken Schrader (one win) and Geoffrey Bodine (one win)(That's Racin') Technically, Mark Martin is listed as the owner of Kenseth's car and Robert Corn is listed as the owner on the Burton car, but all fall under the Roush Racing umbrella(5-31-2000)

#17 Spotter: After substituting as Matt Kenseth's Winston Cup spotter in Atlanta, Mike Calinoff (racecomm) has accepted the position as full-time spotter for the Roush/Mark Martin DeWalt team effective at Darlington. Calinoff amicably resigned from Midwest Transit Racing with driver Ricky Craven. He will continue to spot for Craven's limited Busch Series schedule(3-15-2000)

Kenseth Spotter: Mike Calinoff, of RaceComm, who spots for regularly for Ricky Craven and the #50 team will serve as #17-Matt Kenseth's spotter for Sunday's CUP race in Atlanta.Craven's Midwest Transit team has decided to skip the Atlanta race in order to prepare for Darlington(3-9-2000)

#17 Assoc: The #17 DeWalt Tools/Roush Racing team and driver Matt Kenseth have signed up Emazing.com as an associate sponsor for the#17 Ford(PR)(2-16-2000)

Kenseth at AMS UPDATE 2: Matt Kenseth will test most of next week at Atlanta. Monday and Tuesday in his #17 Visine BGN Chevy and Wednesday and Thursday in his #17 DeWalt Tools Cup Ford(goRacing)(1-22-2000) -- UPDATE: hearing Kenseth will not test at AMS on Monday but on Tuesday thru Thursday(1-23-2000) -- UPDATE 2: Matt Kenseth tested the #17 Visine BGN Chevy at AMS on Tuesday and ran a fast lap of 183.600mph. Kenseth will test the #17 DeWalt Tools CUP Ford on Wednesday and Thurday. Joining Kenseth for testing on Wednesday are Richard Childress Racing Busch drivers #21-Mike Dillon and #2-Kevin Harvick for a one day BGN test(AMS Site)(1-26-2000)

Little E/Kenseth: The new edition of ESPN the Magazine hit the newstands on Jan 20th with a cover story on the friendship and rivalry between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth(Bud PR)(1-20-2000)

1999 News

Most Promising Drivers of the Year: RACER Names Kenseth, da Matta, T. Schumacher ‘Most Promising’ as part of RACER magazine’s Racers of the Year awards, more awards to be announced this week. Matt Kenseth: Most Promising Oval Racer of the Year; Cristiano da Matta(CART): Most Promising Road Racer of the Year; and Tony Schumacher(NHRA): Most Promising Drag Racer of the Year(Racer Mag)(12-28-1999)

Roush Auction: Roush Racing has fliers up in the Winston Cup garage area advertising an auction of some of its cars and equipment from the two teams it operates out of a shop in Liberty, N.C. Roush is building a new shop in the Charlotte area and will move its Liberty operation there. Kevin Lepage and Johnny Benson have had their teams housed at that shop. The auction, set for 10 a.m. on Nov. 29, is scheduled to include 18 Ford Taurus race cars along with other car parts and shop equipment(That's Racin')(11-21-1999)

Reiser out? UPDATE: hearing the garage gossip has Robby Reiser not being the crew chief for the Roush Racing #17 DeWalt Tools Ford to be driven by Matt Kenseth in 2000(11-7-1999) -- UPDATE: Robbie Reiser is is working to leave his current #17 Busch team intact when he and Kenseth move into their new Roush Racing shop. Reiser has acted as owner and crew chief on Kenseth’s Busch team. But when he becomes Kenseth’s Winston Cup crew chief, he’ll need a replacement on the Busch team(Times-Dispatch), doesn't sound like a guy looking to leave the Cup team(11-14-1999)

#17 Info: Matt Kenseth is carrying a new decal on his #17 Dewalt Tools Ford at Charlotte. Skills USA, a national organization offering training programs in technical, skilled at service occupations, is featured on the hood and lower quarter panel of the #17 Ford. DEWALT is supporting Skills USA's signature-collecting drive during race weekend to help the youth organization reach its goal of compiling one million signatures to present to Congress in September of 2000 during the Washington Leadership Training Institute(MNI - motorsport.com)(10-6-1999)

Kenseth: #17-Matt Kenseth scored his first ever top-5 Winston Cup finish at Dover with a 4th place finish. That means there have been 27 different Cup drivers score a top-5 this year....last year's total number was 27. Also was Kenseth's first top 10 of the 1999 season, so there have been 40 different Cup drivers score a top-10 this year.....last year's total number was 41(Stock Cars Fans Newsletter/Rumblings)(9-26-1999)

