Matt Kenseth Talladega Preview

Matt Kenseth is using chassis that pushed David Ragan at Daytona (Getty)

Matt Kenseth

Team: No. 17 Jeremiah Weed Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig
Chassis: Primary: RK-779 (Last run at Daytona)

Kenseth on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:
“It’s kind of different doing a team-style race because you can’t do it by yourself at these superspeedway tracks anymore, you need a partner in order to have a good race. If you win or finish second, you know the other guy was just as responsible for your finish as you were in a way, so it’s definitely different. We had a great finish last weekend so we’ll take the momentum and just try to keep getting the best finishes we can in these final five weekends of the season for our No. 17 team.”

Crew chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:
“Our plan this weekend is to focus on practicing with the No. 6 car who is our drafting partner, as well as paying attention to the new rule with the pop-off valve and the change in temperatures that may present. We’ll have to monitor temps in order to see how long the pushing car can run behind the lead car now with this new rule in place. We all won’t be able to run as hot as we used to, so that will be our main focus on Friday in practice.”

FAST FACTS:

• In 23 Cup starts at Talladega, Kenseth has completed 4,060 of 4,353 laps (93.3 percent) and led for 167 laps

• Kenseth has an average starting position of 22.7 and an average finishing position of 19.3 at TSS

• Kenseth has achieved three top-five and six top-10 finishes at Talladega in the Cup series

• This weekend at Talladega, Kenseth will pilot the No. 17 Jeremiah Weed Ford Fusion

• Entering the weekend at Talladega, Kenseth is currently third in the NSCS driver point standings

Tattoos For A Cause:

Knowing that tattoos are one of the most iconic symbols of badass NASCAR fans, Matt and his Talladega sponsor Jeremiah Weed flavored malt beverages, will provide free Jeremiah Weed and Matt Kenseth-inspired tattoos to adult race fans on the Saturday of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. A series of tattoos will be available for fans to choose from including Matt’s signature, a number 17, Jeremiah Weed logos and a Jeremiah Weed Lightning Lemonade flavored malt beverage can. For every tattoo inked, Jeremiah Weed will make a $100 donation to The Air Force Village, a charity committed to providing a safe, secure and dignified place for indigent surviving spouses of retired Air Force personnel.

- Roush Fenway Racing, Press Release