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Quarter Master's Clutch Performance of the Week
Who Came Through in The Clutch This Time?
As Decided by the Staff of Speed51.com
 
Performing in the clutch is what separates a winning driver from the rest of the pack.  Flexing muscle at the right time is something that true talents possess.  Often luck plays a big role in winning versus losing, but being able to squeeze just enough strength out at the perfect opportunity is what separates winners from losers.  Performing in the clutch doesn't necessarily mean winning, however; it's all about making the most from what you've got.

That's why Quarter Master, providers of winning clutches & driveline components to racers from Super Speedway to the Bullring, from IRL to Rally, from NASCAR to the "Weekend Warrior," is proud to honor a weekly "Clutch Performance of the Week" from the short track ranks of America.  Each week, an esteemed panel of short track industry insiders will vote on which drivers came through in the clutch.  The driver or team with the most votes will then be the "Clutch Performance of the Week."  At the end of the 2009 season, the driver or team that received the most votes throughout the season will then be the "Clutch Performer of the Year" and will be awarded a clutch kit from Quarter Master, valued at $3,500 - just like the 2008 Quarter Master Clutch Performer of the Year winner Eddie MacDonald.

This week's "Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week" goes to ...

Ross Kenseth 
#25 Blain Farm and Fleet Ford 

Ross Kenseth  has been voted as the driver who put forth this week's Speed51.com Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week. The teenager beat an entry list that was 51 cars strong in a 38-lap sprint race at Madison International Raceway (WI) in the Big Eight Series this past weekend. Then he backed that run up with a fine top-10 performance in the ASA Late Model North race at Illiana. Performing under pressure without trouble must be in the genes for the son of NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth, because Ross sure did exactly that this weekend. Kenseth was the overwhelming choice of our panel this week, but a few other racers also earned votes as well. Tommy Lemons, Jr. was the first driver to beat Philip Morris in the Late Model Stock Car class at Motor Mile since August 16th. He earned a nod for that accomplishment. Eric Williams also received a vote for defending his home turf of Thunder Road Speedbowl (VT) against ACT Late Model Touring stars like Patrick Laperle, Mike Olsen, Brian Hoar, Scott Payea and Joey Pole on Sunday afternoon. Quarter Master salutes Ross Kenseth on this week’s Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week.

 

Ross Kenseth Rallies to Take Home the Joe Shear Classic 38

By Jordan Kuehne

OREGON, WI. (Sunday, May 3, 2009) – Ross Kenseth did it again tonight, collecting his third career BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet feature win in the Joe Shear Classic 38. The 15-year-old Kenseth rallied from a sluggish start using a little bit of luck to best a field of 51 Big 8 Series late models at Madison International Speedway and in the process, bringing the packed house to their feet in approval.

Kenseth, the 2008 Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year, and fellow young gun Michael Bilderback led the field to green in one of two tribute events to the late Midwest short track legend, Joe Shear. Bilderback would jump out to the early lead in the 38-lap Big 8 Series main event as Kenseth faded from his second place starting spot back to fourth by lap three.

Brooklyn, Wi. native and Madison International Speedway regular Zach Riddle took the lead away from Michael Bilderback on lap 11 diving down low into turn one and making it stick to claim the top spot.

Fast qualifier Bobby Wilberg, pulling double duty on the evening, was the first victim on Kenseth’s charge back to the front, falling to fifth after Kenseth passed him on lap 14 and brought Scott Broughton with him into fourth. On lap 16, Kenseth got underneath Bilderback exiting turn two and took away second.

Up front, Riddle was pulling away from the field building a 20 car length lead by the time the first caution came out on lap 23 when Casey Johnson blew a motor entering turn one and knocked down the wall. Tim Sargent spun out on the front stretch to avoid the accident. Riddle almost spun as well when he hit Johnson’s oil trail but managed to hold on.

Riddle's trouble wasn’t over though as he was forced to stop in the middle of turns one and two because his radio had come unplugged. Consequently, Riddle’s spotter was unable to prevent him from hitting a garbage barrel causing Riddle to smash the nose of his 2009 Ford Fusion in and dragging debris around the track. Riddle was forced to retire to the pits shortly after track workers removed the barrel from underneath his front valance and Kenseth took advantage of the leader's misfortune to inherit the top spot.

Kenseth would quickly jump out to a five car length lead on the restart but Scott Broughton closed the gap and started working the inside of Kenseth’s Blain’s Farm & Fleet 2009 Ford Fusion on lap 27. Broughton wasn’t able to complete the pass on Kenseth before the second caution of the race flew on lap 32 when Ed Szegalowski Jr. spun around in turn two.

The field would bunch up for another restart and this time Broughton would stay right on Kenseth’s back bumper when the green flag waved. It wouldn’t matter though as Kenseth pulled away from the field en route to the checkered flag winning by a solid eight car lengths over Broughton.

Rounding out the top five were two-time defending BRP Big 8 Series champion Jeremy Miller, Michael Bilderback and his uncle, 2006 Big 8 Series champion Ricky Bilderback.

Kyle Shear, driving the #36 tribute car in honor of Joe Shear, finished 12th.

Beloit’s Bobby Wilberg took home fast time in qualifying with a lap of 18.841 seconds.

Skylar Holzhausen and Brady Liddle brought home the wins in the last chance races.

 

 Drive Line ‘clinic’: Son of NASCAR star holds off Kelly

By RON DEUTER,Sports Writer

POSTED: June 8, 2009

NORWAY - Ross Kenseth, 16-year old son to 2009 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth, doesn't look too far ahead when it comes to stock car racing. He says his goal is to simply do the best he can every single week.

Sunday at Norway Speedway, he couldn't do much better.

Racing here for the first time, Kenseth led all but the first 23 laps and held off a challenge from hometown favorite Kris Kelly down the stretch to win the Drive Line 100.

"This track is unique," Kenseth said of Norway's 1/3 mile banked oval after the race. "We unloaded the car yesterday and I was so happy with it. I told the guys, don't touch it. They made a few little changes to fine-tune it, and the car was tons better. It was great on long runs and we had a lot of long runs today."

Norway native Kelly, who started ninth and made his pass for second on lap 56, finally caught up to Kenseth late in the race. Lap traffic and the race's only caution at lap 69 for a one-car spinout in turn three helped shorten the gap.

"That was our only shot, to get him bottled up in lap traffic," Kelly said of Kenseth. "Otherwise he was too strong."

Running nearly bumper-to-bumper for the final 10-15 laps, Kelly, racing the No. 77 Chevrolet Impala couldn't find enough to make a move on Kenseth, driving the No. 25 Ford Fusion.

"I guess I didn't have anything for the 25, because he put on a clinic today," Kelly said. "He schooled us. But to finish second here with all the fenders on us, we're happy."

"I was told (Kelly's) car was coming behind me," Kenseth said. "I knew he was really fast here and all the fans love him. I mean when they introduced him here they were just like going crazy for him.

"I knew I was going to have a challenge with him, but the guys gave me a great car today, and I knew I was going to have something for him at the end."

Rain cancelled the race on Saturday night, but nearly the entire field of almost two dozen cars was able to return to battle in the pay-per-lap event on Sunday. Conditions were cold and gray, but dry.

Kenseth, 11th in qualifying, needed just 23 laps to work his way to the front of the pack. Clearly behind the wheel of the quick car, Kenseth worked high and low to maneuver through the tight field.

Once up to the leader, Kenseth looked for several laps for a chance to duck underneath, but the opening wasn't there. So he opted for the high side and completed his pass for first on the front stretch.

