Fontana: Matt Kenseth race remarks

FONTANA, Calif. (April 29, 2002) - The annual visit to California Speedway is usually a race DEWALT Power Tools driver Matt Kenseth looks forward to. That was not the case this trip. Kenseth and his DEWALT crew worked hard to fight an ill handling race car to bring the No. 17 home in the 20th position.

Kenseth started the NAPA Auto Parts 500 20th, and ran well in practice sessions throughout the weekend.

In typical racing at California Speedway, there are usually long green flag runs and pit strategy comes into play. In races past, the win has come down to fuel mileage, and the DEWALT team was ready for whatever the day would bring.

Kenseth first came into the pits on lap 19. He said the car was tight, so the team made an air pressure adjustment and put four tires on the car. As the race wore on, Kenseth said the car was still tight so on the next pit stop the team put a spring rubber in the right rear.

On lap 152, Kenseth tagged the wall between turns one and two. He drove the car around to pit road, and the team pulled out the fenders and repaired the minor damage to the car.

Kenseth worked his way back to 20th when the checkered flag dropped for race winner Jimmie Johnson.

"It was a bad day and it just got worse," said Kenseth. "The car just handled terribly and we worked on it all day. We put a spring rubber in it, made track bar adjustments and air-pressure adjustments. Then I hit the wall in one and two. I just could not go any faster. Today hurt us pretty bad. We just missed it."

Kenseth and the DEWALT team are now third in the point standings. They will head to Richmond next week to race under the lights.

-jrr/dewalt-