Call Matt Kenseth NASCAR's Mr. Consistent
A TV commercial parodied him as a robot. USA Today labeled him so unassuming that he could enter the witness-protection program and continue racing. Even he says, with a hint of pride, that he can "blend in everywhere."
Matt Kenseth is NASCAR's chameleon. He's overlooked off the track, overshadowed on it. Yet he's one of the sport's most successful drivers. Even one of its funniest, some say.
You just have to look closely. He's not one to demand the spotlight, even if his record could.
Few drivers have won more Nextel Cup races than Matt Kenseth the past five seasons. Fewer have scored as many top-10 finishes since 2005. He's set to join Jimmie Johnson as the only two drivers to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup all four years it has been around.
Such consistency is bland to a generation that celebrates the spectacular and is in a perpetual hurry.
His competitors marvel at Matt Kenseth's driving ability as much as his wit, which can be as sharp as a winter wind gust.
"He's probably the biggest jokester in the garage," says Jeff Green, a close friend.
Elliott Sadler chuckles at Matt Kenseth's wit but is in awe of his driving.
"He reminds me of David Pearson," Sadler says, referring to the sport's second-winningest driver. "He just kind of rides around and saves his stuff and then at the end of the race it's like, "Wow, where did he come from?'"
Flip across scanner frequencies. Sure, you can hear Dale Earnhardt Jr. joke during a caution or Tony Stewart go "here, kitty, kitty, kitty" as he approaches the leader.
No channel, though, is as busy as Matt Kenseth's.
Crew chief Robbie Reiser and Matt Kenseth can have a running dialogue whether the green flag is out or a caution slows the pack.
"He's like a scientist in that car," says Mike Calinoff, who served as Matt Kenseth's spotter from 1999-2005.
That's what makes Matt Kenseth one of the most successful Cup drivers, former teammate Mark Martin says.
"He's at the top of the class on understanding cars, setups, what makes them go fast, how they feel and when they don't feel right, what he needs to make them feel right," Martin says.
Even as Matt Kenseth gained 10 spots in the first six laps July 29 at Indianapolis, he wasn't satisfied with the car in the corners.
"Just don't turn good," Matt Kenseth radioed Reiser. "Little loose getting in. Don't turn good center. Tight through the middle and off is a pretty big hindrance."
Matt Kenseth repeated the refrain even as he climbed through the field at a track where passing is considered difficult. The car improved, but it was never good enough to challenge for a top-five spot.
Matt Kenseth placed 10th - his fourth consecutive top-10, a streak that was snapped Sunday at Pocono. He's enjoyed success on a variety of tracks. Matt Kenseth finished ninth at Loudon (short, flat track), eighth at Daytona (restrictor-plate), second at Chicago (1.5-mile track) and continued the streak at Indianapolis (long, flat track). He has gone more than two races without a top-10 once since June 2005.
One can hear Homer Simpson moan "Bor-ing!" at Matt Kenseth's success. Many believe that was NASCAR's reaction when Matt Kenseth cruised to the 2003 title with just one victory. Give him credit or assign him blame, but his title helped prod NASCAR to introduce the Chase the following season.
Former teammate Jeff Burton says Matt Kenseth's consistent success comes from knowing how to manage a race.
"You're not going to win every race," Burton says. "If you have a chance to win, you've got to execute on it. If you can't win, you've got to try to finish second. If you can't finish second, you've got to try to finish third and so on.
"Some people try to get too much. Some people try not to get enough. Matt seems to be very tempered about it and seems to have that figured out."
Comedy is about timing. That's why it's surprising to hear Calinoff's response when asked about Matt Kenseth's humor.
"He's one of the funniest people I know," says Calinoff, who has performed stand-up comedy and can dish one-liners faster than Stewart can swear on an ESPN telecast.
Calinoff recalls a tough race at Dover three years ago. Just as Calinoff was about to let Matt Kenseth know how far behind the leaders he was, Matt Kenseth asked for the information.
"You must have been reading my mind," Calinoff recalls telling Matt Kenseth.
As Matt Kenseth raced into a turn, he keyed the mic and said: "It's like reading a children's book."
It's a subtle, dry brand of humor. Calinoff compares him to Steven Wright - "How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?"
Green laughs as he recalls Matt Kenseth's one-liners. Most are inside jokes that other competitors are likely to get; others are more apropos for HBO.
"When he says something, it's pretty funny," Sadler says.
Thing is, few people hear it.
Just as few notice Matt Kenseth.
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