"The car was great, I couldn't be much happier," he said. "It was just really good. It turned really good and it saved the tires a lot. I was really pleased with it."

Kenseth mentioned he wouldn't mind returning to Norway in the future, if the opportunity presented itself.

"I hope so, if the race is there, yeah," he said. "It's a cool track and we run pretty well here."

 

Campbell Bests Brannon in Indy Thriller!

By: Eric Huenefeld

CLERMONT, IN --- Brian Campbell is by no means a stranger to winning features. Or for that matter, no stranger to passing cars to get to the front of features. But Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park outside of Indianapolis, the Michigan Late Model ace wowed the crowd at the big half mile and stormed from deep in the field to win the Gleaners 200, the second race of the 2009 ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division championship season.

After starting the race from the 11th position, Campbell and team struggled with an ill-handling race car and could only muster a 10th place showing as the race neared the lap 100 halfway break. However, after he and his crew had a chance to work on the car and regroup for the second 100 laps, Campbell began his assault on the field.

In front of Campbell, the racing was intense early on. Front row starters Ross Kenseth and Drew Brannon would duel for the lead on the opening circuit, with Brannon jumping to the point. Brannon, the winner of the series opening race at the Milwaukee Mile, would stretch his lead after 15 laps to nearly 15 car lengths on the field.

Behind Brannon, a titanic battle would tip off between Kenseth and 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Landon Cassill. Kenseth and Cassill would battle hard for the runner up spot for 45 laps, before Cassill would get around Kenseth and set sail for Brannon.

It would then take only 10 laps for Cassill to catch Brannon, and 13 more to take the lead. Cassill would jump away from Brannon and look to be the dominant car in the event as the race moved towards halfway. But on lap 80, Cassill’s car would lose power coming out of turn two while in the lead, bringing out the yellow flag and handing the lead back to Brannon. Brannon would continue to pace the field at halfway, with fast timer Willie Allen coming hard for his back bumper as the lap 100 yellow flag flew.

In the second 100 laps, it was clear that fortunes had changed for Brian Campbell. After starting the second segment of the race in 10th spot, it took Campbell only nine laps to advance his racer to seventh spot. And by lap 150, Campbell had put his red and white #20 car into the top 5!

“At halfway, we were honestly just talking about getting through this race and just trying to pick off as many people as we could,” Campbell said. ‘The car was good enough at the drop of the green flag for the start of the second 100 where I thought we were good enough for a top 5 and that was our goal, top 5...clean car…and move on to the next one and figure out what was wrong with the old girl.’

But as the race moved into its final quarter, with Campbell suddenly in the top 5 and contending for the win, his attitude began to change in regards to his goals for the Gleaners 200.

“When you get that close, you start to smell blood a little bit,” Campbell stated, “and you want it a little more all the sudden and instead of trying to maintain you try to figure out how to pass someone instead of messing with them for too long,” he said.

With 25 laps to go Campbell would get to second spot, over taking Allen. He would then set his sights on Brannon, who led by 10 car lengths at the time. Campbell would click off consistent laps and with 14 laps to go, would begin to toil with the Florida youngster for the top spot. Campbell would finally make his move on lap 191 and stretch it out and sprint away for his first victory of 2009.

“We got to him (Brannon) a couple times,” said Campbell. ‘Our car got loose, he would get away. We got to his bumper again and it seemed like when I got there, he started to try and find a new line and it didn’t work for him and he kinda scooted a little high and opened the door for me,” the winner said of the deciding pass.

Brannon, who fought illness throughout the day, would soldier on to a second place finish. Allen would finish off his stout run with a third place finish. The top 3 was the former NASCAR Truck Rookie of the Year's best finish in an ASA Late Model Series race.

Hometown favorite Brent Downey was strong all night long, showing he had what it took to hang in the lead pack of the Gleaners 200, and was rewarded with a fourth place finish. Pole sitter Kenseth would fight side by side with Cassill, Campbell, Downey and Josh Hamner most of the night. And as the dust settled on the feature race, the 16 year old son of 2009 Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth would notch a hard-earned top 5 finish.

33 cars from 16 states tried to make the field for the Gleaners 200, with Willie Allen being the "Fastest Man in Town in ARP Bodies Time Trials with a lap of 21.959. Mooresville, North Carolina driver Jerick Johnson won the 15 lap GM Performance Parts Shootout race, with Scott Rueschenberg overtaking Nick Glaze for the second spot in thrilling fashion on the last lap. Rueschenberg's move would put him into the 200 lap main event, and knock Glaze out of a starting spot in the feature.
 Ross Kenseth making a name for himself

By JEFF BROWN | jbrown@lacrossetribune.com

He’s done so much in so little time that we almost forget Ross Kenseth is just 16.  

 

He should be thinking about summer basketball camps and all-night video game parties while staying overnight at his buddy’s house, right? He should be wondering if he can take his parents’ car to the movies, or what time curfew is.
Instead, Kenseth is talking about chassis setups, racing grooves, engines, and where his next stock car race is going to be.

That, by the way, is Saturday night at the

La Crosse Fair-grounds Speedway where the ASA Late Model Series North Division is holding a 100-lap race called the River Run 100.

More about that in a minute.

Don’t get him wrong, Kenseth knows he is not on the fast track to the Sprint Cup where his father, Matt, a former series champion and this year’s winner of the Daytona 500, is still one of the top stars.

But he does win races, and has to be considered a rising star among the Midwest tracks.

Still, Ross does a lot of the “normal” things a 16-year-old does. He played varsity basketball for St. Bede Academy in Peru, Ill., this past winter, where he said the team finished with a 12-8 record. He just completed his sophomore year at St. Bede, and is just really getting into the heat of his summer race schedule.

That schedule puts him at Madison International Raceway on Friday night, and in West Salem on Saturday.

“I am actually looking forward to it. They (his crew) always give me great cars there, which makes it easier on me,” Kenseth said. “I like tracks that you can pass high or low on, tracks that you don’t have to hold the bottom groove all the way around.”

The Fairgrounds Speedway is definitely a two-groove track, and come Saturday night Kenseth will find out just how good one of the local legends, Steve Carlson, is on the track. Carlson and J. Herbst are the only two local entries in the 100-lap ASA race.

Then again, Kenseth has had his share of success in his brief career at the Fairgrounds Speedway. He made his Big 8 Series debut at the track on Oct. 4, 2007, during the Oktoberfest Race Weekend. All he did was earn top qualifying honors in the 51-car field, and finished fourth (he started ninth) in the feature.

In 2008, Kenseth won the Big 8 Oktoberfest feature, solidifying his standing as Big 8 Series rookie of the year.

“Last year I learned the most I ever have in racing,” Kenseth said. “I learned that if the car is not the best car out there, you can’t push it to the front.

“The more you go out there and feel the little things a lot more, like adjusting the sway bar and see how it changes the car, it makes it easier to communicate with the crew.”

Kenseth said he talks with his father on a regular basis, but only gets to see him once a month or so. He is heading to Daytona next weekend to see Matt and Katie (his stepmom), but after that, both Matt’s and Ross’s race schedules are full.

“It feels great to get back into it,” Ross said. “After a long winter of sitting at home and doing nothing, I’m ready. I go out there every week and work with Joe (his crew chief) and try to do the best we can every race. The more I race, the more I learn.”

And what about the comparisons to his father that continue to escalate with each race that Ross performs well in? Like when he won the Joe Shear Classic in May, or the Drive Line 100 at Norway, Mich., on June 8.

Does it bother him?

