Matt Kenseth
1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev.
Race Schedule
Sunday, Mar. 11
NNCS: UAW DamilerChrysler 400 - 4:30 PM Eastern - FOX/PRN
FAST FACTS
Matt Kenseth is coming into Las Vegas riding the momentum from winning the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway two Sunday’s ago.
The win was Kenseth’s 15th of his career, but first without Robbie Reiser atop the pit box. It was also Interim Crew Chief, Chip Bolin’s, first win as crew chief.
Kenseth has now won at least one Cup race in every season since 2002, six straight years.
Since 2002, Kenseth has now recorded four wins in the second race of the season: Rockingham ’02, Rockingham in ‘04, Fontana ’06, and Fontana ’07.
Sunday’s race will mark the third for interim crew chief, Chip Bolin, calling the shots atop the No. 17 pit box. Bolin, who hails from South Carolina with a degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson University, has been the engineer on the No. 17 team since its inception in 1999.
Kenseth’s average finish at Las Vegas in the Cup Series in 8.1; second among all drivers with at least four starts at the track (Jimmie Johnson 7.0).
Kenseth has led 367 laps for his career at Las Vegas in Cup competition, 124 laps better than any other driver.
Kenseth’s last victory at Las Vegas marked the fifth for owner Jack Roush, out of a possible nine races in which the Cup Series has ran at Vegas.
Matt Kenseth – NNCS Advance
Team: No. 17 DEWALT Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Chip Bolin (interim)
Chassis: RK-317 Last ran: Won Auto Club 500 at Fontana two weeks ago
Also ran: Pocono, Jul. ’06, finished 14th, All-Star race ‘06; finished 11th
’05 ran Kansas (pole), Texas & Homestead recording three top fives
RK-340: Tested Las Vegas in Jan. ’07
Last ran: Pocono, Jun. ’06, finished fifth
Kenseth on racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
”Well, Vegas used to be one of my favorite tracks to race at and I hope it’s still that way after this weekend. I loved the old configuration because tire wear really became a factor. To me, that makes the racing a lot of fun because it comes down to who can find the handle on their cars and find the best line around the track to make their car work on old tires.
“Obviously, that has changed. They’ve put a lot more banking in the turns and during the test the track was super fast. I think it will still be good. We had a pretty good test there and we’re bringing the same car that won Fontana a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully we’ll get the same result this weekend.
“Vegas has been a good track for this group and we came within half a car length of winning our third race in four years the last time we went out there. That was frustrating, especially when you think about all of those laps we led. But, there was a late caution flag that put Jimmie (Johnson) right behind us, and he was faster than us anyway at the time… so, that didn’t work out for us. It’d be nice to go back this year and make amends for the one that got away from us last year.”
Interim Crew Chief Chip Bolin on racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
“Matt and the guys did a great job at California and really won the race for us by putting us out front on the last pit stop. This group as a whole is continuing to do the things they need to do to pick up the slack in Robbie’s (Reiser) absence.
“We’re bringing the same chassis that we won with two weeks ago in California. We were real happy with the way it seemed to handle there and feel that the balance of the car should be similar at Vegas this weekend.
“It’s a bit of a learning experience for me atop the pit box, but I can’t say enough about the guys around me, that Robbie has put in place, to help this team excel. This is his team, but he’s done such a good job a getting talented people in place, that when everyone does their job, it practically runs itself.”