Roush News: Jack Roush likely will have five Winston Cup teams next season, one way or another. Team officials say the outlook has brightened for the #16 car, driven by Kevin Lepage, but more serious questions now hover over Johnny Benson’s #26. Benson will leave the team after the season, and sponsor Cheerios will a) transfer its primary sponsorship to Richard Petty’s No. 43, and b) scatter among the Roush teams as an associate, leaving the #26 with no primary sponsor and no driver. Roush representative Stephanie Marquez said it appears very possible there will be no #26(Roush team) next season, although “anything can happen,” she added. Meanwhile, TV Guide appears enthusiastic about stepping up its efforts around Lepage and the No. 16, Marquez said. In addition, Roush will add the #17 team of Matt Kenseth, with Roush superstar Mark Martin at some level of ownership. Roush’s other three teams – those of Martin, Jeff Burton and Chad Little – will continue unchanged at least for one more year, Marquez said(Racer Magazine)(9-10-1999)

Kenseth: Matt Kenseth will attempt to run his 2nd race in the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford at Darlington(8-31-1999)

Roush News: Roush Racing announced Sunday morning that Matt Kenseth and Chad Little will have their teams work from the same shop, which is being built near Concord Regional Airport. The teams are expected to move into the shop in December(News and Record)(7-26-1999)

Kenseth in 2000: besides moving up to Cup in 2000 in the #17 DeWalt Ford, I hear Matt Kenseth will run twenty races in Robbie Reiser's #17 BGN Chevy in 2000 with Jason Schuler filling in for the remaining 12. Schuler is currently a top competitor in the NASCAR Re/Max Challange series/ARTGO(www.mattkenseth.com(7-6-1999)

Polaris Switch? Hearing that Polaris will leave the #75 Cup Butch Mock(?) owned Ford and driver Ted Musgrave at the end of the year. Supposedly Polaris is forming some kind of co-operative marketing deal with DeWalt Tools and will be moving to the #17 Ford sponsored by DeWalt and the #22 Caterpillar Pontiac of Ward Burton(6-23-1999)

Kenseth/Roush Announcement UPDATE 2: Jack Roush will officially announce his plans for Matt Kenseth at a 1:00pm/et press conference before the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway this Sunday. Roush is in the process of locating a temporary shop for both Kenseth and fellow teammate Chad Little. In order not to jeopardize his rookie status when he runs the full season in 2000, Kenseth will run only five Winston Cup races this year in the Dewalt Ford Taurus. His current owner and former driver Robbie Reiser will remain in the position as Kenseth's crew chief.(SpeedVision)(5-25-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Rumor in the garage area is that Matt Kenseth will announce a three-year Winston Cup deal with Jack Roush in a LMS press conference Sunday. Kenseth's current sponsor, Dewalt, is also on-board to the Cup Series. The car will switch to a Ford and will retain the same paint scheme as on Kenseth's current BGN ride. The team would like to keep the current #17(TNN Motorsports)(5-27-1999) -- UPDATE 2, Finally Official: It was announced Sunday that Kenseth would move up to the Cup series in 2000 with his current BGN team. The only switch would be going from Chevy to Ford. The #17 DeWalt Tools Ford will be co-owned by Jack Roush and Mark Martin. Robbie Reiser will be the crew chief and plans to keep his BGN team operating with a different sponsor and driver. Kenseth will run five Cup races in 1999 with the Pepsi 400 at Michigan the first race for the team(against Earnhardt, Jr)(NOL) Other attempts will be at Darlington(9/5), Dover(9/26), Lowes(10/10) and Rockingham(10/24)(5-30-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Darrell Waltrip had the #17 reserved, but wanted Kenseth/Martin to have that number because he felt that Matt and Robbie could represent that number well(goRacing), see image at NOL(5-31-1999)

Valvoline Double? "Valvoline may join Pennzoil in pulling out of the CART Indy-car series, according to sources close to the situation. The two oil companies are among the biggest sponsors in American racing. What might Valvoline do with the money earmarked for CART? Spend it on the new Matt Kenseth-Jack Roush Winston Cup operation, according to those in the know. The Roush-Mark Martin team is Valvoline's NASCAR flagship"(PitNow)(4-28-1999)