“Not really,” Ross said. “The people that read the stories in the newspaper are going to say what they want to say. It’s something you’ve got to do. I’ve just learned to handle it. I like it (interviews). It’s a part of racing.”

 
 
MON., JUN 29, 2009 - 8:45 PM
THE SON ALSO RISES
By TAMIRA MADSEN For the State Journal
wsjsport@madison.com

Chat with Cambridge native and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth about his son, Ross, and the first thing he brings up is the 16-year-old’s accomplishments in the classroom.

Ross Kenseth recently completed his sophomore year at St. Bede Academy in Peru, Ill., and recorded some stellar grades. One rule he has to abide by in order to get behind the wheel of a race car is to maintain a 3.5 grade-point average.

“He surprised us with a 3.7 grade average, so he’s been doing all the things he needs to do to be able to race,” Matt Kenseth said.

          

''Right now he's ahead of where I was at (age) 19 or 20,'' Matt Kenseth said of his 16-year-old son, Ross Kenseth, above. ''He's a lot smarter than I was and learns a lot quicker than I did.''

Ross Kenseth also is getting solid results on the track with Generation 3 Motorsports, a team organized by his father and grandfather, Roy Kenseth, in an effort to nurture the young Kenseth’s desire to race.

Competing in the Big 8 Series and other late model events in the Midwest, Ross has two victories and five other top-five finishes this season. He’s fresh off a strong weekend in which he finished fourth Friday at Madison International Speedway and second Saturday night in an ASA Late Model North Series race at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

With his dad in the audience tonight, Ross Kenseth will aim for a second Big 8 Series victory in three tries this season at MIS, a half-mile oval in the Town of Rutland. Matt Kenseth, along with two-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, will be the main attractions there tonight as they compete in the fourth annual All-Star Challenge.

Matt Kenseth, who won the 2003 Cup title, said he is pleased with his son’s on-track performance. But he’s quick to point out there are no plans to prepare Ross for a professional racing career. The elder Kenseth realizes there is scrutiny considering his own background, but he simply wants his son to be happy and have fun.

“I’m one of those dads who wants Ross to do whatever he wants to do to make himself happy — whether that’s basketball or golf or whatever,” Matt Kenseth said. “It just happens to be racing, so certainly I help him as much as I possibly can to help him do it.

“But I don’t really push him to do it either because I’m not proud of Ross because he races. It’s more about who he is, how he acts and how he carries himself.”

Right on track

Outside of racing, Ross Kenseth has a handful of interests. The 6-foot-2 forward was a starter on the sophomore basketball team this past season and will move up to varsity in the fall. He works out daily, enjoys math and science classes at St. Bede, and is discussing college options with his father and his mother, Lisa Bandaly.

When it comes to his racing career — which began with go-karts eight years ago before moving on to the INEX Legend Series for three seasons — Ross Kenseth said he takes a week-by-week approach.

In order to compete in NASCAR’s top three series — Camping World Trucks, Nationwide or Sprint Cup — drivers must be 18. Getting the opportunity to run against a variety of short-track competitors in Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, has been a terrific learning experience for the young racer.

“I’m only 16 and can’t do anything (in NASCAR) until I’m 18,” said Ross Kenseth, who collected five race wins last season. “I don’t really worry about it to much. If it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“If I can’t perform well week to week, I’m not going to be able to do it at that level, either. I just worry about doing the best I can every single week because if I don’t do the best I can every week, I can’t go any farther. If I deliver now, I can keep moving up.”

The attribute Ross Kenseth admires most in his father is his ability to offer detailed information to his crew chief on what changes need to be made on cars during a race.

While Matt Kenseth would like Ross to spend time in the race shop to become better acquainted with cars and crew members, he said NASCAR has changed quite a bit in the 11 years he’s been on the circuit in regard to drivers’ mechanical knowledge.

“A lot of these kids come in these days and don’t really know anything about their cars, but have a really good feel for it,” Matt Kenseth said. “Ross is somewhere in the middle. He knows some things about his cars but he’s not around the car that much. He has a good feel and relays really good information.”

Ahead of his dad

The Kenseth family gets assistance at Generation 3 Motorsports from Jason Schuler and Joe Wood, longtime friends of Matt Kenseth, who also build cars at Pathfinder Chassis.

This season, Matt and Roy Kenseth focused on giving Ross experience on a number of different tracks against different levels of competition. According to Roy Kenseth, seat time and experience are the two most important steps toward success.

Roy Kenseth also said his grandson races more aggressively at a young age, compared to his son. Ross Kenseth got caught up in an on-track incident earlier this season at MIS, and the two pieces of advice Matt Kenseth repeats time and again are to respect competitors and take extra care when passing those competitors on the track.

Overall, Matt Kenseth said he likes what he sees with Ross’ racing.

“Right now he’s ahead of where I was at (age) 19 or 20,” Matt Kenseth said. “He’s a lot smarter than I was and learns a lot quicker than I did.

“Part of making mistakes is learning. Really the only thing I get mad at him for is if he runs people over. As long as he’s not running into people, there’s no problem.”

Matt Kenseth began working on Roy’s cars at 13 and was allowed to get behind the wheel of a race car three years later. Roy Kenseth is not ashamed to admit he’s a proud grandfather. He’s been excited to watch Ross’ progress and thinks his grandson has talent to build a successful career.

“The only thing that will stop Ross from going to the top is him not wanting it bad enough, and at this point I think he does want it,” Roy said. “I’m not saying he’ll be a Cup champion someday, but he’s definitely got what it takes to go somewhere.

“When I look at what he can do with a race car at this point, in my own mind, I don’t see any other option but for Ross to be a professional race car driver. I honestly believe he’s that good.”

 

KENSETH CONQUERS ROCKFORD! CLAIMS FIRST ASALMS NORTH VICTORY!

Source — Eric Huenefeld
Date Posted — July 28, 2009

                                               

LOVES PARK, Illinois — It’s been said that Rockford Speedway can separate the ‘men from the boys.’ With its high banks and tight quarter mile set up, the famed northern Illinois facility has been known to humble some of the countries best racers from time to time. But also, it is a place where the drivers who can win there are the drivers who can win anywhere.

It’s safe to say you can add Ross Kenseth to the second category.

Saturday night, the 16 year old driver not only set the track record in time trials, but proceeded to march through the field and claim the checkered flag in the 18th running of the All Star 100, which was also his first ever ASA Late Model Series North Division victory.

Starting the race from the eighth spot, Kenseth would have to work to get to the front, and work around some tough cars along the way. Included in that, was a front row complete with ASALMS top dog Joey King and Rockford ace Ryan Carlson. The two leaders would speed away from the field with King moving around Carlson for the top spot and pacing the early laps.

Carlson would stay on Kings bumper, pressuring the second year Late Model driver all the way. King would lose control of his racer on lap 18, however, handing the lead back to Carlson, and ending the battle.

Carlson would claim the lead and look stellar on the restart, bringing Malta, Illinois driver Troy Hintzsche with him. Within ten laps of the restart, Hintzsche would be at the back bumper of Carlson, pressuring him for the top spot. As the lead battle heated up, the battle for the ASALMS North points lead took a turn as well. Series point’s leader Chris Eggleston and Iowa driver Griffin McGrath would tangle in turn tow, sending the ‘Colorado Kid’ into the infield grass, and bringing out the yellow flag. Eggleston would have to head to the pit area to make repairs to his vehicle and restart from the rear of the field.

On the restart on lap 28, Carlson would move away from Hintzsche and race away from the field. Behind the leaders, an intense battle for fourth developed between Kenseth and series Rookie of the Year point’s leader Josh Nelms. The two drivers would exchange paint and positions, with Nelms holding the fourth spot until later in the race.

