by Krista Voda, FOXSports.com

"The Julia Roberts of NASCAR."

That was Krissie Newman's answer when I asked her to describe Katie Kenseth. She said if Roberts was America's sweetheart then Kenseth had to be racing's equivalent.

So? Does Katie agree with that comparison?

"I think she (Krissie) is being way too kind," joked Kenseth. "I'm more like Courtney Love."

After he won the 2003 championship, Matt Kenseth and wife Katie were given a parade in their hometown, Cambridge, Wisc. ( / Associated Press) Anniversary gift Matt and Katie Kenseth are both natives of Cambridge, Wisc.... population 1,101. In fact, Katie grew up eight miles from Matt's house. They now have a cabin a few hours north of their hometown, near Lacrosse, Wisc,, and visit there often. "We love the peace and quiet," Katie said. "There's not a grocery store within an hour of the place." Family has always been important to both Matt and Katie. This past summer, Matt's grandfather, Helmer, passed away. Katie described him as the rock of the family and a very integral part of Matt's life. "When Matt first started racing, he didn't have a lot of money. His grandpa was a quiet man, but if Matt needed something for his car, his grandpa was there. Tires, for instance. If Matt needed them, his grandpa Helmer would hand him the check." Katie says a particular image of his grandfather walking with his grandmother, the two of them holding hands, has always stayed with Matt. It's an image, I'm sure, the two of them hope to emulate. Matt and Katie Kenseth will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary this December. I asked Katie if Matt wins another championship, will it exempt him from having to buy her a big present? "I get presents everyday. If Matt and Robbie (Reiser, crew chief) are lucky enough to win it again, then that would be plenty. Of course, I've heard that a diamond eternity band is the traditional gift for five years. Maybe I should work on that, too!" Katie, of course, was joking, adding that the perfect anniversary gift would be time spent with Matt and dinner at her favorite restaurant, The Charlotte Palm.

It's that sense of good-natured humor that probably defines Katie best. And, although hard for some NASCAR fans to believe, it's the trait she shares with her classicly cool husband, a guy often described as quiet, boring... even vanilla.

"He's actually the complete opposite of that," Katie said. "Don't get me wrong, Matt takes racing serious. He's thankful to be here. But away from the track, it's a 180-degree turn. In fact, a perfect example is the other day, Jeff Burton told Matt he liked it better when he was running bad because back then, he wasn't such a smart aleck."

Unfortunately, running bad was the unwelcome house guest who, this year, made himself comfortable at the No. 17's address. Think back to 2003, the year Matt won the championship. He took over the points lead after the fourth race of the season and never let it go. This year, he never even cracked the top 10 until one week before the Chase for the Nextel Cup cut-off. His championship hopes took a hit this past weekend in Dover when a cut tire dropped him to 35th. But remember, Kenseth was running up front at the time.

Katie believes her husband's ability to keep things in perspective — and ultimately keep a sense of humor — is a major reason he's in the Chase. Even when race weekends, like that tire, do go flat... Matt's attitude does not.

"Sure, he brings it home with him," Katie said. "But regardless of what happens on the track, our life doesn't change. I'm really lucky in that Matt doesn't take it out on me. For the most part, and especially this year, he has stayed optimistic."

While Matt has kept his racing glass half-full this season, the matching stemware for another sport — and another of his passions — is half-empty. The Green Bay Packers are 0-3. You see, Kenseth is a huge Packers fan. And I mean, HUGE.

"His moods on Mondays aren't affected by his results, as much as they are, by the outcome of the Packers game," says Katie. "He's friends with one of the coaches, and he'll call him to rehash the game on Mondays."

In between the Loudon and Dover races, Matt went home to Wisconsin for a few days. Katie says the first thing he did when he returned to North Carolina was watch the previous week's game. (The Packers lost that one to the Browns and lost again this past Sunday to the Buccaneers. But hey, Brett Favre can take some solace in knowing that Kenseth's 2005 season started out poorly, too!)

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Of course, right now, it's more like third and long for Kenseth, who after the Dover disaster, sits ninth in points, 124 out of the lead. But optimism and humor have gotten him this far. And those qualities landed him a 'Pretty Woman', too.

Oh, so speaking of Julia Roberts... which Hollywood actor does Katie feel Matt is most like?

"Pierce Brosnan is my favorite, but Matt is probably more like Adam Sandler," Katie quips. "Or Eddie Murphy."

A comedian? Guess he's not so boring after all.

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More Behind the Chase columns: Krissie Newman