DISCLAIMER: If you read my first post, you know I am new to Nascar, and auto racing in general. That being said, if I am way off base on something, please let me know (gently) in the comments. My first priority in joining this community was to learn about Nascar from the people who love it.

Some of you might not agree with me that Atlanta was an awesome race for Matt and the #17 crew. But, this race was a specific example of why I am so proud to wear my #17 gear. Not only can I wear the number 17 with pride, I won’t even get hassled for it.

First, lets talk about the race. We all know Matt Kenseth can win, even if he has to come from way back in the pack. So, when I heard that Matt would be starting 42nd (due to car problems resulting in a transmission change), I wasn’t too worried. Actually, it didn’t even phase me. This might be a death sentence for many drivers’ hopes for even a top-ten finish, but my man Kenseth excels in this kind of situation.

Early in the race, the number 17 was gaining places just like I expected. Then, he languished in 30th for awhile, which started to make me nervous (along with the announcers on tv). Matt got the free pass on lap 114 (finally getting him back on the lead lap), and then he just kept moving on up from there. He broke into the top ten on lap 192, and he didn’t have a lot more movement after that. All in all, an eighth place finish doesn’t seem too bad, especially when you remember where he started.

Now, let me tell you why I am proud to wear the #17. When Matt is close to winning the race, but can’t quite seal the deal, he blames himself. When he does get a win, he doesn’t take the credit. Matt’s consistency and patience, even during trying times, are two major reasons I picked him as my favorite driver I’m not saying he doesn’t get mad and frustrated just like everyone else, but he doesn’t go and find the nearest camera to vent those frustrations. I’m sure someone reading this will go back and find an instance when he wasn’t quite so calm, but I am speaking generally. When I go out in public, wearing one of my many #17 caps or shirts, I know that I won’t be hearing any rude comments from fans of other drivers.

Some of you may think that this alone isn’t proof that Kenseth is respected by the masses, but where I live, even little girls are not safe from jeers by angry Nascar fans. My four-year-old daughter is a fervent Jeff Gordon fan. (I kind of like the guy, too. At least, when he isn’t taking Matt out of the race.) You wouldn’t believe, and I’m not going to print, the kinds of things that are said to my daughter when she wears her prized #24 shirt. Some of the comments are actually directed to her, and at others are just stated (presumably to no one) as people are walking past. She is a particularly perceptive child, and more than one of these comments has reduced her to tears. She is very defensive of her favorite driver, “Jeffie”, and she takes the comments to heart. I am always looking to convert the ill-informed over to the number 17 camp, so to comfort her I say, “You know, if you were a Matt Kenseth fan, these things wouldn’t happen.” (I don’t really say that, but I want to. Actually, I usually tell people to keep their filthy mouths to themselves.) The point of all of this is that I don’t get nasty comments. The day after a race I get comments like, “I can’t believe Kenseth made up that much ground. Great race.” Or, “Man, I wish my driver was a steady as Kenseth.”

So, for you Kenseth fans, Matt’s performance in Atlanta was just one more reason to be proud enough to wear your #17 gear anywhere you go. And, for those of you who aren’t yet Kenseth fans; don’t you want your kids to support a driver who won’t get them jeered at. All kidding aside, take a look at Kenseth’s record, and I think you will like what you see. He’s not a media super-star, but for a calm, quiet, mid-western girl like me, he is a perfect fit. I couldn’t ask for a better driver.

One last note about the race….

It was kind of a weird race to watch. Everyone was really spaced out, and it seemed like just a few key players did most of the moving. Those select few seemed to have rocket boosters hidden somewhere, and they lapped a lot of the field. Carl Edwards had a great run. If you read my first post, you know why I’m not the biggest Edwards fan anymore (last season’s pseudo-fight scene caught on camera), but I really did feel bad for Carl when his engine blew (while he was leading) near the end of the race.

Congrats to Kyle Busch for a great weekend of racing! I’m not sorry Matt won the Nationwide race on Saturday, but it would have been cool to see Kyle win all three races in one weekend.