Things were running smoothly for the leader and the field until lap 52, when it all ‘broke loose.’ The chaos began in turn 4, as Wisconsin’s Brent Brevak made hard contact with the outside retaining wall. As Brevaks’ car came down the track, former leader King would clip the left rear, ruining his right front. As King and Brevak collided, laps cars behind the incident checked up, and as the checked up, leader Carlson approached the scene quickly with no escape route and got airborne. Carlson’s car would launch off the rear of Canadian driver Jordan Sims’ racer and into the billboards in turn three and land violently, but thankfully upright on the speedway.

Carlson would be transferred to a local medical center, complaining of back and neck pain. He was, however, awake and alert and moving his extremities.

With that bizarre sequence of events, the race would lose six cars in total and inherit a new leader. Suddenly, it was Hintzsche pacing the field and pursuing his first ever ASALMS feature win. With former Rockford Rookie of the Year Nelms behind Hintzsche, the lead battle got intense quickly. Only five laps into the restart, the two drivers would get together, sending Hintzsche spinning and sending Nelms to the tail. On the ensuing restart, suddenly it was Kenseth knocking on the door for the top spot. In only a lap and a half, Kenseth would go from second on the restart, to the leader of the race as the field turned the 58th circuit.

With Kenseth, in the lead, Hintzsche began to fall back, and mechanical woes eventually sent the Mopar powered car of Hintzsche to the pits.

McGrath would inherit second place, with defending Series Champion Eddie Hoffman and Illinois youngster Michael Bilderback tussling for third.

Bilderback would outfox the wily Hoffman, and move his car behind McGrath.

By lap 72, Bilderback would find himself in second.

However, the race would stay green for the final 42 laps, and Kenseth was too much for the rest of the pack, hitting the finish line three and a half seconds ahead of Bilderback. The third generation driver would pull into victory lane and be very gracious upon his exit from the car.

“I gotta thank my mom, dad, grandpa. Joe from Pathfinder Chassis and all my guys,’ said Kenseth. ‘This car was amazing all day,” he said. “This is my first ASA Late Model Series win, and doing it at Rockford…this is a special day.”

Bilderback would end up in second, and be the event’s hard charger. The South Beloit, Illinois driver started the 100 lapper in the 12th position, and worked his way up ten spots near the front.

“Yeah, it was definitely a good run for us, starting 12th,’ said Bilderback. ‘I thought we had a better car in qualifying, but this motor in here is pretty old and you know, we got what we could get and starting 12th and finishing second, we’re alright with that,’ he stated. ‘This is our first Top 3 in the ASA Late Model Series so, we’re definitely happy.”

Bilderback’s career best run was also on his home track, which made the effort, along with the late night put in by his crew after a race the previous night in central Wisconsin, well worth it.

“We got home at 2 AM, switched (the car) over all morning and got here just in time, and to do this at home, is pretty cool.”

Hoffman, would charge through the field and take third spot, closing the gap between he and points leader Eggleston, who would finish 7th, the first car one lap down.

Griffin McGrath would nurse his racecar home to a solid fourth place run, and local favorite Tim Sargent would hold off the late-race advances of Josh Nelms to capture 5th spot.

 

Matt Kenseth has his son Ross on his back bumper  

     

Submitted: 07/31/2009

MADISON AND WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Matt Kenseth raced his way to NASCAR by burning rubber on the short tracks of Wisconsin and across the Midwest. His teenage son Ross is following the same tire tracks his dad laid two decades ago.


Like father, like son. At the age of 16 it appears Ross Kenseth is on the fast track to race with the big boys just like his father Matt Kenseth does in NASCAR.

"To compare me at 16 and him at 16 there's honestly no comparison, I mean he's so far ahead of where I was it's unbelievable. says NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth."

"When I got into a late model when I was 14 I was two years ahead of my dad already." adds Ross Kenseth. "I mean, he started racing late models when he was 16 and I started when I was 14."

Ross got his drivers license two months ago, but he's already been behind the wheel racing for eleven years.


Ross-"I've been racing since I was five in go karts. I've been in the late model for about two years now."
Matt Kenseth won the 2003 NASCAR points Championship. His son Ross has been visiting victory lane as well. The 16-year-old won his first ASA Late Model Series North Division race Saturday in Rockford, and is second in points in the Big 8 Late Model Series. The high school student from Peru, Illinois says he isn't thinking about a career in racing just yet, but knows he loves being on the track.

Ross-"I'd like to race, I mean...I just want to, I just love to race. I'd like to do it as long as I possibly can until I, I mean obviously until I don't do very good anymore. I mean I have a lot of fun doing this and I want to do it as long as I possibly can."

Matt-"Ross certainly enjoys racing right now. He's having a lot of fun with it. He's been doing a good job but a lot of things would have to go right obviously for that to happen but certainly he's working really hard at it, he's doing really good at it and I've been really proud of him."

To honor his father on the racetrack Ross drives car number 25.


Ross-"I've always liked that number. It's the day I was born. My dad is 17 now and he was 8 when he started. You add those together and it's 25."

The two have yet to race against one another so who does Matt think would win?

Matt-"I don't know. That's probably why we haven't raced against each other yet. I'm probably afraid he'd beat me."

Matt and Ross will have their answer on who will win as the two race against each other for the first time August 29th at Madison International Speedway.
Story By: Newswatch 12 Sports Director Matt Thompson

 
Ross Kenseth sets track record in Kaukauna

                         

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (Tuesday, August 4th, 2009) - Ross Kenseth had another rocket ship tonight, setting a new track record in qualifying for the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet and climbing to the top after starting the "Dixieland 38" seventh, grabbing the lead on lap 14 over Wisconsin International Raceway regular Kris Kelly and edging out a hard-charging Jesse Oudenhoven to pick up the trophy. With the victory, Kenseth took back the points lead from two-time defending series champion Jeremy Miller and solidified himself as a contender for the 2009 series championship.

The BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet "Dixieland 38" at the fast half-mile Wisconsin International Raceway got off to a wild start when Jonny Hentges and Keith Romenesko both got turned around on lap one, sending Hentges hard into the turn three wall.

The action wasn't over as the field was thinned out when a major pileup in turn four left Big 8 Series points leader and two-time defending series champion Jeremy Miller in the pits working on repairs while several other cars were collected in the incident including Andy Kluck, Nathan Opplinger, Kyle Shear, Skylar Holzhausen, Brady Liddle, Tim Springstroh and Keith Romenesko.

Jesse Oudenhoven finally grabbed the early lead when the next restart came and held on to the top spot until lap five when Kris Kelly dove into the inside lane and went side-by-side with Oudenhoven for six laps before Kelly jumped into the lead and brought Ross Kenseth with him into second.

Kenseth, who set a Big 8 Series track record during qualifying, dug deep on the inside line on lap 14, completing a pass on Kelly for the top position that was reminiscent of Kenseth's move on Kelly two months earlier to win "The Driveline" at Norway Speedway in Michigan. Oudenhoven moved back into second shortly after Kenseth drove into the lead as Big 8 Series rookie James Swan grabbed third.

It was smooth sailing up front for the up-and-coming 16-year-old until the caution flew with 14 laps remaining for a stalled Skylar Holzhausen in turn three. Kenseth built up a solid cushion on the restart as Oudenhoven tried to work the high line to cut into his lead.

It wasn't enough however as Ross Kenseth held on for his second BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet victory of 2009 and the fourth of his career, claiming the "Dixieland 38" by five car-lengths over Oudenhoven and jumping back into the Big 8 Series points lead in the process.

