Kenseth piles up points — just not for style

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17_Fan

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It's a lengthy article, so I'll just post a few of the parts I thought were good. I've linked the entire story also.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nasca...5-kenseth_x.htm


Although Kenseth earned a reputation as a hothead when he was younger, he's no Tasmanian devil behind the wheel these days. The 31-year-old has one victory this season but has managed to build a comfortable 351-point lead in the Winston Cup standings through mistake-free driving and metronomic consistency.

There are signs Kenseth's runaway success isn't sitting well with the establishment. As Kenseth and the No. 17 team threaten to make a mockery of the Winston Cup championship chase, series officials are considering changing the points system to emphasize winning races and leading laps next season.

Why should fans tune in to races when some ho-hum driver has the title all but wrapped up with three months to go?

Indeed, some find Kenseth's low-key approach to life on and off the track uninspiring. But to those who think NASCAR should be about racing skill, not show business, Kenseth's smooth, subtle style is a treasure.

"Matt's driving style is not like a Stewart or a (Kurt) Busch or somebody like that," says Ray Evernham, a rival team owner.

"He's more like a Darrell Waltrip or a Bill Elliott, just smooth. But if you ever watch Matt, Matt can drive the wheels off a race car. ... Matt's probably a little more of an aggressive driver than he's given credit for. I've seen Matt do some things sometimes (and you think), 'Wow, that guy is a heck of a race car driver.' "

So much ink has been expended decrying Kenseth's vanilla personality that his wife, Katie, showed up at a recent race wearing a homemade T-shirt that said, "What's-his-name is so good to me."

Kenseth doesn't much care if people don't find him riveting.

"If that's the worst thing they say about me, I guess I'm doing all right," he says.
 
"He was a little bit aggressive," says Wisconsin native Steve Strasburg, stepson of local racing legend Joe Shear. "He had to be, a little punk kid coming up and trying to take over."

Wisconsin native Scott Wimmer, now a top driver in NASCAR's Class AAA-level Busch Series, remembers the nickname given to Kenseth by an announcer at Slinger (Wis.) Speedway: "Oh, yeah. The local Wisconsin thing was always 'Matt the Brat.' He'd get upset."

Wisconsin's grass-roots racing scene isn't as famous as North Carolina's or California's, but it might be more intense. Drivers race on short (less than a mile around), paved and dirt-covered tracks from April to October, often four or five nights a week; with a little hustle, a driver can race at two tracks Sundays.

"Wisconsin is kind of a hotbed," retired driver Dick Trickle says. "And just because I'm the leader of the 'Wisconsin gang' isn't why I'm trying to promote it."

ESPN viewers know Trickle for his giggle-inducing name, not for his racing success. Although he never became a consistent winner in NASCAR, Trickle is celebrated in his home state as a gritty driver who won more than 1,000 short-track races.

Wisconsin's most successful driver was Alan Kulwicki, who won the 1992 Winston Cup championship but died in a plane crash the next year.
 
Kenseth's crew chief, Robbie Reiser, also grew up racing cars in Wisconsin. For a while he was one of Kenseth's fiercest rivals.

"It was probably some of the greatest racing in Wisconsin," Wimmer says. "Robbie'd spin Matt out one week; Matt would spin Robbie out the next week."

They weren't getting in fistfights, but they weren't buddies, either. "He was trying to take your grocery money," Reiser says. "It's not like you're going to sit down and tell him" your secrets.

By 1997 Reiser had moved to Charlotte and owned a struggling Busch Series team. His driver got hurt early in the season, and Reiser needed a replacement. Kenseth was the only worthy available driver he knew, so he called.

"I think I surprised ... him," Reiser says, laughing. "But he wanted it and accepted it."
 
Originally posted by RobbyG Fan@Aug 28 2003, 08:11 PM
Matt, a hothead? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Click to expand...
Like I told Whiz...night & day from when he ran local tracks around here.
 
