[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 172 (Sunday, November 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              MATT KENSETH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Matt Kenseth, a 
native of Cambridge, Wisconsin, for clinching the NASCAR Winston Cup 
Championship after placing fourth at the Pop Secret 400 at North 
Carolina Speedway on November 9, 2003.
  Matt began working on his father's racecar when he was thirteen years 
old, and then he got the chance to start racing at the young age of 
sixteen. As a sign of his early talent for the sport, Matt was racing 
competitively by the age of nineteen. He moved up quickly to the ultra-
competitive Wisconsin Late Model ranks, and he became the youngest 
winner ever in ARTGO Challenge Series history.
  After driving the American Speed Association's ACDelco Challenge 
Series, Matt received a call from Robbie Reiser to drive his Busch 
Series car. In the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, Matt excelled in 
his first full year by finishing second in the points battle. As a 
tribute to his success, he was called to substitute for Bill Elliott in 
the elite NASCAR Winston Cup Series at Dover Downs in September of 
1998. This was his first start against the biggest names and greatest 
stock car drivers around, and Matt finished an impressive sixth place. 
The motorsports world certainly took notice of Matt in 2000, when he 
took the Winston Cup scene by storm winning the Raybestos Rookie of the 
Year Award.
  This year, in his fourth season in NASCAR's top stock car series, 
Matt's commitment and consistency paid off because with one win, eleven 
top-five finishes, and twenty-five top ten finishes, he was able to 
take the Winston Cup title. Matt's achievements certainly have brought 
out the community pride and hometown spirit in Cambridge and across 
Wisconsin. He is a hero to countless young aspiring drivers, and he has 
shown why with his dedication through this long and challenging season. 
This December, he and his team will deservingly sit at head of the head 
table at the Waldorf-Astoria.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to honor Cambridge Native Matt 
Kenseth for his accomplished racing career and his recent NASCAR 
Winston Cup Championship title.

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