- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Sprint Cup
CUP: Kenseth Leaving Roush Fenway
Matt Kenseth departing RFR; Stenhouse Jr. to move up...
Matt Kenseth won't return to Roush Fenway Racing in 2013. (Photo: Getty Images)
NASCAR Silly Season blew into town Tuesday with the force of a hurricane.
In one of the biggest driver-team moves in recent NASCAR history, Roush Fenway Racing announced Tuesday that Matt Kenseth, one of the team’s bedrock drivers, will be leaving the organization at the end of the season.
Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will move up to replace Kenseth at the Sprint Cup level next season.
There was immediate speculation that Kenseth, who has 22 Cup wins and a championship, will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing next season, either in the No. 20 car currently driven by Joey Logano or with a fourth team (joining Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin).
There was no immediate comment from the Gibbs camp Tuesday, and Kenseth tweeted this late Tuesday morning: “Although I have nothing to announce regarding 2013, I feel the timing of this announcement gives RFR ample time to get things lined up.”
The Tuesday moves are stunning because Kenseth, 40, has been with RFR since his rookie season in 2000 (and ran five races with the team in 1999) and was widely expected to finish his career with the team. He also currently leads the Sprint Cup points in pursuit of a second championship.
“I’d like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service,” team owner Jack Roush said in a statement released Tuesday morning. “Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family.
“We’re fortunate that we were able to tap into Matt’s potential and bring him on board many years ago, and I’m proud that together we were able to combine the tools and the resources of Roush Fenway with his talent and determination to forge a partnership that yielded a championship at the Cup level and all of his 22 Cup victories, including two Daytona 500 wins. The No. 17 is positioned extremely well this season, and I’m committed to providing the team the best resources to continue their run for the 2012 championship. I have no doubt that Matt will do his part.”
Although it seems odd that Kenseth would decide to leave RFR while leading the Sprint Cup points, the organization has had more than its share of sponsorship problems recently, and that might have played a role in Kenseth’s decision.
Can he still win the title as a lame duck?
“If Tony Stewart can win title, so can I,” Kenseth tweeted Tuesday afternoon, referring to Stewart winning the 2011 championship while racing with lame-duck crew chief Darian Grubb.
Ford Racing director Jamie Allison said Ford officials “are certainly disappointed to hear that Matt will be leaving, and he will be certainly missed by us and the Ford Racing fans. We are thankful for Matt's winning efforts and championship-caliber success with the Roush and Ford racing programs … both on and off the track. We will focus on this year and look forward to more success on the track in his No. 17 Ford Fusion this season."
Stenhouse Jr. competes full-time in the Nationwide Series for Roush and has been a driver-in-waiting for the Cup series. His promotion could open the way for RFR driver Trevor Bayne to run full-time in Nationwide next season.
“We take great pride in the depth of the bench here,” said RFR president Steve Newmark. “The organization’s ability to identify and develop new talent is part of our DNA and a cornerstone of our success. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring Ricky into the Sprint Cup Series and get him into victory lane. He has an incredible opportunity to continue his winning ways, just as Matt did nearly 15 years ago.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
In one of the biggest driver-team moves in recent NASCAR history, Roush Fenway Racing announced Tuesday that Matt Kenseth, one of the team’s bedrock drivers, will be leaving the organization at the end of the season.
Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will move up to replace Kenseth at the Sprint Cup level next season.
There was immediate speculation that Kenseth, who has 22 Cup wins and a championship, will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing next season, either in the No. 20 car currently driven by Joey Logano or with a fourth team (joining Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin).
There was no immediate comment from the Gibbs camp Tuesday, and Kenseth tweeted this late Tuesday morning: “Although I have nothing to announce regarding 2013, I feel the timing of this announcement gives RFR ample time to get things lined up.”
The Tuesday moves are stunning because Kenseth, 40, has been with RFR since his rookie season in 2000 (and ran five races with the team in 1999) and was widely expected to finish his career with the team. He also currently leads the Sprint Cup points in pursuit of a second championship.
“I’d like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service,” team owner Jack Roush said in a statement released Tuesday morning. “Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family.
“We’re fortunate that we were able to tap into Matt’s potential and bring him on board many years ago, and I’m proud that together we were able to combine the tools and the resources of Roush Fenway with his talent and determination to forge a partnership that yielded a championship at the Cup level and all of his 22 Cup victories, including two Daytona 500 wins. The No. 17 is positioned extremely well this season, and I’m committed to providing the team the best resources to continue their run for the 2012 championship. I have no doubt that Matt will do his part.”
Although it seems odd that Kenseth would decide to leave RFR while leading the Sprint Cup points, the organization has had more than its share of sponsorship problems recently, and that might have played a role in Kenseth’s decision.
Can he still win the title as a lame duck?
“If Tony Stewart can win title, so can I,” Kenseth tweeted Tuesday afternoon, referring to Stewart winning the 2011 championship while racing with lame-duck crew chief Darian Grubb.
Ford Racing director Jamie Allison said Ford officials “are certainly disappointed to hear that Matt will be leaving, and he will be certainly missed by us and the Ford Racing fans. We are thankful for Matt's winning efforts and championship-caliber success with the Roush and Ford racing programs … both on and off the track. We will focus on this year and look forward to more success on the track in his No. 17 Ford Fusion this season."
Stenhouse Jr. competes full-time in the Nationwide Series for Roush and has been a driver-in-waiting for the Cup series. His promotion could open the way for RFR driver Trevor Bayne to run full-time in Nationwide next season.
“We take great pride in the depth of the bench here,” said RFR president Steve Newmark. “The organization’s ability to identify and develop new talent is part of our DNA and a cornerstone of our success. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring Ricky into the Sprint Cup Series and get him into victory lane. He has an incredible opportunity to continue his winning ways, just as Matt did nearly 15 years ago.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
Shake and Bake: Recent Posts
-
Last Lap: There's A Warrant Out For Mike Harmon ... Again »
-
Ricky Vs. Danica: Michigan Edition »
-
Feud Of The Week: Junior Nation Vs. The Racing Gods »
-
Tweets Of The Week: Michigan »
-
Road Trip! David Ragan Driving Hauler To Sonoma »
-
Hendrick Drivers Suffer Devastating Day At Michigan »
-
Live Blog: Sights and Sounds From Michigan Speedway »
-
Stopping Streaks: Where Does Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Michigan Win Rank? »
Latest Gallery
LATEST HEADLINES: NASCAR
-
Winged Sprint-Car Wreck Claims Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler lost his life Wednesday night in a winged sprint-car… -
MCREYNOLDS: Dover Showed Gen-6 Car Is Strong
The biggest storyline of the year is the introduction of the Generation… -
CUP: Richard Petty Motorsports Expands Development Program
Young drivers join new Petty program... -
CUP: Monster Mile Gets Toyotas
Toyota teams find setbacks at Dover... -
CUP: Kez Is On The Down-Low
Bard Keselowski's car too low after race... -
CUP: Dover Power Rankings
Despite a rare and costly mistake, Jimmie Johnson holds onto the… -
CUP: Montoya Edges Closer To Oval Win
Juan Pablo Montoya loses shot at first victory on oval… - More News
