Ford 400 - Ricky Rudd Notes

RICKY RUDD AND THE WOODS CONGRATULATE JACK ROUSH AND MATT KENSETH ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Matt Kenseth clinched the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship this past weekend at Rockingham, and Wood Brothers Racing couldn't be more pleased. Motorcraft Racing driver Ricky Rudd and team co-owners Eddie and Len Wood all offer their congratulations on to Jack Roush, Matt Kenseth and his team on Roush's first championship in NASCAR's premiere series.

RICKY RUDD: "I'd like to congratulate Jack Roush, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin on this year's Winston Cup Championship.

"Jack has waited a long time for this so it would be hard not to be happy for him. He is such a fierce competitor, and I just can't think of anyone better to win this championship. He has been an innovator in engine development and chassis design as well as safety. He worked out the roof flap design that has become so important to driver safety, so for that alone we all owe him a debt of gratitude. The sport is his passion, and even with all the other championship trophies he has earned over the years in drag racing and sports cars, I've got to believe winning the Winston Cup will mean more to him than any of the others.

"Jack and Mark Martin recognized Matt Kenseth's talent and gave him the opportunity to showcase it.

"Matt really deserves this championship. He is the one who has been right there the past two years. Matt worked hard to stay in the hunt and I know the past few weeks had to be difficult for him as he watched his point lead get smaller and smaller. But he kept his cool, and I know he'll be a good champion. Matt is a good clean driver and fun to race with."

LEN WOOD: "I'm tickled for Jack and the 17 crew and all the guys in the engine shop as well for the fantastic job they did this year. Jack has waited a number of years for this to happen, to get this championship. And, I'm glad it's finally over for him.

"I'd like to congratulate Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser both. To come around in such a short period of time and be a dominant factor shows a whole lot of hard work and determination."

EDDIE WOOD: "We're all so pleased for Jack and that whole team. I know he's proud of this accomplishment and all of the guys who have been involved winning this championship. We've been friends with Jack for a long time, ever since he came to NASCAR and Winston Cup, so we've got a pretty good idea just how much this means to him.

"That 17 bunch has worked so hard for this, and it paid off. And now we're looking forward to celebrating with Roush Racing and Ford at the banquet in New York."

Note: The two Motorcraft Racing Fords on the way to Homestead for Wednesday's Winston Cup test have separate origins. One Taurus is the car the team ran at Richmond and Loudon earlier this year. The second car is out of the #6 shop at Roush Racing. The team plans to run both and then concentrate on the car Ricky Rudd likes best. This will be the second race for new crew chief Ben Leslie, former crew chief for Mark Martin.

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