NASCAR WCUP: After high hopes, Kenseth finds trouble early at the Brickyard
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 6, 2001
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (August 6, 2001) -- Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT Racing team's day came to a grinding halt on lap 2 when Kenseth was collected in an accident, resulting in a 42nd -- place finish.
Kenseth started the Brickyard 400 in the 23rd position. The team was extremely optimistic throughout the weekend. Their brand new car with its new paint scheme was the 6th -- fastest car in final practice.
After the green flag flew in the Brickyard 400, Kenseth advanced two positions on the first lap. Then misfortune struck when the No. 96 car lost control and spun out. Kenseth tried to slow up but was tagged from behind causing him to spin. He brought the heavily damaged No. 17 car straight to the garage.
The team tried feverishly, using DEWALT Industrial Tools, to fix the damage, but it was too great to return to competition.
"I don't know what happened out there," Kenseth said. "Somebody was spinning in front of me. I slowed down for that guy, got hit from behind and spun out. This is the first new car we've built in a long time, and is probably the best car we have had so far this year. I thought we had a shot at running up front today."
"The accident started in front of me," Kenseth continued. "The No. 77 checked up in front me and I hit him. At the same time I checked up then whoever was behind me hit me pretty hard and spun me out into the No. 77, and then I was just kind of a passenger from there."
The team will fix the damage on the car and prepare it for Michigan. The next stop on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule is Watkins Glen. The Glen marks the second road course on the schedule, as Kenseth finished 10th there last season.
Text provided by Amy Walsh
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