Matt Kenseth was sitting courtside at a Dallas Mavericks game only about 18 hours after winning the delayed Daytona 500.
Matt Kenseth, right, who won the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race early Tuesday, shakes hands with Dallas Mavericks hcoach Rick Carlisle after Carlisle presented Kenseth with a team-autographed basketball before an NBA basketball game between the Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, in Dallas. The Associated Press
Matt Kenseth was sitting courtside at a Dallas Mavericks game only about 18 hours after winning the delayed Daytona 500.
Kenseth was introduced to the crowd during the first timeout Tuesday night as a man who needs a nap.
Before the game, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle presented Kenseth with a basketball autographed by the defending NBA champions. Kenseth gave the coach a Daytona 500 championship cap from the Victory Lane celebration early Tuesday morning.
Carlisle joked that he knew a little about auto racing and that “winning the Daytona 500 is a big deal.” Kenseth has done it twice.
Kenseth says he got only an hour or two of sleep after the race. He will be back in Texas for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in April.
Safety worker grateful for well wishes: The driver of the safety truck that exploded into flames during the Daytona 500 is thanking NASCAR fans for their concern.
Duane Barnes was driving the jet dryer that was hit under caution when something broke on Juan Pablo Montoya’s car and sent it careening into the truck. The collision caused a raging inferno that scorched the track and stopped Monday night’s race for just over two hours.
Barnes was evaluated at a Daytona hospital Monday night and released.
He’s a 24-year employee of Michigan International Speedway and frequently assists at race tracks owned by International Speedway Corp. by driving jet dryers.
He says he’s thankful for all the well wishes he’s received.
The Michigan track had three jet dryers and two employees assisting with the Daytona 500.