Kenseth, Bayer sign 2003 NBS pact

DOVER, Del. -- Former NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Matt Kenseth will return to the Busch Series in 2003, running a 15-race program for Reiser Enterprises sponsored by Bayer Consumer Care.

Kenseth, who is having a career year in only his third season in Winston Cup, said being injured in the Busch Series -- as happened to fellow Cup driver Steve Park and Johnny Benson in the last eight months -- was not an issue.

"That really doesn't concern me one bit," Kenseth said. "I have never got in a car I am uncomfortable in and that is the case in Robbie's cars. A lot of that (safety) stuff is interchangeable -- we use the same seats, same headrests -- that is the least of my concerns.

"When it (injury) is meant to happen it's gonna happen (whether) it's in a Winston Cup car, Busch car or a Late Model at Slinger Speedway."

Kenseth, who has 12 career Busch Series wins, has only four NBS starts this season in owner John Reiser's No. 17 Ford. Kenseth came from his native Wisconsin to the Busch Series in 1997, where he initially worked with his current crew chief at Roush Racing, Robbie Reiser.

"This year we have only run three or four races for lack of sponsorship (so) to get hooked up with Bayer is pretty exciting," Kenseth said. "I have raced with Robbie and his dad John since 1997. We had some success and through that I eventually got hooked up with Jack Roush.

"I am looking forward to getting back in the Busch Series and winning some races."

Reiser said the family Busch team still has the seven employees it started the season with, as some of them have helped with the Cup operation and others have fully prepared the team's fleet of cars. Reiser said the team would prefer to do additional races this season if sponsorship could be found.

"To be able to do 15 races (next season) is pretty neat," Robbie Reiser said. "Even going back a couple years, that is all we ever really wanted to do. This is really something for our family and Reiser Enterprises to put this together -- this has given us a lot of opportunities over the years."

Bayer has about half of its 18-race 2002 program with BACE Motorsports and driver Tony Raines remaining. As it has this year and in its 11-year Busch Series history, the 2003 car will alternately feature products Bayer, Aleve, Alka-Seltzer and Alka-Seltzer Plus.