By: Kevin Ramsell

LOVES PARK, IL (Thursday, April 3, 2008) – One of the unique things about the Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet is the variety of drivers a fan will see at any of their 2008 events. You will see drivers with multiple track championships all the way to a young 14-year-old driver who surprised many last year at the Oktoberfest season finale.

That young driver is Ross Kenseth, the son of 2003 NASCAR Champion Matt Kenseth.

Last year, Ross made the jump from driving a Legends car to a Pathfinder Chassis Limited Late Model. He made his debut at Columbus 151 Speedway, the same racetrack where his father competed in his first race, as well at Dells Raceway Park, where he scored a career best third place finish.

With his father alongside, Ross made his debut at La Crosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway’s famous Oktoberfest Race Weekend. A total of 51 cars qualified for the event, but it was Ross who surprised everyone with a fast time of 20.535 seconds, earning his first ever “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” fast qualifier award.

Later that night, he would start eighth in the 40-lap feature event and would have the fans on their feet as they witnessed the second generation driver come home with a solid fourth place finish.

“I had a lot of fun racing at La Crosse,” Ross stated. “With all of the cars trying to qualify, my goal going in was just to just to secure a spot in the feature. I think I was more surprised than anyone else was when I got fast time.”

Since that event, it was back in school where he made the honor roll last semester and his basketball team ended their season with a 13-6 record. Ross, who turns 15 on May 25th, currently stands at a height of 6'1".

He is now getting ready to compete this season in the Big 8 Series, “I think it should be a lot of fun. I went to the Big 8 race at Jefferson Speedway last year and was impressed with their car count along with what they had at La Crosse. I hope that trend continues this year.”

Ross’s first event will be the 31st Annual Spring Classic presented by Yellowbook on Sunday, April 13th at the Rockford Speedway.

Ross has competed on the high banked oval in the past in his Legend car, but this will be his first appearance in a limited late model and he knows that his past experience will give him some help, “It will be a different feeling driving a late model versus a legend car, but knowing the fast way around the track will be the best experience that I will when I go to Rockford.”

Joe Wood, co-owner of Pathfinder Chassis, feels that Ross is a quick learner and will adapt to each track that he will visit this year, “Whenever I worked with him, he has always asked good questions and is always learning,” Wood stated. “But, you don’t have to teach him many things; he has a natural ability and has a great teacher in his dad. Its cool to watch the two of them talk and work together.”

And his father agrees as he stated last year at Oktoberfest, “Ever since he has gotten in a stock car, he has done a great job,” Matt Kenseth stated.

Ross will be piloting #25 Pathfinder Chassis Ford Fusion this season with his Generation 3 Motorsports team.

Tickets are on sale now for the 31st Annual Spring Classic presented by Yellowbook. You can order the tickets online at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the track office at (815) 633-1500.

For more information on the Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet, please visit their site at www.big8series.com.