Matt Kenseth - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

Chase Notes:

Matt Kenseth's third Bottom 10 finish in 9 races put him back to 19th in the race to the chase and 120 points out of 12th, but the Killer Bees need look back no farther than 2005, when they made up more than 13 spots and 192 points after race #9. Still, the 17 car ...

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...

Ford improving over 2007:

Ford had only one victory in 2007's first eight events, that by #17-Matt Kenseth in Week 2. In three races with the Car of Tomorrow, the manufacturer was winless with only four top-10s, none better than fifth. Rival Chevy had seven wins, including all three races in...

Racing Resources Says…..

* Jimmie Johnson won the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, the 24th Sprint Cup race at Phoenix. * Johnson scored the first victory for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. * This was the third straight Hendrick Motorsports victory at Phoenix. * A Chevrolet...

Unofficial Drivers Points Standings [after Phoenix race 8 of 36]:

1) #31-Jeff Burton 1215 [1 win] 2) #18-Kyle Busch 1135 -80 3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1129 -86 4) #48-Jimmie Johnson 1116 -99 [1 win] 5) #29-Kevin Harvick 1115 -100 6) #11-Denny Hamlin 1078 -137 [1 win] 7) #20-Tony Stewart 1057 -158 8) #07-Clint Bowyer 1044 -171 9) #...

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, ...

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...

Dale Jr. featured on ESPN The Magazine cover:

Five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is among a select group of professional sports stars featured on unique covers for ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary issue, released this week. The double-sided special edition features 10 covers, five ...

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)...

Terry Labonte could return to racing?

Two-time Cup champion Terry Labonte has enjoyed his cameo appearances at the track and would do so again. "A couple of years ago I ran some races for a team and they called me about this race and that race," Labonte said Monday, chuckling while recalling the story. "...

GWC factoid:

There have been 24 green-white-checkered [GWC] finishes in Sprint Cup history, and only six times has the leader lost the lead on those final two laps. #01-Mark Martin led in the 2007 Daytona 500, #29-Kevin Harvick passed him as a huge wreck took place behind them ...

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. ...

Arby’s on the #17 at Atlanta:

Arbys returns as primary sponsor of Matt Kenseths #17 Ford in the Nationwide Series this weekend at Atlanta. Arbys adorned the #17 in the Nationwide Series 13 times in 2007. Arbys will also serve as primary sponsor of the #17 Ford later this season at Kansas.(Roush...

Edwards in select company…but:

#99-Carl Edwards is the fifth driver to win the two races following the Daytona 500 in the last 25 years, of the other four, one has won the championship, Dale Earnhardt. The drivers: 1987, Dale Earnhardt, finished 1st in points 1988, Neil Bonnet, 16th 1992, Bill Elliott...

Edwards wins again:

#99-Carl Edwards won the UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway winning his 2nd race in a row and 9th of his career, taking over the points lead with the win. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 2nd followed by #16-Greg Biffle, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton, #9...

Some inspection problems before qualifying:

The Cup cars of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #48-Jimmie Johnson and #17-Matt Kenseth were forced to go through the inspection line twice after NASCAR officials found minor violations on their cars. NASCAR officials said the problems were not serious, but the crews of the...

Las Vegas Rookie Notes:

For the first time in NASCAR's modern-era (since 1972), three drivers share the lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings: Sam Hornish, Jr., Dario Franchitti and Regan Smith. Each driver has 20 points entering the March 2 UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. By ...

Edwards wins at California:

#99-Carl Edwards won the Auto Club at Auto Club Speedway for his first win of 2008 and 8th win of his career. Edwards led 64 of 250 laps [#48-Johnson led the most]. #48-Jimmie Johnson finished 2nd followed by #24-Jeff Gordon, #18-Kyle Busch [new points leader], #17...

Some Engine News:

Hendrick Motor Sports had apparently found a way to squeeze more power out of their engines, according to dyno numbers, but actually had to dial back some. Yet, it's not Hendrick that has Cory DeMarco, front tire changer for Yates Racing. "Toyota has the most power...

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...