Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing get more DeWalt power

Power tool maker DeWalt will step up its involvement with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017, when it will be the primary sponsor of  Matt Kenseth’s No. 20 JGR Toyota for 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and an associate sponsor for the remaining races.

DeWalt is also picking up four more Cup races with Kenseth this year -- Chicagoland Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Next year, DeWalt will also  be a primary sponsor in a total of six NASCAR XFINITY Series races with JGR drivers Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez.

“It’s a testimony to what our fan base can do in supporting the sport and the products that go along with our sport, so we appreciate it in every way and we really appreciate our fans,” said team owner Joe Gibbs.

JGR needed to find additional sponsorship for the No. 20 after Dollar General announced earlier this year that it was pulling out of NASCAR after the end of the season.

Gibbs said he expects to find additional sponsorship to complete Kenseth’s schedule next year.

“We feel pretty confident right now,” said Gibbs. “We’ve got some great things in the works. Nothing that we can announce right now, but we feel good about where we are with that car and this is a big step right here and so we feel confident that that car will be fully funded for next year.”

This weekend at Daytona, both Kenseth’s  Sprint Cup and Jones’ XFINITY car will carry special DeWalt Flexvolt paint schemes.

DeWalt and Kenseth have a history of working together dating back to when he drove for Jack Roush.

“A couple years ago, I made my first Cup start with DeWalt and I hope to make my last Cup start with DeWalt -- not today of course, but hopefully someday a few years down the road,” said Kenseth.