DeWALT Racing Notes
Kenseth Grabs Top 10— First WC Race of year

Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT Racing team captured a tenth place finish in the Daytona 500, their first race of the 2000 racing season. Kenseth was the top finishing rookie and sits on top of the rookie of the year standings.

Matt qualified for the 500 mile race in 24th position after finishing 12th in the second qualifying race held on Feb. 17, 2000. Although Matt struggled in the pits the entire 200-lap race, he was able to make up for it on the track.

“I didn’t do a very good job in the pits. I over shot the pits twice in a row and I killed it the third time, so I’m the one who got us behind there,” stated Kenseth. “The guys gave me a fast car, it handled good all day. We just could never get with the lead pack because I did such a bad job in the pits.”

Grabbing a top ten finish your first time in the Daytona 500 is a big accomplishment and it was unexpected by Matt.

“I’m a little surprised with a tenth place finish,” commented Matt. “I didn’t expect to run that good, but I’m real happy we did. When the day started I felt like our car was capable of running in the top 10 if I had the right drafting partners and everything went our way, but I’m kinda surprised it did.”

Matt wins on Saturday

Kenseth grabbed the win in his first race of 2000, claiming the first spot in the NAPA 300 Busch Series race. Matt will be competing in 20 Busch Series races in addition to the entire Winston Cup season running under the DEWALT colors.

What a weekend!!! Matt wins Saturdays Busch race by taking 4 tires and chasing down the leaders with 18 laps left in the race. Then he places 10th today in the Daytona 500, the highest finishing rookie. Congratulations Matt and the crews of the #17 Busch and Cup cars. Stay tuned for more Daytona post race news.

Matt Kenseth and the DeWALT Ford Taurus will be starting 14th in the second 125 lap qualifying race. The Qualifying races start Thursday at 12:30 pm Eastern, Nascar.com will have a link to live MRN Radio. The races will be aired Saturday on CBS after the Busch race.

Matt qualified 28th overall and is guaranteed a starting position in the Daytona 500 if he finishes 14th or better. There is a great explanation on how to make the Daytona 500 from Jayski. 

The Visine Chevrolet has a solid starting position for Saturdays 300 mile Busch race. Matt qualified 8th at 185.997, Joe Nemechek had the pole with a speed of 189.255, almost 2 MPH faster then 2nd place but his time was disallowed, probably had a rocket booster strapped to the hood....

The Busch race starts Saturday at noon Eastern and will be televised live on CBS.

DeWALT RACING NOTES
Daytona 500 • February 20, 2000

Matt Kenseth, Robbie Reiser and DEWALT Tools are at it again,  joining the NASCAR Winston Cup ranks as rookie of the year contenders with Roush Racing. This is Matt’s fourth season with Robbie Reiser as his crew chief.

DEWALT Tools will be competing in their first full time schedule in the Winston Cup Series, but NASCAR is nothing new to this sponsor. DEWALT Tools has been a primary Busch Series sponsor since 1993.

Matt Kenseth tested at Talladega and Daytona in preparation for the Daytona 500. Kenseth’s fastest recorded speed at Daytona was 186.850 mph.

DEWALT Tools is proud to welcome EMAZING.com as an associate sponsor on the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus. EMAZING.com delivers news, comics, horoscopes and tips on more than 60 different topics ranging from art to woodworking to email boxes around the world every day.

Several of DEWALT’s key executives from their sales and marketing department in Towson, MD will be in attendance for the Daytona 500. Also, DEWALT is hosting their Australian distributors and European sales and marketing personal.

MATT’S THOUGHTS GOING INTO DAYTONA

“I have been to Daytona the last two years racing in the Busch Series and had to watch the Twin 125’s. Those qualifying races have always proven to be exciting to watch. It will be cool to be a part of the action on Thursday. As a child I can remember watching the Daytona 500 on TV. It has always been a dream of mine to race at the Daytona Speedway in a Winston Cup race. That dream is about to become a reality.”