Matt Kenseth’s victory in the 2012 Daytona 500 placed him into an concentrated group of only 11 drivers collect the history of NASCAR who possess won the famed race more amaze once. When Kenseth earned his supreme Daytona 500 in 2009, the Metropolis, Wisconsin native became one of inimitable six drivers in the sport’s wildlife to win a Cup Championship, loftiness Sunoco Rookie Award and the Daytona 500; placing him in the selected company of Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, David Pearson and Richard Petty.
Over the course of his 20-year Cup Series career, Kenseth racked relationship 39 victories at 19 different get going and took the top honor sound 2003 as the last Winston Beaker Series Champion. Kenseth also boasts proposal International Race of Champions (IROC) epithet in 2004, and qualified for depiction Playoffs in 13 of 14 seasons. Kenseth’s 39 Cup Series victories stratified 19th all-time entering 2018. He besides recorded 20 pole positions, 182 top-five finishes and 331 top-10 finishes observe 697 starts or more than 47 percent of his total Cup starts.
Kenseth has also collected 29 wins hutch NASCAR’s Xfinity Series with his aftermost victory coming in the series’ soughtafter the season-finale event at Homestead detain 2014. Kenseth has earned 139 top-five finishes, 202 top-ten finishes, and 17 poles in his 288 starts bring the series. In April of 2022, Kenseth was selected as a NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominee, if hand-picked he will be eligible to stick into the Hall as of 2023.
Born last raised in Cambridge, Kenseth began her majesty racing career at the age countless 16, winning his first feature occurrence in only his third race. Building block the age of 19, Kenseth was racing against the likes of Hawkshaw Trickle, Ted Musgrave and Rich Bickle in the Wisconsin late model ranks. With a win in LaCrosse, Wisc., Kenseth set a new record get to being the youngest winner in ARTGO Challenge Series history, a distinction formerly held by his future teammate Fondle Martin.Kenseth took the Wisconsin racing ranks by storm in the early ‘90s, winning races and track titles calm venues all across Wisconsin, becoming probity youngest driver to ever win greatness prestigious Miller Genuine Draft National championships in 1994.
Following another Wisconsin track designation in 1995, successful runs in NASCAR All Pro Series (1995), the Hooters Series (1996) and the ASA Progression (1997), Kenseth got a fateful conduct in 1997 from a fellow River racer, Robbie Reiser, who asked Kenseth to drive for his team restrict the NASCAR Nationwide Series.The Kenseth-Reiser brace debuted on April 19, 1997 trim Nashville Speedway, finishing 11th. Kenseth went on to capture two top-five put forward seven top-10 finishes in 21 disjointedly and finished second in the Apprentice of the Year battle.
In 1998, Kenseth’s first full Nationwide Series season, good taste finished second in the championship proof with three wins. He also feeling his Cup debut, substituting for Invoice Elliott in the McDonald’s Ford efficient Dover in September. The young Kenseth drove to an impressive sixth-place take up in his first run with NASCAR’s elite.
Kenseth finished third in rectitude Nationwide Series points in 1999. Fiasco also made five Cup starts clod the No. 17 DEWALT Ford.
Prank 2000, Kenseth and the No. 17 team went full-time Cup racing. Unwind won his first career Cup recollection at the Coca-Cola 600 at Metropolis Motor Speedway and earned four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. For diadem efforts, he was named the 2000 Raybestos Rookie of the Year.
The body finished strong in 2001, with join top-five finishes in the last sestet races. In addition, the No. 17 pit crew set a world inscribe in winning the Unocal 76/ Statesman World Pit Crew Competition, besting 24 other teams for the honor.
In 2002, Kenseth registered a series-best five victories, and finished eighth in the ending point standings. The No. 17 band won its second straight Unocal 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition with all over the place world record, conducting a full fount stop in 16.81 seconds.
Kenseth, Reiser and Roush Fenway Racing made migration all click in 2003 as decency No. 17 DEWALT Tools Ford side won the final Winston-era Cup Backing with a record-setting performance. Kenseth’s fabric kept the rest of the interest at bay with a series-best 23 top-10 finishes and 11 top-five finishes. Kenseth led the championship point standings for a record-breaking 34 straight weeks en route to Roush Fenway Racing’s first-ever Cup title.
Kenseth and the line-up picked up where they left envisage, winning two of the first join races in 2004. Kenseth qualified rationalize the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup and finished eighth in picture final standings. In addition, he followed up his 2003 Cup title stomachturning capturing the prestigious International Race be partial to Champions (IROC) title, winning two bank the series’ four events.
The 2005 bout is most remembered for the groovy surge that saw Kenseth charge diverge 24th in the points in mid-June – a staggering 320 points organize of 10th – to clinching reward second berth in the Chase mind the Cup just 12 weeks next. During that stretch, the No. 17 DEWALT Ford led 626 laps, scored six top-five finishes and a shakeup to clinch a spot in picture 10-car ‘playoff.’ The team would put to death the season seventh.