Matt is just damned good.I see a little more Pearson than Waltrip in him but then I never did like Darrell.Kenseth is the anti-Junior...and will make a great representative for the sport. :cheers: Here's to the 2003 WC champion!(knock on wood,of course)
 
Strange you would mention that 97.

Matt has a lot of Pearson in him. Except of course for one thing............which also came up today.

The Silver Fox was greased lightning on pole day. Maybe the best that ever was.
 
This gives me a great idea for a new discussion thread...
 
In the press conference the other day with Rubbermaid, it was noted by Rubbermaid executives, they plan to implement a "mentor" program for Kurt Busch.

Matt Kenseth, having been there and done that, might be the perfect choice, if he wants to be saddled with that responsibility.

I personally found disappointment in the Kurt Busch press conference that took place two days after the incident, wherein Busch denied shutting off the car in front of Spencer's trailer and explaining what he had said to Spencer prior to the limited physical confrontation. Nearly every aspect of Busch's explanation was incorrect and refuted by the in-car camera.

Kurt got some bad advice on how to cover his butt, some really bad advice. Whoever prompted Kurt, did him a great disservice. If Kurt had no prompting, (something I find hard to believe) he needs a few lessons in integrity to accompany the mentor program.

But since this is in reality a dead issue, and 17Fan has monopolized the thread with posts glorifying "what's his name", well, you get the idea.

Yea, I can see it now, Matt winning the championship, deservedly so, and no one knowing who he is. Introductions at the banquet might go something like this:
Bill France Jr.: "And now Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2003 NASCAR, and for the last time, "Winston Cup", Champion................................................................. um, pssst Jack, pssssst Jack Roush. What's this guys name again??
Oh yes, thank you, I'm proud to introduce, Matt Ken Smith".

And there is a lot of familiarity beween he and David Pearson, arguably, the best NASCAR driver ever. Brains and ability, whatta combination.

Couldn't pass it up folks !!!!!!!! Feelin' better !!!!!!!!!! HEH HEH !!!!!! :D
 
I believe that Matt will make a fine Champion (despite the Blue Oval) and will represent NASCAR well.

Whizzer, I agree on your assesment.

I think Nascar should have a "mentoring program" for ALL who display tempers or are rookies.
 
It is a shame when these drivers or associates within the NASCAR family need to have guidance for civility. The major problem lies with the attempted cure. It is like castrating a bull, look at what happened to Tony Stewart. The guy has closed the door so he doesn't have to deal with the media and pretty much tempered his comments and actions.

Kurt is young and has a lifetime to make amends for indiscressions in his youth (haven't we all made our share of mistakes??) and it will be good for him to settle down a bit despite the obstacles placed in his path, BUT, if in the process of providing a mentor or whatever means is used, he is stripped of his personality, that isn't right either. How far his education goes toward making changes is really up to him and he needs to know where to call a stop, a very heavy burden and tough decision for such a young man. Deep down, I think Kurt Busch has a better background and more sincerity than people think. He, for now, is one of the twenty million smart mouthed males in his age bracket. The difference is, the other 19,999,999 are not under the microscope and as such, are forgiven a lot easier.
 
Originally posted by Whizzer@Aug 30 2003, 02:32 PM
The difference is, the other 19,999,999 are not under the microscope and as such, are forgiven a lot easier.
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The heart of the issue Whiz.......

The mentor dealis fine as far as it goes. Only time will truly polish Kurt, she is a tough old task master tending to take the sharp edge off all who pass through her.
 
OH MAN, I HATE IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BUT ..................................


I didn't know Kurt was Polish ??? :rolleyes:


That was such a lousy pun I'll just save it to enjoy with my coffe in the morning. Can'tcha tell how I feel ????????
 
Matt would be a great mentor for Kurt. They seem to already be pretty good friends. (Matt talked Kurt into coming back to WI to run the Miller Lite Natl's this summer).

P.S. Whiz...somebody has to glorify "what's his name"! :p :lol:
 
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