| For the last six years, elite racer Matt Kenseth | | | | Kenseth's finishes were significantly lower through |
| has finished among the top-10 drivers in the Cup | | | | the first six events than at this same time a year |
| series point standings. The 2000 Winston Cup | | | | ago. In '07 he was a mainstay among the top-five |
| Rookie of the Year has finished in the top-five | | | | in points from week 3 through the start of the |
| three times over that span and ran away with | | | | Chase. After a slow start in the 10-race run-off, |
| the series title in his fourth full season. | | | | he regrouped with five consecutive top-fives to |
| The Sprint Cup Series has not run its usual course | | | | complete the season, ending with his second |
| for Kenseth in '08. Prior to Texas he was still in | | | | victory at Homestead-Miami to close out the year |
| striking distance for a coveted spot in the Chase, | | | | a respectable fourth in the standings. |
| though his participation is hardly a given. His rough | | | | Questions are coming faster than answers, but |
| season was epitomized at Martinsville when the | | | | Ford Motor Company also figures in his current |
| No. 17 Ford driver made contact and lost ground | | | | decline. The multi-national corporation has struggled |
| with two different drivers and wound up 30th. | | | | mightily over the past two years as car sales |
| Showing more frustration for a veteran of his | | | | have plunged, leaving little financial support for its |
| rank, he retaliated against David Gilliland by | | | | racing program. |
| wrecking the 38 Ford, for which he was given a | | | | Kenseth is one of only two drivers to make the |
| two-lap penalty. NASCAR handed Kenseth | | | | Chase field in every season since its inception in |
| another penalty during the race-a one-lapper-for | | | | '04. It's time to get cranking. |
| being outside his assigned box on pit road. | | | | "W got to keep working on it." -Matt Kenseth |
| The Martinsville race has epitomized his routine in | | | | (Ford Racing) |
| '08. At Daytona he was battling for the front late | | | | "It's the same for everybody. Everybody has had |
| in the race when he rammed the outside wall, | | | | to adapt to the rules when they change every |
| thanks to teammate David Ragan, and finished a | | | | year and the different cars and all that stuff, so I |
| distant 36th. At Las Vegas he missed an | | | | don't think it's been any different." -Matt Kenseth |
| opportunity to re-take a late lead when a bump | | | | on the new stock car in 2008 (Ford Racing) |
| from Jeff Gordon sent his car spinning down the | | | | "It's not like getting somebody new from the |
| backstretch, and ended up 20th. Kenseth had no | | | | outside that you don't know, one you have to |
| wins, one top-five finish, and two more top 10s in | | | | build a relationship with. We've been working |
| the season's first six events, leaving him much | | | | together for nine seasons, I think, so that part |
| ground to cover against some crowded | | | | wasn't a really big transition." -Matt Kenseth on |
| competition. | | | | new crew chief Chip Bolin, the 17 crew's team |
| Kenseth is still adjusting to new crew chief Chip | | | | engineer prior to replacing long-time head wrench |
| Bolin after his long-time head wrench, Robbie | | | | Robbie Reiser (PaddockTalk.com) |
| Reiser, was promoted to general manager at | | | | "Jeff [Gordon] is kind of famous for laying back, |
| RFR, but says that is no excuse for his current | | | | and NASCAR has a rule that you can't lay back |
| decline. Bolin served as team engineer before | | | | more than a car length or you can be |
| taking on his new role and had played a major | | | | black-flagged, but it's usually not enforced. I knew |
| part in how the 17 car operates. Likewise, | | | | he was going to get a run on me, so I laid back a |
| Kenseth is slow to say the new car that | | | | little bit. Carl [Edwards] went late and that kind of |
| everyone is driving has had a negative affect on | | | | started the chain, and we were three-wide going |
| his early performance. | | | | into one. We came off two and I was up as high |
| Bolin came into the season with crew chief | | | | as I thought I could get, and Jeff just came |
| experience, but the 17 Ford has performed poorly | | | | across. Whether it was on purpose or not, it just |
| or below standard for the most part. His | | | | kind of wiped us out." -Matt Kenseth on his |
| approach, according to Kenseth, is more on the | | | | troubles at Las Vegas (RoushRacing.com) |
| technical end of racing-making the wheels turn | | | | "I think every year presents its own set of |
| faster and the body run smoother-whereas | | | | challenges and you have to learn to adapt to that, |
| Reiser had a more hands-on style, was better at | | | | whether it's cars or rules or different crews or |
| organization, and appears to have had a better | | | | whatever it is." -Matt Kenseth (FloridaToday. |
| handle on in-race strategy. | | | | |