Matt Kenseth Creates Education-Based Children’s Book Series

Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying Children’s Book Debuts at Dollar General on National Youth Literacy Day

On National Youth Literacy Day, Matt Kenseth debuted Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying, his first children’s book aimed at educating and empowering children to make good choices if faced with bullying situations. Kenseth, a two-time Daytona 500 Champion and the NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver of the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, released the book with his wife Katie at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters.

Published by Bendon, Inc., Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying is available today for purchase exclusively at more than 11,500 Dollar General stores nationwide and online at www.dollargeneral.com. It is also the first installment of a four-part series of educational children’s books that Matt and Katie Kenseth championed. The series is designed for family reading for children ages 4 through 8 to become more self-confident and empowered to make good choices.

“As a parent of three small children, it’s natural to worry about the issues they will face while growing up,” said Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. “Both Katie and I believe that openly talking about these issues is the best way to prepare them. This book is designed to help families discuss the effects of bullying with their kids. We believe it’s important our kids not only know how to deal with a bully, but also understand that it’s not OK to act like one.”

“We’re excited to partner with Matt to raise awareness and provide solutions to childhood bullying, especially as it reflects our mission of Serving Others,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “The project also combines Dollar General’s passion for literacy and reading through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation with the strong representation Matt brings to Dollar General, Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR.”

According to www.stopbullying.gov, more than 70 percent of students say they have seen bullying in their schools and less than 30 percent of students who are bullied notify an adult. More statistics, further reading about bullying, and ways that adults can help can be found at the stopbullying.gov website.

Kenseth, an avid reader, has helped support literacy programs throughout his career and currently serves as an ambassador for the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Sharing in both Dollar General and Kenseth’s commitment to literacy is long-time Kenseth sponsor CITIZEN Watch, who made a $25,000 donation on Kenseth’s behalf to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation in honor of the book launch.

“Our new brand statement Better Starts Now is about reaching inside yourself to do things better. With the launch of his new book, Matt has shown us that this motto is part of his character both on and off the track," said Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch Company of America. "With statistics showing bullying and harassment becoming an even bigger social problem, a book like this is just what is needed to help start the conversation earlier between parents and children. Citizen Watch Company has supported higher education for the past two years as a corporate sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Foundation and we are proud to expand our educational support with a donation to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation in honor of Matt Kenseth.”

Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying is a 22-page, 10 x 10-inch, soft-cover book, retailing for $3 at more than 11,300 Dollar General stores nationwide and online at www.dollargeneral.com.

Written by Gina Gold, illustrated by Adam Devaney and produced by Judy O Productions, Inc., Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying was created by Matt and Katie Kenseth and is published by Bendon, Inc.

About Dollar Genera

Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) has been delivering value to shoppers for 75 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 11,500 stores in 40 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. For more information on Dollar General, please visit www.dollargeneral.com.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in 1993 in honor of Dollar General’s co-founder, J.L. Turner, who was functionally illiterate with only a third grade education. He was a farmer’s son who dropped out of school when his father was killed in an accident. With determination and hard work, he began what has now become a successful company. We understand sometimes life circumstances prevent individuals from learning to read or graduating from high school, but it’s never too late to learn. Through funding initiatives, we are committed to helping individuals of all ages learn to read, prepare for their high school equivalency or learn English. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, please visit www.dgliteracy.org.

About CITIZEN Watch

CITIZEN holds the leading position in the mid-priced watch market in the United States, setting itself apart from its competitors with its ecologically friendly Eco-Drive technology. Utilizing the power of light, Citizen Eco-Drive technology converts light into stored energy to power a watch for at least six months, even in the dark. Powered by light. Any light. A watch that never needs a battery.

