(Kansas City, Kansas – October 17, 2016)  Matt Kurzejewski and his Ansell-Menards team went into the final ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards event of 2016 with high hopes of ending the season on a good note.  The Kansas 150 marked the end of a 20-race season in which the team experienced a lot of ups and some downs.

Kurzejewski, the 25-year-old from Mansfield, Pennsylvania brought his Ansell-Menards Toyota home in the sixth position for the season finale.

Rain put a damper on the race day schedule at Kansas.  The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards officials were forced to cancel the morning practice sessions and set the field by owner points.

“The KSR team brought a fast car here to Kansas, it has good balance and speed,” stated Kurzejewski after his lone practice.

Starting seventh in his Ansell-Menards Toyota, Kurzejewski found himself fighting a loose condition for the first part of the race, dropping him back to 10th position.  After the first round of pit stops at lap 42, Kurzejewski battled his way back into the mix.

“On the initial run we were just really loose,” Kurzejewski said.  “Donnie Richeson made some adjustments during our pit stop which helped a great deal.”

Following a caution with just over 35 laps remaining in the race, Kurzejewski got into a rhythm and used the final 30 laps of the season to drive from 10th to sixth position and end his season with a dozen top-10 finishes.

“Our car was a lot better on the long runs,” continued Kurzejewski.  “That long green flag at the end was key to our finish tonight.  This team has worked hard all year and I am happy we could end it with a solid run here in Kansas.  I am extremely grateful for everything Ken Schrader and the guys at Ken Schrader Racing have done for me this year.  It has been an honor to drive the Ansell-Menards Toyota this season.” 

With his sixth-place finish at Kansas, Kurzejewski solidly finished third in Driver Championship standings for the 2016 ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards