FanHouse LisaWinius

Just as the talk of billionaire John Menard Jr. pulling the rug out from under his son's racing career starts to heat up, the matter of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth funding his son's racing finally gets ironed out.

The 2003 Winston Cup champion and Ross's mom have been going at it-- through their attorneys, of course--to reach a financial agreement to keep 14 year-old Ross, who has been racing--and winning--since the age of 3, in a set of wheels.

After a yearlong battle, the former couple have finally inked a deal to cover Ross's racing expenses separate from their previous paternity/child support arrangement, which remains intact and unchanged. (h/t MilwaukeeWorld)

Voilà! Ross, who just graduated from the 8th grade with honors, is now the driver of a new late model team! He's already had his first practice and will be announcing his schedule soon.

First things first on Ross's agenda, hang out with dad this weekend and watch him score his second consecutive win at Dover International Raceway--assuming Mother Nature doesn't rain on his parade.

So ... can I get a big "Shame on You!" to everyone who knew nothing of the details of this situation who saw fit to call Ross's mom a gold digger out for millions? Evidence please? What I see--and what the evidence suggests--is a mom trying to do the best for her kid and a dad who wasn't doing his part.

I, for one, am glad Kenseth has stepped up to the plate--even if it did take mom to pitch the ball and a judge to put a bat in his hand. In the longterm, the deal is a home run.

Matt Kenseth is raising a racecar driver.

Well, technically, Ross Kenseth, who turns 14 this month, is being raised by his mother, Lisa Winius. But he's growing up behind the wheel of a racecar nonetheless.

Despite his dad being the famous driver, it's mom who drives Mini-Me Kenseth's racing career at home in Wisconsin. Keeping a kid in a racecar takes sponsors and money.

You'd think that securing a motorsports sponsorship would be a cakewalk for the experienced son of a NASCAR Champion. Not so fast ... The ones that are interested want a commitment from dad, too, and he has his own obligations.

You might also think that the money should be no sweat for the multi-million dollar salaried driver. Unfortunately, Matt hasn't taken a vested interest in Ross's racing--at least not financially as of late.