#NASCAR Kids Play Together On The Grass

The Harvicks and Kenseths families spend time together before driver intros before the "Great Clips 300 to benefit Feed The Children" Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick night was a smashing success, leading the final 159 laps to beat Joey Logano and win an unusually wreck-free NASCAR Nationwide Series race.  Harvick, who will start from the pole Sunday night in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, took the lead on the 37th lap and ruled the 1.54-mile tri-oval for his third win of the season in 11 races.

 "Obviously, the car was flawless from start to finish," Harvick reported 

Matt Kenseth was quickest during happy hour for the Great Clips 300 with a speed of 177.738mph.  He qualified sixth and finished the race in eleventh - one lap down.

NASCAR Champ's Son Joins The Jenison Team

Ross Kenseth poses by his Super Late Model at Berlin Raceway.
(Photo courtesy of Tom DeVette)

Ross Kenseth grew up in Wisconsin, so the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup superstar Matt Kenseth has survived a harsh winter or two.

But Kenseth was quick to admit that the one he experienced during his first winter of living in Michigan was especially awful.

“It was probably the worst I’ve seen since I was 5 years old,” Kenseth said during a break in Wednesday afternoon’s test session at the Berlin Raceway.

Kenseth, 20, will be competing in Saturday night’s Super Late Model race at the Berlin half-mile beginning at 6:30 p.m. Kenseth’s father won the 2003 Sprint Cup championship and finished runner-up to Jimmie Johnson a year ago. Kenseth’s ultimate goal is to someday be battling for championships in the NASCAR ranks, too, and his journey has taken him to West Michigan this season.

Kenseth has taken the year off from his studies at Clemson University, and he moved to the Grand Rapids area after signing to drive for the Jenison-based Boyne Machine Racing team. Car owner Mike Blackmer has hired Kenseth to race his No. 77 Enterprise Iron & Metal Ford Fusion template-bodied Late Model in big-dollar races as well as select programs at Berlin – the team’s home track.

Saturday’s race will serve as a tune-up for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Berlin 125 that Berlin will host on May 31. Kenseth said he has been pleased with the progress his team has made in the young season, including a third-place finish at Anderson, Ind., on April 26 in an ARCA/CRA Super Series race.

“It has been going all right,” said Kenseth, who resides in Little Chute, Wis. “It’s always tough having a whole new team and starting from ground zero, but it has been fun. I feel like we have been having some pretty strong runs. We have been real close to winning races, and we have been one or two changes away from breaking through with that. We have had a couple of off days as well, but that has been part of the learning process.”

Kenseth has raced for Blackmer at special events in the past, so when it came time for Blackmer to hire a full-time driver this season, the two hammered out a deal.

“He is up-and-coming, and I think he will eventually be in the NASCAR ranks,” Blackmer said. “I have watched him for the last four or five years, and I think he has talent. I also support Brian Campbell, and I hope to be racing a lot with him. Hopefully, they will be able to feed off of each other.”

In addition, Blackmer hired Kelly Bires to serve as Kenseth’s crew chief. Bires also is from Wisconsin and has raced in NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide ranks, and he made three Sprint Cup starts in 2012.

Bires also has built his own cars in the past, so he is experienced with a wrench, too. He said he is impressed with how quickly the team has come together in recent months.

“We didn’t have any cars or equipment and we were able to build a team within a few months,” Bires said. “We have been able to perform as far as running in the top five and qualifying good. We haven’t won one yet, but we have been knocking on the door and being consistent. That’s where you need to be to have a chance. All things considered, it has gone really well.

“I have worked with Ross the last two years on and off. We are both from Wisconsin, and he has a lot of talent. If I can help him get to the next level and get noticed and do whatever you need to do, that what’s we will do.”

Saturday’s program will include Berlin’s weekly Sportsman, Super Stocks and 4 Cylinder divisions. It will be carload night as well. Admission is $20 for each car, with a limit of eight people per vehicle.

Kenseth has competed at Berlin in the past, including the 2012 Rowdy 251 in which he finished fifth in a race won by Kyle Busch.