"The car was so fast that I really just had to hit my marks and drive," an enthused Kenseth said in victory lane. "It's hard to screw it up when you have a car that drives that well and that fast over each run. This track is fast and you can handle pretty well in the corners, and I've always liked coming here. I really have to thank my crew for all their efforts in helping make this car the rocket ship that it was."

James Swan, Jesse Saunders and Kris Kelly rounded out the top five.

The next event for the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet is the completion of the previously postponed "Rockweiler 38" on Friday, August 14th at "Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile", Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin. The feature lineup has already been set as Kyle Shear will be on point leading a field of 26 cars to the green flag.

For more information on the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet, please visit the series website at www.big8series.com.

 

Kenseths have unique father-son relationship

Matt proud of Ross' early success as two meet on track

By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
August 26, 2009
01:08 PM EDT

Saturday night at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis., might be a priceless moment in time for the Kenseth family. But then again, it might spark a rebirth of the TV cult classic Family Feud.

Matt and Roy Kenseth

My dad and the other guys spend a lot of time pumping Ross up, so I'm usually the guy that has to deflate him a little bit.

”-- MATT KENSETH

About a month ago, Cup driver Matt Kenseth went home to Wisconsin, where he blazed a decent late model racing career before moving to NASCAR's national level.

The week of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, Kenseth won the legendary Slinger Nationals at the Wisconsin short track, Slinger Speedway, but it wasn't a big leaguer coming home for a one-shot cherry-picking.

At Slinger that night, Kenseth became the only man to win five Nationals, meaning he's won more than Dick Trickle, more than Joe Shear, more than Alan Kulwicki, more than Mark Martin, and definitely more than a few other Midwest legends like Rusty Wallace, Mike Eddy and Bob Senneker, who never even won the thing.

That's a big deal.

And you want the icing on the cake? Kenseth's 16-year-old son Ross, who's actually made a quantum leap in performance this season on the Midwestern late model circuit, won the limited late model division's support race for his first Slinger victory.

Now think about that scenario. For a racing father who's reached the pinnacle of his profession and is helping along a son who's been properly influenced enough to want to race -- and then begins to excel at it -- well, it just can't get any better than to win a big race yourself. But for the level he's at, for your son to equal the feat, at a high-profile track, with you there to see it -- that's pretty special. 

"He's been doing pretty well and he's won some pretty big races this year that I haven't been able to be at, but it was neat for him to win that race because it was only his third time at Slinger," Kenseth said. "The first two times didn't go so well because the first, everyone ran into him and the second, he got black-flagged for running into somebody, which he knows I don't condone running over people -- that's one of my only rules for him.

"To come back and win it, the same night we were there and with the big crowd that was there for the Nationals was really cool. I didn't really ask him what he thought about it, there was a lot going on -- but certainly it was cool for him because I was there, and his first couple weeks there, he struggled. And with me winning I'm sure he felt there were more eyes on him so for him to win couldn't have been cooler, or scripted any better."

 

I watch him do, just little, subtle things that maybe people wouldn't even notice, that took me years to learn that he learns in three weeks.

”-- MATT KENSETH

But still, in typical Kenseth fashion, Matt had gone low key in his description.

"It was a huge deal," Slinger's public relations/marketing manager Todd Thelen said.

So the cool factor has a chance to get even better, and the sly sides of Matt Kenseth come out in full effect, when he was asked about what he'd heard, this season, about his son's racing progress.

"I get a lot of feedback about Ross and I do a lot of checking from a lot of sources on how things are going when I'm not there, because my dad's story is not always the accurate story, you know what I mean?" Kenseth said. "So you try to get a lot of feedback from a lot of people."

Was he implying any grandfatherly bias? How could that be?

"I end up being the bad guy more than the good guy," Kenseth said. "In my dad's eyes, Ross can't do anything wrong [and] he loves racing with Ross more than he liked racing with me. So when I'm there I kind of got to be the more objective one and give Ross some constructive criticism or pointers.

"My dad and the other guys spend a lot of time pumping him up, so I'm usually the guy that has to deflate him a little bit."

Surprisingly, Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, said his son shows more promise than he did at the same age.

"The thing with Ross is he's such a quick learner," Kenseth said. "I watch him do, just little, subtle things that maybe people wouldn't even notice, that took me years to learn that he learns in three weeks. So it's fun for me to watch him learn.

"I know he's in good stuff, but it's not really better stuff than the top guys he's trying to beat. And to watch him pick up on things is probably the most fun for me, and I think him being such a quick learner has led to his success.

"We'll go to a new track that maybe took me a long time to get running good at, that I struggled at and I just watch him and maybe he's getting into a corner wrong, and before I even say anything, three or four laps later he gets it and he'll pick up two-tenths [of a second].

And truth be told, that might lead to a little nervousness on dad's part, because if favoritism does rule in the Kenseth realm, it could affect things when the Kenseths, father and son, go man-to-man in limited late models on Saturday night, at a twin 50's program at Madison International Speedway, during the Cup Series' final off weekend of the season.

"That should be pretty fun, because my dad's promoting the races and he's tried to set that up for a long time -- I think he's setting me up to fail," Kenseth said. "But he's been wanting us to race against other for a long time, but that's the first time we'll be in the same kind of car."

The last time the Kenseth clan was at a track together, Matt said it was the perfect respite for him in what's been a trying season, despite beginning with consecutive wins at Daytona and California.

"I got to hang out with him for the week and work with him back and forth through the [Slinger] practices," Kenseth said. "I had a lot of fun doing that and it was a nice [two-day] break. I had a lot of fun and I kind of needed that."

With his string of five consecutive seasons of making the Chase in jeopardy, sitting in 12th position in the 12-man race and with two races remaining after he races his son, Kenseth might be craving all the fun he can find.

It's Kenseth vs. Kenseth this weekend

Dave Kallmann

Posted: Aug. 27, 2009

Save for one's addictions to Starbucks and Twitter - obvious signals someone has grown up in the 2000s, not the '80s - son and father have plenty in common.                                      

Ross Kenseth sounds a lot like Matt Kenseth, not only in his voice and rapid delivery but his quick praise for those who've helped him and a healthy distaste for hyperbole and self-promotion. The 16-year-old had a head start in racing, but that's standard in the sport nowadays, and regardless, they both showed promise early on. The two are fiercely competitive, of course, but so far their head-to-head battles have centered around football of the fantasy and John Madden video varieties.                             

Saturday night their relationship will change when Ross, a high school junior, and Matt, a Daytona 500 champion, hit the racetrack together for the first time. The event at Madison International Speedway has been billed as "Kenseth vs. Kenseth" and has received play all over the NASCAR Web sites.

"It's kind of cool, but it's also just another race, too," Ross said this week, the same way you'd expect Matt to answer the question. "The chances of it coming down to us two are pretty slim. There's going to be a lot of other guys out there with a lot of talent who race at Madison every single week who obviously are going to be there too, like Jeremy Miller and Bobby Wilberg and all those guys.

"It'll be a lot of fun if we get a chance to race hard. He's a great driver and I've learned a lot from him."

Matt worked on his dad's car before he got a chance to race it at 16. As a successful NASCAR driver, he was infinitely more equipped to help his own son launch what may or may not become his career.

"There's so many things that have to happen . . . and there's only so far I can take him, so many doors I can open for him," Matt said. "He's worked at it really hard, and he likes doing it now, but who knows?

"But to compare me at 16 to him at 16, honestly there's no comparison. He's so far ahead of where I was it's unbelievable."

