Nationwide: Kenseth Tames Lady in Black for First Nationwide Win of 2009
May 9, 200912:27 PM
DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 9, 2009) – Matt Kenseth made the “Track Too Tough to Tame” look easy Friday as he took the No. 16 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion to victory lane in the Nationwide Series race just hours after capturing the pole for Saturday’s Sprint Cup race. The win is Kenseth’s first in the Nationwide Series this season and the third of the year for the No. 16 CitiFinancial team.
Friday’s “one-day show” began with an early morning practice session. Kenseth unloaded fast but the CitiFinancial team used the entire 150 minute session to fine tune the car. When practice ended, Kenseth had posted the fifth-fastest lap time. Qualifying was scheduled for later in the afternoon but just before it began, heavy rain hit the track. NASCAR cancelled qualifying, setting the field by Owner Points.
Skies cleared and the track dried in time to begin the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on schedule. Kenseth rolled off sixth but wouldn’t stay there for long. The CitiFinancial Ford Fusion was fourth when Kenseth gave the team his first comments on the car’s handling on lap 24. He told crew chief Eddie Pardue the car was “decent but just a tick loose.” The first pit stop of the day came under caution on lap 43. Kenseth said the CitiFinancial Ford Fusion was “starting to get a little tight.” Pardue called for four tires and an air pressure adjustment. Kenseth restarted third with 100 laps left.
During the next run, Kenseth said he was “loose off of two and tight off of four.” The CitiFinancial Ford Fusion was running second when the next caution came out on lap 92. Kenseth came in and received four fresh tires, wedge and air pressure adjustments. He restarted fourth on lap 96. Kenseth was up to third and gaining ground on Roush Fenway Racing teammate Erik Darnell who was running second when two more cautions came out; stalling the momentum he was gaining under green. Kenseth was finally able to get by Darnell on lap 135. With just eight laps remaining, Kenseth set his sights on leader Kyle Busch.
The CitiFinancial Ford Fusion was turning the fastest laps on the track and gaining on Busch when the caution came out on lap 146. During the caution laps, Busch and Kenseth both ran over debris. The CitiFinancial Ford Fusion was unharmed, but Busch suffered a flat tire. Kenseth took over the lead and readied for a green-white-checkered finish. Within seconds of the restart a caution came out, ending the race and sending the CitiFinancial Ford Fusion to victory lane for the third time this season.
“It feels good to win a race in this car,” said Kenseth. “Greg Biffle put the pressure on this year winning twice in the CitiFinancial car so it feels awesome to bring the CitiFinancial Fusion to victory lane. It’s awesome to win at Darlington because it’s such a special place.”
The No. 16 team is moved up to fifth in Owner Points and is currently 108 points behind the leader.
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating nine motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; three in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Colin Braun; and one in the Camping World Truck Series with Braun. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.
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