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| Kenseth won the 2012 Daytona 500 for RFR |
Team owner Jack Roush
confirmed today that the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will leave the
team at season’s end, after competing for RFR since his rookie Sprint Cup
season in 2000. He will be replaced by 2011 NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky
Stenhouse Jr.
“I’d like to thank
Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service,” said Roush today. “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.”
Sources say Kenseth will
drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season. JGR President
JD Gibbs sidestepped questions about the deal last weekend in Sonoma, Cal., saying,
"I'm not allowed to talk.” Kenseth told reporters, “I'd like to have
something to tell you, but I don't have anything to talk about right now. Until
I have something to announce, I don't talk about it."
Speculation centers
around Kenseth replacing Joey Logano at the wheel of the No. 20 Home Depot
Toyota next season. Sources say Logano could remain with the team to drive a
new, fourth JGR sprint Cup entry, with sponsorship to be determined.
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| Team owner Jack Roush |
His departure will
clear the way for Stenhouse, who won the NASAR Nationwide Series championship a
year ago and is a strong contender for the 2012 title. Roush said, "“Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has more than proved his abilities on the
race track. We feel that he is not only a key piece of our team’s future, but a
key piece of the future of the sport. Roush Fenway is an organization with a
wonderful past and present, as well as an extremely promising future, and I
can’t think of a better candidate than Ricky to usher in the next era of
success for the team.”
Kenseth has 22 Sprint Cup
Series wins with Roush Fenway Racing, along with 26 victories in the Nationwide
ranks. He won the Daytona in both 2009 and 2012, and claimed the 2003 Cup championship
with the team. All but one of the Wisconsin native’s 452 career starts have
been in Roush Fenway Racing equipment, and RFR general
manager Robbie Reiser, who served Kenseth’s crew chief for many years, spoke
fondly of his former driver.
“Matt and I broke into this sport together, learned the ropes
and were able to bring home a championship,” said Reiser. “Over the 20 years we
have worked with each other, Matt has been a fierce competitor and become a
close friend, not only to me, but as a mentor to young drivers like Ricky. I
wish Matt nothing but the best for the next phase of his career, and know that
we’ll remain close.”
The team has struggled
to find sponsorship for Kenseth in recent seasons, with Jack Roush funding the
car out of his own pocket for a number of races in both 2011 and 2012. Kenseth
is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point leader.
Photo Credits: timesdispatch.com, Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
Talk about surprise of the day!
ReplyDeleteI think though that this is going to be an amazing opportunity for Kenseth and I hope he does end up over at JGR as it would be a huge boost for him.
Roush has been struggling for years now to find solid sponsorship and I am sure it has had an impact on Kenseth's performance (not that he has been terrible by any means). but I think Kenseth is capable of much more
As the Nascar world turns! Whats the next step!
ReplyDelete