BUSCH: Matt Kenseth Phoenix notes

Kenseth will be driving the same #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus he ran at Richmond in September.

Matt has never raced at Phoenix International Raceway in a Winston Cup car, nor did the team test at Phoenix prior to this weekend. Kenseth did competed at Phoenix in a Busch Series car last November.

Rick Machcinski Update: Rick, the gasman on the #17 Ford who received second degree burns on his neck and throat in a pit fire at Rockingham, is back at work and doing well. Machcinski was in the hospital on Sunday night, Oct. 22, at Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte and was released on Monday, Oct. 23. Rick resumed his duties at the shop on Monday, Oct. 30. Rick will not be attending the race at Phoenix. Benji Grubb will be replacing Machcinski as the gasman on the #17 car the remainder of the season.

Matt Kenseth's Thoughts on Phoenix
"I think the Phoenix Raceway is a neat facility. I have never raced there in a Winston Cup car but have competed at Phoenix in a Busch Series and a Southwest Touring car. I enjoy racing at this raceway and I think the Phoenix area is a cool part of the country to visit. We had a crazy weekend at Rockingham two weeks ago, with the pit fire and all. I am ready to have a less dramatic and much more safe race weekend at Phoenix."

<pre> NASCAR Winston Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings

1. Matt Kenseth 276 2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 248 (-28) 3. Dave Blaney 197 4. Stacy Compton 182 5. Scott Pruett 181