The early start has helped Ross, in addition to traveling to a variety of racetracks and the opportunity to work with the same guys who run Matt's extracurricular short-track program. But he also possesses more common sense and a cooler head, according to Matt. That's lifted Ross to the level Matt was at age 20 or 21.

Matt's 37 now, with 43 victories in NASCAR's top two divisions, a Winston Cup championship and an IROC title to his credit. He made the most of his time in racing since Ross was born.

Now let's watch the years to come and see just how similar father and son turn out.

 
Ross Kenseth Wins At The Big O Against Hometown Hero Brain Campbell

Posted September 7th, 2009

Ross Kenseth wins his second ASA Late Model Series Event of the Season at Owosso Speedway. In front a full house of fans Ross Kenseth took the checkered flag on Saturday, September 5th. It was a great accomplishment for the young super star to beat Michigan Veteran Brian Campbell who finished second.

Ross will head to Gateway International Speedway this weekend in hopes of a repeat performance against ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division. Point’s leader Brian Campbell.

Owosso Speedway was a great night of fun for the fans and teams and there was plenty of great local racing. Owosso was a great success for the series, teams and fans with great weather, great crowd and great talent. Below is a recap of the ASA Late Model Series North Division event.

 

Ross Kenseth wins again at Madison International

Posted:

OREGON, Wis. (Friday, August 14, 2009) - Not even father time can keep Ross Kenseth down these days, as the 16-year-old rising star claimed his second consecutive BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet feature victory tonight at the Madison International Speedway, claiming the rain-delayed "Rockweiler Insulation 38" a month and a half after he set fast time for the event. Kenseth used a late race restart with three laps remaining to jump past Andrew Kulka on the outside and drive to his third Big 8 Series feature victory of the season with four races down. Kulka put up a challenge but couldn't find the grip he needed on the inside lane, allowing Kenseth to complete his charge from deep in the field, starting on the sixth row, to the front.

After a six week wait, it was Kyle Shear who jumped out front when the green flag finally waved on the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet "Rockweiler Insulation 38" at the Madison International Speedway. Shear built up a solid cushion over second place Casey Johnson while Zach Riddle worked his way up to fourth place eight laps into the main event.

The first caution came 11 laps in for a Kyle Jarlsberg spin exiting turn four, erasing Shear's margin over Johnson. The Goodyear tires had barely heated back up when the second caution of the race came after Michael Bilderback helped turn MIS veteran Scott Broughton around on the backstretch, relegating both drivers to the back of the pack.

The battle on the restart was for second as Andrew Kulka and Casey Johnson went side-by-side, with Kulka completing the pass halfway into the 38-lap event, as Riddle and Bobby Wilberg jumped on board the inside lane while Johnson dropped to fifth. Kulka immediately began to cut into Shear's margin, setting up a move for the lead entering turn one and grabbing the top spot with thirteen laps remaining.

Riddle and Shear dueled for second over the next three laps until the grip on the bottom of the track took hold, shooting Riddle up to the bridesmaid's position and Wilberg to third while Shear dropped to fourth. Riddle closed the gap on Kulka, turning up the heat on the young driver as Wilberg joined the fray to make it a three-way battle for the win.

A four-lap shootout was born after the third caution of the night came for a Brady Liddle spin on the frontstretch. With just three laps remaining, a fast Michael Bacchus, looking to move into second place, turned around Riddle setting off a chain reaction pileup that collected several cars including points leader Ross Kenseth, Bobby Wilberg, Jesse Saunders, Tyler Kelley and Chad Stevens

Kenseth was allowed to get his spot back, claiming the second position, right behind Kulka, after Riddle and Bacchus were sent to the back for their involvement in the incident. Wilberg and Stevens would see their nights end in disappointing fashion while two-time defending Big 8 Series champion Jeremy Miller took advantage to move up to fourth.

Kenseth had the great restart that he needed, using the outside line to fly by Kulka in turns one and two for the lead and holding on over the final two laps for his third BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet feature victory of the season in the fourth race of the year for the series. In the process, Kenseth padded his points lead over Jeremy Miller with just three races remaining on the year.

Kenseth started in twelfth, slowly but steadily maneuvering his way through the field before making his late race move for the win.

Kulka, Shear, Miller and Skylar Holzhausen rounded out the top five.

The next race for the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet is the 29th annual Pepsi Wisconsin State Championships at "Wisconsin's Action Track", the Jefferson Speedway in Cambridge, Wisconsin. The Big 8 Series will headline the weekend, racing on both Friday and Saturday night at the quarter-mile before running twin 50-lap features.

 

ROSS KENSETH WINS THE 2009 WISCONSIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY

 Jarlsberg and Erickson win the Twin 65’s feature events.

By: Kevin Ramsell
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, September 19, 2009) - Ross Kenseth’s season in the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet continues to shine as he won the 2009 Wisconsin State Championship presented by Miller Brewing Company at Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, WI. Kyle Jarlsberg and Jason Erickson each claimed feature wins in the Twin 65-lap feature events that highlighted the two days of racing at Wisconsin’s Action Track.

                                                     

“The car was awesome, we came from ninth both times to finish third and finish second,” an excited Kenseth said in victory lane. “I have to thank these guys from Pathfinder Chassis, this thing was really really good. I could go high or low on anybody.”

Jarlsberg took the lead as the green flag flew over polesitter Scott Broughton. He would put some distance between himself and Broughton and would not be challenged throughout the 65-lap event.

Jefferson Speedway is well known for creating some great side-by-side battles with its unique track design and the fans saw that as positions were being battled behind Jarlsberg. The fans watch the battle for positions third through eighth as James Swan, Doug Hahn, Jeremy Miller, Luke Westenberg, Jason Schuler and fast qualifier Ross Kenseth were battling for those spots.

The first caution flew on lap 19 when Tim Sargent spun in turn four. On the re-start, Jarlsberg would pull away from Broughton as he held off a challenge from Swan.

Kenseth would make his charge to the front by getting past Schuler for the seventh position on lap 22. On lap 31, Hahn worked the inside of Swan to take over third.

Westenberg would bring out the second caution on lap 39 when he spun in turn four trying to get by Kenseth on the outside.

On the re-start Miller would work his way up to fourth by getting past Swan on lap 40. Kenseth would follow Miller and take over the fifth spot on lap 42. Kenseth would then get on the outside of Miller on lap 53 and take over the fourth spot.

Three laps later Kenseth would then get on the inside of Hahn but would hold off the challenge from the current BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet point leader. But with five laps to go, Hahn would get loose in turn two and that allowed Kenseth to get back on the inside and challenge for third. The two battled side-by-side all the way to the checkers.

At the finish it was Jarlsberg taking the win with Broughton in second. Kenseth would get third by a nose over Hahn and Miller would round out the top-five.

The top-eleven were inverted for the start of the second 65-lap feature.

Bobby Wilberg and Jason Erickson led the field to the green flag for the second 65-lap feature and just like what Jarlsberg did in the first, Erickson took off and didn’t look back.

The story in the second feature was who would finish in the right position to win the overall title.

Jarlsberg started eleventh and worked his way up towards the front. But in front of him Kenseth, who started ninth in the second feature as well, stayed ahead of Jarlsberg on his charge to the front.

The first of two cautions in the second feature occured on lap seven when Tim Sargent made contact with the backstretch wall and came to a rest on the frontstretch. He was all right but was done for the night.

Erickson continued to lead on the re-start with Steve Dobratz in second. Kenseth continued his way to the front when he got by Hahn for seventh. Five laps later he would get by Swan for sixth.

