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NASCAR WCUP: Kenseth and DEWALT Team Sporting 'Rookie' Paint Scheme

19 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
TOWSON, Md - With a year of Winston Cup experience and the 2000 Raybestos Rookie of the Year crown under their belts, the only thing "rookie" about Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT Racing team in the year 2001 will be the paint scheme of the No. 17 Ford Taurus.

In honor of last season's well-deserved title, the No. 17 car will feature yellow paint with the Raybestos Rookie of the Year logo on the hood. The paint scheme will be featured at Daytona, Rockingham and Las Vegas.

"This paint scheme is a way for DEWALT to demonstrate how proud we are of Matt winning Rookie of the Year honors," stated Jon Howland, Motorsports Manager for DEWALT Industrial Tools. "The all yellow car is similar to the paint scheme we had when we first came to NASCAR. It recognizes how far we've progressed since entering the sport years ago. We are excited about our sophomore season and confident Matt, Robbie and the entire DEWALT team are guaranteed tough, just like our tools."

In addition to the Rookie of the Year paint scheme, DEWALT Industrial Tools is launching a new product line for 2001 which is expected to be larger than their original launch in 1992. To market the new tools, DEWALT has decided to use the No. 17 car to help create excitement about the launch. Kenseth will have four new paint schemes throughout the season to compliment DEWALT's new power tools. Make sure to log on to www.DEWALT.com for a complete schedule of racing related events and product launch dates.

"I'm very excited about the new paint schemes," commented Kenseth. "I'm looking forward to driving that Rookie car at Daytona. I saw it the other day at the shop, and its pretty neat. So far we have worked hard making improvements over the off-season in the body shop on aerodynamics, in the engine shop on horsepower, and on making faster pit stops. Now that this team has been together for a year, it's all starting to come together."

Its evident the DEWALT team is geared up for the start of their sophomore season, as it all came together for Kenseth and Co. earlier this month during off-season testing in Daytona. Kenseth posted the fastest time overall at the Daytona test, recording an average lap speed of 182.217 mph/49.377 seconds on the 2.5 mile tri-oval. If the stellar performance at the test session is any indication of things to come - DEWALT Racing will be no stranger to victory lane in 2001.

The other half of the winning combination lies in the man behind the scenes, crew chief Robbie Reiser. Reiser is focused on the task at hand -- winning races. "We are going to work on our qualifying package this year and focus on winning races. When we go to the 38 races this year, we are going to focus on winning 38 races. We want to lead laps and finish consistently in the top 5 or top 10. Consistency is what it takes to be successful in racing," said Reiser.

Kenseth and the DEWALT team will head to Daytona in early February for Speedweeks. The pinnacle of events will take place on February 18, 2001 at 1:00 p.m. EST when the green flag drops for the Daytona 500 indicating the start of another season.

Text Provided By Amy Walsh

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.