CORRECTION: a few weeks ago, a reader asked me why Matt Kenseth didn't replace Bobby Labonte at Darlington during the Red Flag instead of wasting time during a Yellow Flag. I responded with the same answer as Benny Parsons had said on RPM2Nite the following Monday. That during a red flag stop, all work stops during a red flag and that includes replacing a driver. But last night on RPM2Nite(4/5), Benny said that he was approached by a NASCAR official at the Evergreen Speedway while out there for the CTS race and was told, a team could switch drivers, but would have to go to the back of the field(4-6-1999)

Kenseth Cup Dates UPDATE 1: I hear the dates/races for Matt Kenseth to make his five race Winston Cup run in 1999 are: The 2nd races at - Michigan, Dover, Charlotte, Rockingham, and Atlanta. This will be in a Roush car under the Mark Martin Racing banner(The LTN Hour)(3-31-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Matt Kenseth will debut a Mark Martin Racing Ford Taurus August 22 in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan. The ride will be a first for the new Martin team with Kenseth, Martin's protégé, at the wheel. The drive represents a new direction for Martin as a car owner. The team will run chassis and engines provided by Jack Roush, home of Martin's Winston Cup effort. Kenseth is expected to run the Martin Racing Ford in five Winston Cup events this season. In addition to the Michigan bow, Kenseth will strap up at Dover (September 26), Charlotte (October 10), Rockingham (October 24) and Atlanta (November 21). The team will use the five runs to prepare for the 2000 NASCAR season when it will run the entire Winston Cup schedule(TNN)(4-3-1999)

Kenseth to Cup, confirmed: Jack Roush confirmed in the postrace BGN news conference that BGN driver Matt Kenseth will drive a Mark Martin Racing car in Cup in 2000. Roush said that DeWalt Tools would like to come along with Kenseth. Roush will provide the team engines and chassis, but will be a separate team from the Roush stable. Kenseth will also drive a Roush Racing car in five Cup races in 1999(NOL/AP)(3-27-1999)

Martin Car Owner? UPDATE 2: Mark Martin could become a Winston Cup car owner as soon as next year. With Dale Earnhardt setting the precedent (driving for one team, owning a rival team with another driver), Martin could emerge in 2000 as owner of a Cup team for Matt Kenseth, possibly with DeWalt sponsorship. Martin’s personal interest in rising star Kenseth, a 26-year-old from Wisconsin, gave the youngster’s career a boost during an exciting rookie campaign in the Busch Series last year. Kenseth’s Busch team is owned by Robbie Reiser. It receives no cars or engines from Roush Racing, but it receives guidance and sponsorship support from the Roush group. Under the Roush plan, Kenseth faces several career options, all apparently favorable. He could be graduated to one of Roush’s Cup cars, or the Reiser team could become a companion team to the Roush-supported Wood Brothers outfit. At Atlanta, however, Roush suggested a third option with Mark Martin as an owner(This info from the Racer Magazine Site, thanks to Team Roush Fans Site for the heads up)(3-15-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Mark Martin's owner, Jack Roush says that Matt Kenseth may be the driver for the possible Mark Martin owned Winston Cup team for the 2000 season, DeWalt Tools may follow Kenseth as the sponsor.(NOL)(3-23-1999)

More Kennseth: Kenseth will run Sunday if Bobby Labonte can start the car, Jack Roush said. Roush has a five-race Winston Cup deal with Kenseth for this season, and a sixth start would take Kenseth out of a 2000 bid for rookie of the year(PitNow)(3-20-1999)

Martin Car Owner? UPDATE Mark Martin could become a Winston Cup car owner as soon as next year. With Dale Earnhardt setting the precedent (driving for one team, owning a rival team with another driver), Martin could emerge in 2000 as owner of a Cup team for Matt Kenseth, possibly with DeWalt sponsorship. Martin’s personal interest in rising star Kenseth, a 26-year-old from Wisconsin, gave the youngster’s career a boost during an exciting rookie campaign in the Busch Series last year. Kenseth’s Busch team is owned by Robbie Reiser. It receives no cars or engines from Roush Racing, but it receives guidance and sponsorship support from the Roush group. Under the Roush plan, Kenseth faces several career options, all apparently favorable. He could be graduated to one of Roush’s Cup cars, or the Reiser team could become a companion team to the Roush-supported Wood Brothers outfit. At Atlanta, however, Roush suggested a third option with Mark Martin as an owner(This info from the Racer Magazine Site/Ben Blake, thanks to Team Roush Fans Site for the heads up)(3-15-1999)

Current #17 News Page
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This page designed by Jayski LLC, 1996-2009© All Rights Reserved.
Jayski's® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.