The final caution flew on lap 32 when Westenberg spun in turn four. Erickson again pulled away from Dobratz on the re-start. Kenseth would again use the outside lane to get past Miller on the outside for the fifth spot on lap 39. On lap 41, he would get on the inside of Kahler and the two put on a tight side-by-side battle with Kenseth prevailing to take over the spot. Three laps later, he would get by Schuler for the third spot.

Kenseth would then chase down Dobratz and move into the second spot on lap 52. Behind him Jarlsberg would work his way up to fourth in the closing laps.

At the checkers it was Erickson taking the win with Kenseth in second. Dobratz would hold off Jarlsberg for third with Miller rounding out the top-five.

With his win in the first feature Jarlsberg would claim the overall Big 8 Series feature win with his first and fourth place finish. But, based on overall weekend performance, Kenseth was declared the 2009 Wisconsin State Champion with his second and third place run coupled with his fast qualifying time.

Kenseth also picked up a $100 bonus from Powersource Race Engines for being the Power Mover of the event as he passed the most cars.

 

Kenseth Continues Amazing Year with Record Setting Fourth Big 8 Series Victory of the Season at 44th Annual NSTC's at Rockford

By Jordan Kuehne                  

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, October 4th, 2009) -- 16-year-old Ross Kenseth did his famed father one better tonight, running away with the 44th annual National Short Track Championships BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet Loves Park Motorsports 108 at the Rockford Speedway, and in the process, adding his name to the storied list of National Short Track Champions, a list that doesn't include his NASCAR Champion father, Matt Kenseth. The rapidly rising star set a Big 8 Series single season record with his fourth feature victory of 2009 and tied Jeremy Miller for the most career Big 8 Series victories with his sixth Big 8 win. Kenseth started on the outside of the front row, took the lead on lap eight and never looked back, pacing the 25 car field over the final 100 laps to wear the wreath, claiming his second big win at Rockford in two months and adding yet another chapter to his phenomenal season. Kenseth's fourth Big 8 Series victory of the season wasn't as easy as he made it look, as the young driver had to battle a tight race car and contend with veteran Kyle Jarlsberg before taking the checkers. Kenseth extended his Big 8 Series points lead as well heading into the season finale next weekend at Oktoberfest.

Bobby Wilberg grabbed the early lead in the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet 'Loves Park Motorsports 108'. Wilberg immediately came under fire from Big 8 Series points leader and rising star Ross Kenseth as the race got off to a quick start.

The caution flew on lap six for a spin by Ed Szelagowski Jr. in turn four, bunching the field back up again. Wilberg got loose in turn three two laps after the restart, allowing the up and coming Kenseth to take away the lead as he looked for his fourth Big 8 Series win of the season. Kyle Jarlsberg began pressuring Wilberg for second as the second caution of the evening flew for a Kyle Lapier spin on lap 14.

Kenseth, Wilberg, Jarlsberg, Ricky Bilderback and Tim Sargent broke away from the 25-car field on the restart, creating a five car freight train out front. The freight train didn't last long as Wilberg commenced his attack on Kenseth for the lead, diving to the bottom before his right front tire exploded on lap 23, sending him careening into the wall before coming to a halt against the turn two wall.

Jarlsberg inherited second on the restart and closed up on Kenseth's bumper in two laps, setting up the points leader as he looked for the lead. His chance was dashed when the caution came out again for an unassisted Kyle Shear spin with 33 laps completed, bunching up the field for another restart. On the restart, Jerry Gille pushed past two-time defending Big 8 Series champion Jeremy Miller for fifth as John Baumeister Jr. followed Gille up to sixth.

Kenseth continued to steadily pace the field when the third place points man, Scott Broughton, spun around on the frontstretch with 51 laps in the books. Broughton's night was over early after he suffered a mechanical failure on the restart. Out front, Jarlsberg slowly crept closer to Kenseth's back bumper at the halfway mark as the young driver slipped up in turn three. Kenseth managed to maintain a steady cushion on Jarlsberg as he began feeling the heat from Ricky Bilderback for second.

Jon Reynolds Jr. used the outside line to jump two positions, working his way by John Baumeister Jr. and Jerry Gille to push himself into the top five with 25 laps remaining. Kenseth continued to hit his marks, edging away from Jarlsberg and Bilderback as he looked to pad his points lead heading into the final race of the season for the Big 8 Series. The 16-year-old rising star successfully manuevered through lapped traffic as his lead held steady with 15 laps to go.

Jarlsberg mounted a final charge for the crown, throwing his powerful machine deep into the corners as he tried to chase down Kenseth. The Jefferson Speedway veteran ran out of time though, as Ross Kenseth held on to claim his fourth Big 8 Series feature victory of the season, extending his points lead to a comfortable margin of 101 points over second place Jeremy Miller in the process.

Kenseth battled a tight car all night long but solidified himself in history with his win, wearing the wreath just two months after collecting the ASA North Series 'All-Star 100'. "It wasn't the best car but it wasn't the worst car either," stated an excited Kenseth in victory lane. "I knew Jarlsberg was there the whole time and I just didn't want him to get close, so I got it out of the turns as smooth as I could with a tight car and held on. It was a good starting position and we had a nice car by the time the race was over. Rockford's a good track to race at, I'm coming around."

Jarlsberg, Bilderback, Sargent and Reynolds Jr. rounded out the top five.

The next event for the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet is the season's final race, the 'Oktoberfest 48' at LaCrosse Speedway in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Kenseth will carry his 101 point lead over Jeremy Miller into the season finale as the 16-year-old rising star looks to secure his first Big 8 Series championship.

 

Kenseth Closes Historic Season with Oktoberfest Victory, Big 8 Series Championship

By Jordan Kuehne

WEST SALEM, Wis. (Saturday, October 10, 2009) -- Ross Kenseth ended his historical season on a fitting note, going wire-to-wire to collect his record-setting fifth series victory of the year and collecting the 2009 BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet championship. Kenseth took home the title by 149 points over two-time defending champion Jeremy Miller. The 16-year-old phenom held off a hard-charging Skylar Holzhausen for his record seventh career series victory, fending off the second generation driver's late challenge to find victory lane in the 'Oktoberfest 48' at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway tonight. Kenseth jumped out front on lap one and held off Holzhausen and Jeremy Lepak's efforts, triumphing over the 26-car field and finding his way to the winner's circle again. Holzhausen challenged Kenseth on the inside over the closing laps but couldn't make the move stick, settling for the bridesmaid's position.

A prevalent theme in the 2009 BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet season continued tonight as 16-year-old rising star Ross Kenseth jumped out front early, snatching the top spot away from Jeremy Lepak in the beginning stages of the ‘Oktoberfest 48’ at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Lepak settled into the second spot while third place Kris Kelly slowly closed up on his back bumper.

Kenseth was still out front when a multicar pileup on the front stretch collected six cars on lap 10 bringing out the red flag and ending the nights of Andrew Kulka, Shayne Poehnelt and Jay Foster prematurely. Scott Broughton, Brady Liddle and Dan Ryan found themselves making repairs in the pits before rejoining the field in the back.

On the restart, Kenseth grabbed a three-car length advantage over Lepak as Kris Kelly began to put the pressure on for second. Skylar Holzhausen continued to work his way through the field from his seventh place starting position, using the outside groove to drive by Ty Reedy for fourth.

The caution flew as Lepak and Kelly battled for second, as Adam Degenhardt’s machine came to a screeching halt in turn one with 17 laps in the books. When the green flag flew, Holzhausen maintained his assault on the 26-car field, turning the heat up on Kelly for third, working the bottom of the track to take the position away. Holzhausen wasn’t done, immediately blowing past Lepak for second exiting turn four with 20 laps remaining.

