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Ask
Matt
Matt
Kenseth answers fan questions once a week.
Submit your question
here. |
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March
28, 2008 |
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Q |
What is the oddest
item that a fan has asked you to autograph? What
is the most memorable?
Mary Hagen, Harrodsburg, Ky. |
Past Q&A
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A |
Once a guy came
through the autograph line and took his
girlfriend’s underwear out of his pocket and
wanted me to sign them. That’s the oddest and
most memorable!
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Q |
Hi Matt. I have
been an online racer with different racing
programs for five years. In regard to practices
and happy hours preparing for a race, do you
concentrate on handling first and then work on
speed? Also when you are in practices, how do
you approach the car’s setup handling? Are you
looking for a happy medium for the car being in
traffic (dirty air) or running out front (clean
air)?
Dave Acacia, Jackson, N.J. |
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A |
Work on handling
first. If the handling is good, the speed
usually will be as well. They faster you go
through the corners, the faster you will be on
straightaways (with the exception of Daytona and
Talladega). Try to have a compromise between
dirty and clean air.
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Q |
When you win, let’s say $500,000 for winning a
race, how much of that goes to the driver? the
crew? the owner? Thanks.
Shelly Weaver, Franklin, Pa. |
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A |
I get it ALL!!!! I’m
joking, of course. The owner gets it all, and
then divides it up from there. Every driver and
team has a different deal. Usually the driver
gets a percentage of the winnings. A percentage
also usually goes into a bonus pool that the
crew gets depending on finishes, etc. Some of
the winnings may also be used for year-end
bonuses. It is more complicated then you might
think. The number printed in the newspaper is a
gross number the owner gets. But not all of that
amount gets split. Some things that are 100%
owner programs, like certain TV programs, and
Winners Circle, and others.
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Q |
Hi Matt, What was
your favorite moment throughout your racing
career?
Jacob Haimerl-Hansen, age 9, Medford, Wis. |
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A |
I have a lot of
favorites. Winning my first feature event at 16
was a highlight. My dad was so excited! It was
cool. Another favorite is my first Busch series
win. It was the first win for the whole group:
Robbie, John, and the whole Reiser Enterprises
clan. It was a very special day for us.
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Q |
With the strict
regulations NASCAR imposes on the COT, how do
you gain any advantage over a teammate,
especially when you share setup information?
TSgt Daniel Borchert, USAF Las Vegas, Nev.
(originally from La Crosse, Wis.) |
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A |
That’s a great
question, one that I ask every day!!! It’s
difficult, especially when we have seven teams
right now — Yates and Roush teams — that we
share ALL our information with. It’s very
difficult to get an advantage or to learn any
tricks to keep to yourself.
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