After 697 starts, 39 victories, and a championship at the sport’s highest level, Matt Kenseth said his full-time career as a NASCAR driver seems complete.
When the sport returned to action this past May, so did Kenseth. He replaced Kyle Larson in the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet after Larson was released following his use of a racial slur during an iRacing event in April.
Kenseth finished a solid 10th in his first race May 17 with CGR at Darlington Raceway. But he would record only more top 10 finish — a runner-up July 5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
And with Ross Chastain taking over the No. 42 next season, Kenseth has indicated that he’ll continue his career in other disciplines – and not as a full-time NASCAR driver.
“I can say with almost 100 percent certainty that my days in professional racing — at least full-time professional racing — are over,” the 2003 Cup Series champion told the Wisconsin State Journal.
“I look forward to doing late model stuff or IMSA, or something like that. A little bit here or there. As far as NASCAR racing full-time or professional racing, those days are behind me.”
Along with winning the Cup title in 2003 — the last season before the start of NASCAR’s playoff era — Kenseth is a two-time Daytona 500 winner (2009, ’12) and a winner of two other ‘crown jewel’ events: the Southern 500 at Darlington (2013) and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2000).
His final victory came with Joe Gibbs Racing at Phoenix Raceway in the penultimate race of the 2017 season. Kenseth was replaced after that season by Erik Jones.
But as it turned out, his career was not yet over. In 2018, Kenseth reunited with Roush Fenway Racing, where he had spent the first 13 full seasons of his Cup Series career. He joined the team in May and made 15 starts (with two top 10s) while sharing the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne.
Kenseth subsequently sat out the 2019 season. When he was announced as Larson’s replacement this past April, it surprised many. But Chip Ganassi himself put the decision in simple terms.
“Throughout my time in NASCAR, I have always admired the way Matt Kenseth raced,” Ganassi said at the time. “He has proven to be a consistent winner, strong competitor, and respectful driver, and I’m glad we are able to add another NASCAR champion to the team for the remainder of this season.”
Now with that season over, Kenseth is winding down — and awaiting a likely induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
I wish Matt all the best, now the tables have turned to Ross to deliver in the No.42 Ganassi.
He might have had the best playoffs Ross wanted this year in the xfinity series. But I am sure he can recapture some of his form. He has finished in the top half plenty of times now. Ganassi/Kaulig/Niece gave him a chance to ride in a decent race car. And Ross backed up ever since after he drove for JD Motorsports & other low budget teams for many years.
But if we see Ross only matching what Matt Kenseth did throughout next year and not much progress. It will be interesting if Ganassi would look to hire John Hunter Nemechek if he does well at potentially spire in 21′. Otherwise, they would look to give Hendrick a hand and get Noah Gragson. Then Zane Smith can take Noah’s place from Trucks. Anything is possible but all eyes on Ross to deliver as Kyle Larson’s long-term replacement.