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BUSCH: Charlotte II: Matt Kenseth preview

FAST FACTS * Matt Kenseth's average finish of 14.9 at LMS ranks third among the 10 tracks in the Chase. * Kenseth currently leads the NEXTEL Cup Series in top-five finishes (14), top-10 finishes (19), laps led (1129), and average finish ...

FAST FACTS

* Matt Kenseth's average finish of 14.9 at LMS ranks third among the 10 tracks in the Chase.

* Kenseth currently leads the NEXTEL Cup Series in top-five finishes (14), top-10 finishes (19), laps led (1129), and average finish (9.8).

* Lowe's Motor Speedway is one of four "Chase tracks" where Kenseth has recorded a Cup victory (Dover, Texas, Phoenix).

* Kenseth and the No. 17 team will be flying the Carhartt colors this weekend for the third and final time in 2006.

* Kenseth has scored four career victories at LMS; 2000 Coca-Cola 600, 2004 All-Star Race, and two Busch Series wins.

* Kenseth has five top-five finishes in seven starts in the Coca-Cola 600, but has yet to score a top-five finish in seven fall races at LMS.

* Kenseth made his first career NASCAR Busch Series start at LMS in May of 1996, driving a Chevrolet for Wegner Racing; he finished 31st.

Kenseth on racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway: "Talladega was a big help in the points, basically because a lot of guys had trouble and we were one of the few that didn't. We'll need to continue that performance at Charlotte in order to keep our momentum. We're bringing what we feel like is our best car this weekend. It's ran well everywhere we've taken it this year and it's the car I feel most comfortable with on intermediate tracks. We took a different car to Kansas a couple weeks ago and that didn't really work out for us. Charlotte has been a good track for us in the past. I got my first win there and we won the All-Star race in 2004. We've won a couple of Busch races there as well, so hopefully we can add to that success this weekend."

Crew Chief Robbie Reiser on racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway: "The car we're bringing this weekend is No. 323. It's been the most consistent car we've had this year. Matt's comfortable with it and we kind of know how the car will react and how we can tune on it throughout the weekend. It's the car we probably should have taken to Kansas a couple weeks ago, but hindsight's 20/20. 323 already has wins this year at Michigan and Fontana and came close to wins at Las Vegas and Texas. It was decent for us in May at Charlotte. We ran consistently in the top 10 all night. That's the kind of performance we're aiming for on Saturday night. We just have to maintain focus and keep doing what we're doing; have good pit stops, stay out of trouble and everything else will take care of itself."

Kenseth on racing in the Busch Series at Lowe's Motor Speedway: "We had the car to beat here in May. We sat on the pole, led the most laps and were looking good to contend for the win. That was, until we broke something in the engine. I believe that was our only engine problem this year and frankly, we have so few engine problems that it's hard to get disappointed in one issue. We've only won one Busch race this year, but we've had a ton of top fives. Jimmy and the guys do a great job preparing these cars and they've been a blast to drive. Hopefully, our car will be just as strong the weekend and we'll have a good shot for the win on Friday night."

Crew Chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway: "Friday night should be an interesting race. In the spring we started on the pole then had some mechanical problems. But with Matt's skill and history at Charlotte we hope to put the No. 17 Ameriquest Ford Fusion back in victory lane."

-credit: roush racing

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