Dewalt out; CROWN ROYAL in at the 17 in 2010

Quote :

Concord, N.C. (July 23, 2009) – Roush Fenway Racing was informed today that DEWALT Power Tools will not renew its sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 team for the 2010 NASCAR season.

“We would like to thank DEWALT for serving as a great partner for the past 10 years,” said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. “During that time we have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well as with Matt on the race track. They will always be remembered and honored as the sponsor of Jack Roush’s first Sprint Cup Championship team.

“Despite this success – in the face of the significant world-wide economic decline in the construction industry – DEWALT’s decision to not return is not a great surprise to us,” added Smith. “Fortunately, we have several great companies interested in taking over and we expect to begin finalizing those sponsorship arrangements in the very near future.

“All of us at Roush Fenway Racing remain committed to keeping the No. 17 DEWALT car running up front, winning races and to put them in a position to contend for a second championship this season.”

DEWALT has served as the primary sponsor on the No. 17 for the past 10 seasons. During that span Kenseth and the team matured into one of the most successful in the sport; winning 18 races, the 2000 Rookie of the Year Award, the 2003 Sprint Cup Championship, the 2009 Daytona 500 and qualifying for the Chase every year since its inception in 2004.

~RoushFenway.com~

It sounds like Jack has other sponsors lined up.

Matt shouldn't have an issue with finding sponsors.

Quote :

DeWalt will not return to the #17 team in 2010 UPDATE new sponsor?: Roush Fenway Racing was informed today that DeWalt Power Tools will not renew its sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the #17 team for the 2010 NASCAR season. "We would like to thank DeWalt for serving as a great partner for the past 10 years," said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. "During that time we have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well as with Matt on the race track. They will always be remembered and honored as the sponsor of Jack Roush's first Sprint Cup Championship team. Despite this success  in the face of the significant world-wide economic decline in the construction industry  DeWalt's decision to not return is not a great surprise to us. Fortunately, we have several great companies interested in taking over and we expect to begin finalizing those sponsorship arrangements in the very near future. All of us at Roush Fenway Racing remain committed to keeping the #17 DeWalt car running up front, winning races and to put them in a position to contend for a second championship this season."(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-23-2009)
UPDATE: hearing that Roush Fenway Racing will announce sometime this week that Crown Royal will sponsor the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth for approximately 18 races in 2010, replacing DeWalt. The other 18 races will probably be 2-3 other sponsors.(7-27-2009)

It's official... Crown to the 17

Quote :

Concord, N.C. (July 28, 2009) – Roush Fenway Racing announced today that Diageo, parent company of Crown Royal, has renewed its multi-year sponsorship. Crown Royal will serve as the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 Sprint Cup team at 18 Cup events in 2010.

"I'm excited about teaming up with Crown Royal," said Kenseth, one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to win the Sprint Cup rookie of the year award, a Sprint Cup Championship and the Daytona 500.

"I worked with Diageo’s Smirnoff ICE brand back in 2003 and we developed a great relationship. They were a part of our championship season and we were able to take part in a lot of really cool promotions and events to promote messages associated with responsible drinking. I’m really looking forward to representing Crown Royal and continuing that great work."

“It’s a pleasure to welcome a champion like Matt back as our partner,” said Dan Sanborn, Sr. Director, Corporate Relations for Diageo. “Through our earlier relationship with Matt in 2003, and as the Crown Royal IROC Champion in 2004, we have experienced great success together over the years. We look forward to extending that relationship and having Matt represent one of our biggest brands both on-and-off the track.”

Diageo has been a partner of Roush Fenway Racing dating back to 2003 where Kenseth was first paired with the Smirnoff Ice Brand. In 2005, Crown Royal entered the sport as sponsor of the No. 97 team and in 2006 became sponsor of Jamie McMurray and the No. 26 team.

“We will miss Jamie (McMurray) as he has been an amazing partner both on and off the track taking our ‘Be a champion. Drink Responsibly,’ campaign to new heights. We were lucky to have him as part of our team and whatever sponsor aligns with him will have a great person working on their behalf. We wish him well,” said Sanborn

“We are pleased that we found a suitable home within Roush Fenway Racing for one of the greatest brands in the world,” said Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith.

“With the conclusion of the contract arrangement with Crown Royal, Roush Fenway Racing’s Sprint Cup driver lineup will see Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan joining Kenseth to round out our four approved entries. We are still hoping to be able to transfer the No. 26 team, intact, to Yates Racing in order to keep everyone employed and racing within the Ford community."

~Roush Fenway~

Hopefully Crown Royal will have a new paint scheme for Matt.
I've never cared for the current scheme.

This is not the official paint scheme, just one that someone created for a game, but it looks realistic. Sure looks different with purple and gold instead of black and gold on the 17.

It's definitely going to be different for me seeing Matt in those colors after all the years Jamie ran them.