Kelly followed Skylar Holzhausen, pushing past Lepak on the inside to take away third. With Holzhausen’s sights set squarely on the leader, Kenseth’s lead began to slowly evaporate with 12 laps to go. A break came for Holzhausen with 11 laps remaining, as the caution flew for a spin by two-time defending champion Jeremy Miller in turn two, placing the second generation driver on Kenseth’s back bumper.

Holzhausen had a great restart, immediately putting pressure on the leader, peeking on the inside of Kenseth before another caution bunched the field back up. Holzhausen wasted no time, battling on the inside of Kenseth for the lead as Kelly tried to make it a three car breakaway up front.

Kenseth managed to find a little breathing room with five laps to go as Kelly dropped back in third. Holzhausen made a last ditch effort, trying to push past Kenseth on the inside for the win but the young driver couldn’t make the move work, forcing him to settle for the bridesmaid’s position.

Ross Kenseth held on for the victory, tacking on to his record-setting season with his fifth win of the year, breaking the career series wins mark with his seventh BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet triumph. Kenseth’s coronation ended with the crown as he wrapped up the championship on Super Saturday at Oktoberfest.

“The car was great from the start,” stated an excited Kenseth in victory lane. “I really tightened up when Skylar got behind me, but I rolled through the corners and got it done like we have all year. Five wins is great, this whole year has been great. With the caliber of drivers in this series, five wins is awesome. It feels great to be the champion and to finish what we started, to get it done. I have to thank my family and my team for supporting me and helping make this possible. It was a great year from start to finish.”

A tired Skylar Holzhausen accepted second but wanted just a little bit more. “It’s nice to finish second,” Holzhausen admitted after the race. “It would feel a little bit better to be first. I thought we had something for Ross at the end there but I just couldn’t quite get by him. I wasn’t going to wreck anyone to win, so we’ll take second.”

Kelly managed a solid third while Jeremy Lepak held on for fourth. Fast qualifier Steve Rubeck rallied from his tenth place starting spot to round out the top five in fifth.

 

DECADE IN REVIEW: Drivers of the next decade in NASCAR

By SceneDaily Staff
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
 Trevor Bayne is moving into a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series ride with the newly formed Diamond-Waltrip Racing in 2010.

While it’s impossible to forecast exactly which drivers will rise to NASCAR prominence in the next decade, a crop of young drivers has shown the potential to impact the sport in a big way in the forseeable future.
 
Joey Logano and Brad Keselowksi have already established themselves as stars of the next decade, but who heads the next wave of young drivers likely to make it to NASCAR’s top level?
 
Here appear to be the most likely candidates:    

1. Trevor Bayne: A hard-nosed driver who made his entrance into the Nationwide Series with a part-time schedule last season, Bayne is moving into a full-time Nationwide ride with the newly formed Diamond-Waltrip Racing in 2010. The 18-year-old made 12 of his 15 Nationwide starts last season with Michael Waltrip Racing, which sold its Nationwide team to Gary Bechtel in November but will be operated out of MWR through a partnership. MWR retains the rights to Bayne in hopes of bringing him to Sprint Cup racing, beginning with at least seven races in 2011 and a possible full schedule in 2012. Bayne won a race and finished fourth in points as a development driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the Camping World East Series in 2008. His best Nationwide finish is seventh – on two occasions.
 
2. Colin Braun: After spending the last two seasons with Roush Fenway Racing in the Camping World Truck Series, Braun will compete for the organization full time in the Nationwide Series in 2010. A noted road-course racer, the 21-year-old Braun improved from 13th as a Truck rookie to fifth in last year’s standings and scored his first victory at Michigan International Speedway in June. Braun will carry Truck sponsor Con-way Freight to the Nationwide Series for 18 races. Eddie Pardue will be his crew chief. 
 
3. Danica Patrick: The Izod IndyCar Series driver hasn’t turned one official lap in a NASCAR stock car yet, but the hype surrounding her arrival in the Nationwide Series next year has already sparked much anticipation and discussion. Will Patrick, an attractive 27-year-old with one IndyCar win in five years, usher the sport into a new era in which a female is reckoned both on the track and at the souvenir stand? She’s scheduled run up to 13 Nationwide races in each of the next two years for JR Motorsports as she continues to compete full time in IndyCar. Depending on her success, a move to the Sprint Cup Series could be in her future. While critics question whether she possesses the talent to live up to all the hype, the entire NASCAR nation will be closely monitoring her success or lack thereof.
 
4. Parker Kligerman: Kligerman rolled up an impressive nine wins and finished second in points while competing as a development driver for Penske Racing in the Automobile Racing Club of America Series in 2009. Kligerman attempted two Nationwide races for Penske late in the year, winning the pole and finishing 16th at Kansas but failing to qualify for the season finale at Homestead. Kligerman started the Homestead race for another team, however, and finished 25th. Plans call for the 19-year-old to run a partial Nationwide schedule for Penske in 2010.
 
5. Ross Kenseth: The 16-year-old son of 2003 NASCAR Cup champion Matt Kenseth has enjoyed considerable success in Late Models on Midwestern short tracks. Competing for Generation 3 Motorsports, a team owned by his father and grandfather, Roy, Kenseth won 11 Late Model races in 2009. He finished 12th in the annual Snowball Derby race won by Cup driver Kyle Busch.
 
6. Ryan Truex: The brother of Cup driver Martin Truex Jr. won the 2009 Camping World East title on the strength of three wins and seven top-fives in 11 starts. Truex, 17, competed as a development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, the organization his brother will compete for in Cup beginning in 2010. Truex started four years ago racing a Bandolero at Wall Township Speedway in New Jersey before moving to Legends cars and wining a track championship in 2007. Truex spent 2008 driving a family-owned Late Model.
 
7. Matt DiBenedetto : A Joe Gibbs Racing development driver expected to run a part-time Nationwide schedule next season for JGR, DiBenedetto turned heads by scoring two wins, five top-10s and three poles in seven Camping World East starts in 2009. The 18-year-old started fourth and finished 14th in his Nationwide debut at Memphis last October.
 
8. Justin Lofton: The reigning Automobile Racing Club of America champion is preparing for a move to the Camping World Truck Series, where he’ll compete full time for Red Horse Racing in 2010. The 23-year-old, who could also make select Nationwide starts, won six ARCA races in 2009, his second season in the series. Lofton competed full time in the Camping World West Series in 2006 and 2007.
 
9. Robert Johnson: The 16-year-old son of NASCAR legend Junior Johnson began his racing career with five wins in his first 13 starts. Johnson is trying his hand at racing on both dirt and asphalt under his father’s tutelage. One of Johnson’s wins came earlier this year in the Sportsman division at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.
 
10: Chase Elliott: The 14-year-old son of 1988 Cup champion Bill Elliott has found quick success in Legends cars, winning multiple races and titles in both the Atlanta Motor Speedway Winter Flurry Series and the Georgia Winter Series. Elliott was seventh driving a Late Model in the 2009 Snowball Derby. Depending on his progression, he could arrive in a NASCAR national touring series by the middle of the decade.

Others to watch: Justin Allgaier (Penske), Bryan Clauson (Earnhardt Ganassi), Austin Dillon (RCR), Ryan Gifford (RCR), Paulie Harraka (Drive for Diversity), Brian Scott (Braun Racing), Steve Wallace (Rusty Wallace Racing).
 

Mentioned Drivers: Danica Patrick

 

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