Katie Martin, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth’s wife. (Getty)
Katie Martin is the wife of 2003 Winston Cup Champion and 2009 Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth. The couple have been together for close to 20 years.
Katie has been called “the Julia Roberts of NASCAR,” by Krissie Newman (wife of fellow driver Ryan Newman) and the comparison to the Pretty Woman actress seems to be pretty correct.
Kenseth comes from a small town, country environment growing up in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Katie also came from humble beginnings; she helped her father raise pigs and grow tobacco.
The two had more in common, and it seemed as if fate brought them together.
1. Martin Grew Up Not Far From Kenseth
Katie with Matt and their two daughters. (Getty)
In fact, Martin only grew up eight miles away from Kenseth’s hometown, to be exact. She cleaned rooms in a motel and worked the cash register at the store next door. This is where she first met Matt.
I had a little crush on him, but he wouldn’t give me the time of day. I’m glad he didn’t try to pick me up because I was just 13.
2. The Couple Likes to Keep a Low Profile… but She’s More Feisty
Katie hugging her husband Matt Kenseth. (Getty)
Kenseth likes to keep a low profile for himself and the couple, which is why they don’t have a foundation/charity organization in their name like several other NASCAR drivers do. Instead they’re charitable and donate to the other organizations.
The 2003 Winston Cup Champion has been made fun of for having a robotic nature to him. In an interview with the couple, Mrs. Kenseth admitted to being fired up more than Mr. Kenseth:
Of the two of us, I’m usually the one that gets more fired up. I wasn’t really around when Matt and his dad raced at the short tracks, but from the stories I’ve heard, Matt has always been the one who was calming and saying, ‘It’s okay. It’s alright.’
3. The Couple Were Married in 2000 & Together Have 3 Daughters
Kenseth celebrates an April 2013 victory with his wife Katie and two daughters. (Getty)
Ironically, the couple officially met at a wedding, and later married in 2000.
The couple have three daughters together: Kaylin, Grace and, the youngest, Clara born in March 2014. Kenseth has a son, Ross, from a previous marriage.
4. Martin Was Involved in a Car Crash in 2011
Katie with her husband and two daughters. (Getty)
In September 2011, Martin took part in a charity race, and ended up being involved in a crash during practice. Kenseth was in attendance and recalled that: her car was headed right into the wall, she braked at the last second, causing the car to spin and back into the wall:
She was aimed head-on into the wall going really fast and it was going to be really, really bad. When she crashed I was over 90 percent sure she was hurt because I’ve never seen a little car crash that hard. So I was really thankful that car spun around.
5. Martin & Kenseth Have Co-written a Children’s Book Together
Katie with her husband and two daughters. (Getty)
In August 2014, the couple debuted a new children’s book — “Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying” — aimed at educating children on how to make good choices if bullied by a fellow student. With three daughters, each younger than six, the couple was glad to take part in the idea.
The event took place at Joe Gibbs Racing, and happened on National Youth Literacy Day. The couple read the book to a group of 2nd graders shortly after its release.
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Katie Martin, Matt Kenseth’s Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know