The big news today is the unveiling of next years new sponsor. DeWALT Industrial Tool Company has announced sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the Reiser Enterprises #17 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the 1999 Busch season. Welcome aboard!!

Matt starts his 5th race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend with intentions on winning. The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 is one of the biggest races of the year and there will be a lot of cars trying to make the field. Qualifying is Thursday at 2pm Eastern followed by the 40 lap Hooligan race Friday at 2pm. The race is Saturday at 1pm, televised live on TBS. 

Matt is testing the Busch car at Gateway International Raceway in Madison IL. The test session looks like it will be rained out today.

There was an MCI teleconference with Matt Kenseth and Rick Carelli on Tuesday, you can listen to this conference using the Real Audio software. Another great article from Nascar.com: Kenseth Turns Heads at Dover

The Busch cars have off this weekend, they return to Charlotte next weekend where Matt will be announcing sponsorship plans for next year.

The World just got a glimpse of a future star. Matt Kenseth, making his first Winston Cup start in Bill Elliott’s Ford Taurus, showed that he has what it takes to be among NASCAR’s elite. Starting from the 16th position, Matt carefully picked his way through traffic, and settled into the top ten for most of the race. There were some tense moments as Matt pitted twice during a yellow flag stop because the car had a vibration or miss. The McDonalds crew did a quick check under the hood but were unable to find any problems. Despite an occasional miss in the engine, Matt was able to get as high as 2nd place, racing with Martin, Wallace, Jarrett, Labonte and Gordon. Matt would eventually bring the #94 Ford home in 6th place, after an exciting run with Rusty Wallace.

Matt will be in a chat session (I hope!!!) this Monday night (and every Monday night) at http://chat.lycos.com . The chat starts at 7pm Eastern and lasts for one hour. Please stop by and ask Matt about his incredible weekend. I want that room filled!!

Matt Kenseth’s sixth-place finish was the best debut performance by a driver in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series since Rusty Wallace finished second at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 3, 1980.

Listen in on Mark Martin’s media conference after winning the MBNA 400, he is asked a few questions about Matt. Real Audio required. Also a nice article from Nascar.com - Kenseth’s Promise shines through

Team Lycos gets their third victory today at Dover Delaware in the MBNA Gold 200!! Matt pretty much dominated the whole race, leading 158 of the 200 laps. The #17 Lycos Chevrolet consistently outran the competition, getting as much as a full straightaway advantage on long runs. Matt tightened up the points race a bit, gaining 43 points on Dale Jr. and is now 97 points out of first. Congratulations Matt, Robbie and the rest of the Reiser Enterprises crew!!

MATT KENSETH (No. 17 Lycos Chevrolet) — “We had that thing really humming. I was complaining about a real tight race car. They made some adjustments and that thing was so loose. Kevin doesn’t know how close he came to winning his first race. I was hanging on. It was an awesome job. We had to do some awesome pit stops.

Matt pulls double duty this weekend, driving the #94 McDonalds Cup car for Bill Elliott. After a quick celebration in victory lane, Matt was off to the Winston Cup garage for the final Happy Hour practice where he was 20th fastest.

Matt Kenseth will make his first Winston Cup start this Sunday in Bill Elliott’s #94 Ford Taurus. Bill Elliott’s father passed away last night and Matt was asked to drive the car this weekend. Kenseth Impresses in McDonalds car.

Matt has qualified 16th for the MBNA 400 Cup race and 4th for the MBNA 200 Busch race. WOW!!

MATT KENSETH (No. 17 Lycos Chevrolet): “I picked up a tenth (of a second) from what we practiced, and we usually do the opposite. We had the car just about right. I don’t know if we could’ve run any faster. Everybody said the race track is faster because they did that grinding, but I don’t feel any difference in it. It doesn’t feel any different on the track. We’ve laid some rubber down, and that’s probably part of it. It’s pretty tacky out there right now — it’s probably as tacky at this point of the weekend as I’ve ever seen. The track is much tighter and tackier than it usually is. If we’re in the top-five or six, that’d be awesome. Usually, the way we’ve been qualifying lately, we’re happy if we’re in the top-15. We’re gonna be a lot better off than that.”  (Quotes from the Busch qualifying effort)

It’s going to be quite a weekend watching Matt run 2 races at Dover. If his practice times are any indication, he should have some great runs in both races. My sympathy goes out to Bill Elliott and his family on the death of his father, George Elliott. For all the Matt Kenseth and Green Bay Packers fans... Keep that remote handy!!

Matt Kenseth returns to his favorite track this weekend at Dover Downs International Speedway. Qualifying for the MBNA Gold 200 starts Friday at 2:10 pm eastern and the race is Saturday at 1:10 pm, televised live on TNN.

Earlier this year, Matt qualified outside the front row and led 55 laps before his right front tire blew, putting him hard into the wall.

The NASCAR Busch Series visits Dover along with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series this weekend. It would again be tough to bet against Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Junior spun out trying to get to pit road mid-way through the race in June and still ran away with the win. If he has a car half as good he can still win the race. His only threats will more than likely come in the form of Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton. Kenseth was just as good as Earnhardt in June but he cut a tire early in the race and finished way back. Burton is always a threat in a NASCAR Busch Series car, especially at Dover. If Kenseth and Mike McLaughlin are going to make a move on Junior and wrestle that trophy away, they need to start now! (Marty Snider - MRN Notebook)

Here is a good article from TNN Motorsports: Kenseth Full time in 99 BGN

It was a wild night at Richmond, everybody seemed to find the wall or each other as a record 11 cautions extended the race late into the night. Even though Matt’s practice times were consistently in the top five, he was only able to qualify 24th. Earnhardt Jr. qualified outside the front row and easily drove away from the field after each re-start, ultimately winning the race. Team Lycos put on a great show of their own, a 2nd lap mishap  put them in the back of the pack, but they quickly moved up through the field, with the help of some great pit stops. Matt made a late race charge to the front and almost had 2nd place locked but smacked the wall with the right side of the car, actually going up on 2 wheels. He made an amazing save, never taking his foot off the gas and maintained his position, finishing the race in 4th place.

MATT KENSETH No. 17 Lycos Chevrolet: “I guess I tried a little too hard there. We had a real good race car. I keep putting my guys behind every single week. I qualified terrible again this weekend, and the first lap people were three wide and knocked my fenders in, and I had to basically start 40th tonight and work our way all the way back up, and should have finished second if I wouldn’t have run into the wall all by myself. The guys did a great job. The Reiser Enterprises team is number one; they just need to get the driver tuned up a little bit.”

Just got a message from Matt’s sister, Kelley: “The die cast cars will be available mid-October now. They have promised me 1/24 and 1/64 scale cars. In the next two weeks, I should have some interesting junk like acrylic keychains, bumper stickers, license plate frames, and some plastic signs. I will try to get you a photo of merchandise and prices as it becomes available.”  I will get the Merchandise page updated as soon as I get more information.

Team Lycos ran a good race at Darlington on Saturday, placing 6th. The #17 was in the top 5 most of the race and as high as second for awhile. With some 20 laps to go, a caution came out and Nascar opened the back stretch pits before the front stretch, allowing Jr. to get 4 fresh tires and a 5th place starting position. Matt and a few other leaders pitted after Earnhardt did and lined up behind him for the re-start. Dick Trickle beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the final caution of the race by an inch, maybe 2... Congratulations Dick Trickle on your second Busch series victory!!

Matt Kenseth loses some more points to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and is now 115 behind the series points leader.

The Busch series will be racing under the lights this Friday night at the Richmond International Raceway. First round qualifying for the Autolite Platinum 250 starts Thursday at 5:45 Eastern and the race is Friday at 7:40 televised live on ESPN. Matt placed 3rd at Richmond earlier this year, also a night race.

Hurricane Earl has left the Carolinas and qualifying was able to take place at Darlington, just 2 hours behind schedule. Matt Kenseth qualified in the 11th position while Mike McLaughlin grabs his second pole of the year. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be starting at the back of the field in 34th and will also have to pit on the back stretch. Maybe we can tighten up the points race a bit this weekend...

The rumored #21 Citgo ride can be finally laid to rest, Elliott Sadler will be the driver next year. Sounds like the sponsorship for Matt Kenseth and the #17 Busch car has been finalized for next year and an announcement should be made in the following weeks.