Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Matt Kenseth Like You’ve Never Known Him

Matt's No Longer "the walking Robot."

Guess it’s time to put away the idea of Matt Kenseth as a walking robot.

The humorous Nextel commercial, where he was portrayed as a robot, was the popular conception; now that has changed .

After winning the Daytona 500 he’s been very animated.

The first thing we saw was that, despite being a NASCAR champion previously, he was moved to tears when the race was called on Sunday night.

Then Kevin Harvick, who finished second, said it would be a popular victory.

In New York for a media blitz at the hallowed Friar’s Club, where old-time celebrities went to booze and schmooze, Kenseth explained just how popular that victory was

A relaxed but animated race winner said , “following the Daytona I always knew it was a huge race and a big win, I never dreamed it would be as big as it was.

I’ve gotten more texts, emails and voice messages, yesterday and Sunday night, than when I won the championship.

That seems crazy to me. When I turned my phone on there were 104 emails, 58 texts and my voice mail was full. That’s the coolest part of it all when you get recognized by your peers, the guys in the garage.”

Looking around the walls covered with aging photographs of Frank Sinatra and popular comedians can you imagine Matt ordering a round for the boys?

Go Grandma

Kenseth has been a little too busy to find out if or when his home town will honor him for the prestigious victory. So his family has to fill in for him.

“I’ve been a little out of touch (on the media tour). I haven’t talked to a lot of people. I know it’s a little crazy for my sister at my fan club store. All three local (tv) affiliates have been waiting there, they actually interviewed my grandma.”

He laughed and thought was cool that, at 95, Edith Kenseth has become a media darling in Cambridge, Wisconsin thanks to his achievement.