“It is definitely a challenging race track,” Kenseth said. “I haven’t run extremely well here. I have had some pretty good finishes here and led a lot of laps here. But I haven’t come through for a win yet. Hopefully, being closer by and getting a lot more laps at the race track, maybe I can figure out what I need to do to win some races here this year.”

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2014 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

At least NASCAR Race Mom is not the only one going through NASCAR Withdrawals.

According to the Sporting News, the newly-crowned six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and his 2013 title rival Matt Kenseth are atop the first list of the 2014 Sprint Cup Championship Odds.

Johnson is listed as the favorite for 2014 at 3-to-1 odds, while Kenseth sits at 11-to-2 odds – a fair reflection of their solid respective seasons.

Next up is Kyle Busch, who has his title bid derailed at Kansas but hung tough with four Top-10s in the final six races to claim fourth in the championship at season’s end.

Dale Jr. with his 2014 National Guard Chevy (#88)

“Rowdy” has been placed at 13-2 odds by William Hill, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. right behind him at 7-1 odds after putting together a fine post-season stretch of his own following his blown engine in the Chase opener at Chicagoland.

Rounding out the Top 5 is Jeff Gordon at 10-1. The four-time champ’s big win at Martinsville catapulted him into the title picture with three races left, but a wreck at Texas forced his “Drive For Five” to continue into 2014.

Austin Dillon Displays his Championship Rings (NASCAR Nationwide & Truck Series)

Other notables include Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and the returning Tony Stewart each at 15-1 odds; rookie of the year Ricky Stenhouse and Austin Dillon both at 75-1; Kyle Larson at 150-1; and Danica Patrick at 250-1.

Kenseth Family Enjoys Victory Lane

The Kenseth family in victory lane @KySpeedway - Congrats!
(via @bobdillner)

Matt Kenseth's fuel-only pit road gamble helped him beat Jimmie Johnson late and win Sunday's rescheduled 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway. A race that was Johnson's to lose ultimately became Kenseth's series-high fourth victory of the season even though he passed on getting new tires following the race's ninth caution.

Viva Las Vegas!

Matt Kenseth's daughter Kaylin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Daddy won on his 41st birthday in just his third start for his new team, barely holding off Kasey Kahne at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his 25th career victory Sunday. 

"I was real nervous all day," Kenseth said. "(Kahne) had the best car. I told (crew chief) Jason (Ratcliff) with about 12 to go that I was sorry we were going to lose. We were just too tight. ... We didn't have the fastest car there, but we had it where we needed it to be."

Daddy's Little Girl

What a gorgeous photo of NASCAR Driver Matt Kenseth's little daughter.  NASCAR Race Mom loves her reflection in the car.

BRISTOL, TN - AUG 25, 2012: The NASCAR Sprint Cup series teams prepare to take to the track for the IRWIN Tools Night Race in Bristol, TN. Worldwide Copyright ©2012 Action Sports Photography, Inc. — at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Matt Kenseth, here with his daughter, is getting ready to race his son.

Tuesday night, Roush Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth is set to take on the ASA Midwest Tour field at the Milwaukee Mile. Running against him? His son, Ross.

This race will make the third time the Daytona 500 winner has raced again his son.

Ross Kenseth is working on building a racing career while attending Clemson University. He won nine times in 2011 and has already claimed a victory in 2012 when he won the Orange Blossom Special at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C., in April.

“I think it's going to be the biggest short track race in years up in Wisconsin,”  Matt Kenseth said. "It will be a pretty cool race and a really big event. I’m excited to go race in the event this year, but it really all came together after we had an extra car in the shop, and I just decided that it would be fun to set it up and race it a few times this summer.”

The two are among the 80 entries for the race. So how does Matt feel about racing his son?

“Of course I want him to do well and I always hope that he’ll outrace me, but I don’t race him any differently than anyone else. Ross has been doing well with his racing career," he said. "He had a lot going on catching up from this winter and us moving our shop down to North Carolina, but he’s been working hard and has already won a race this year.”

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