Crown 'em: Crown Royal to Sponsor Matt Kenseth’s #17

According to Jayski.com and the NASCAR examiner, Crown Royal will be introduced this week as the lead sponsor for Matt Kenseth's #17 at Roush-Fenway Racing, taking over for Dewalt.

Dewalt had been Kenseth's only primary sponsor during a successful 12 year relationship, but last week announced their intention to move away from the NASCAR platform.

"We have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well as with Matt on the race track," Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith said. "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."

Crown Royal intends run as lead sponsor of #17 for 18 races next year and will share the other 18 races with 2 or 3 other sponsors.

Crown Royal is also currently the main sponsor for Jamie McMurray's #26 Ford Fusion and the company has activated since 2003 with the Crown Royal "Safe Rides Home" program, which provides adult consumers safe rides home via a fleet of four replica purple and gold No. 26 Ford Fusion cars.