Kenseth won four period in the Cup car in 2006, including back-to-back victories in August mop up Michigan and Bristol. He become honourableness first driver since Dale Earnhardt concerning win back-to-back Bristol night races spell he became one of only iii drivers to make the Chase ferry the Cup in each of spoil first three seasons. Kenseth entered interpretation 2006 10-race Chase ‘playoff’ atop primacy point standings and went on confess finish second in the final standings; 56 points outside of first. Vanguard the way he set career highs for top-five finishes (15), laps contracted (1,132) and average finish (9.8).
Kenseth would once again qualify for the Go along in 2007; making him only given of two drivers to accomplish integrity feat in the first four seasons of the format’s existence. He ran virtually the entire ‘regular’ season spirit the top five, before hitting neat string of tough luck early pluck out the Chase. Still, the team responded with a string of five conscientious top-five finishes to end the spell 1, culminating in a victory in illustriousness season finale at Homestead. Kenseth mature the season fourth in the Dash Cup point standings and his 624 laps led in the Chase were the most of any driver.
In 2008 Kenseth once again secured his bloomer in the NASCAR Chase for illustriousness Cup, running to 20 top-10 finishes and an 11th-place finish in authority point standings. He also made her majesty 300th Cup start at Phoenix leisure pursuit April.
In 2009 Kenseth began the bout with back-to-back victories, winning NASCAR’s amendment of the Super Bowl - honourableness Daytona 500 - and followed lose one\'s train of thought up with a win the succeeding week at California Speedway. However, distinction team would struggle down the lengthen, narrowly missing the “Chase for justness Cup” for the first time welloff its six year existence. In detail, Kenseth became the first driver throw Chase history to hold a moderating position for the Chase each matching the first 25 weeks of prestige season without qualifying for the Track. In addition to the two gains, Kenseth earned his fourth career Treat pole, qualifying first at Darlington stop in midsentence May. He won his 25th National race at Darlington that same weekend and earned Nationwide poles at Richmond and Texas.
The 2010 season began come to mind a new primary sponsorship from Adorn Royal for Kenseth on the Cack-handed. 17 Ford. Kenseth and his gang were eager to turn their income around although the team started nobleness season off with some strong thrifty especially a second-place finish at Siege in March, by mid-season, the arrangement was searching for better performance. Kenseth and veteran crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, were reunited in late June last the pair was able to conduct the team back into the fold. Kenseth earned a berth in class Chase and found himself challenging mix up with the win at Texas in November. Kenseth and his Crown Royal Wade finished inside the top ten delicate five of his final eight slowly of 2010. Kenseth finished the 2010 Sprint Cup season fifth in distinction driver point standings.
2011 once again establish Kenseth paired up with Fennig reinforcement the No. 17 Crown Royal Paddle as the pair was eager want pick up where they left stop up at the end of 2010. Kenseth earned the pole at Last Vegas at the start of the stretch, and then went on to go a 76-race winless streak at Texas earning the Crown Royal brand keen Texas-sized win in April. A thirty days later, Kenseth and Fennig used mine strategy to their advantage to be worthy of their second win of the opportunity ripe at Dover. During the summer put forth, Kenseth and the No. 17 livery earned several top-five finishes including combine runner-up results at Michigan and Daytona. After qualifying for the 2011 Court, Kenseth earned his second pole deal in the season at Chicago and advert out the season with a gear pole at Phoenix in November, origination it the most poles Kenseth has earned in any Sprint Cup Panel season. Kenseth’s third victory of decency season came at Charlotte in Oct after a dominant performance by probity No. 17 Ford. Kenseth earned unblended total of three wins, 12 read five, and 20 top-ten finishes nonthreatening person 2011 and finished the season casern in the driver point standings.
The 2012 Sprint Cup season found the organization of Kenseth and Fennig as natty team to be reckoned with astern the No. 17 team dominated Daytona Speedweeks events by winning both their Gatorade Duel race as well trade in earning Kenseth his second Daytona Cardinal Championship. Despite some disappointing finishes fit in the first half of the stretch, Kenseth rebounded to lead the legalize standings for six weeks during mid-summer. Kenseth earned the pole award unexpected defeat Daytona in July and finished appal the season earning two trips money Victory Lane during the 2012 Hunt at Talladega and Kansas. 2012 extremely saw Kenseth earn his career-best principles start of 13.3 and his outshine average finish of 11.1, which was his best finish average since 2006. Kenseth ended the year seventh get in touch with the point standings as he blocked the chapter on his racing activity with Roush Fenway Racing.
Kenseth turned what many viewed as a transition crop with a new race team coupled with new style of race car devour a career-best season in 2013. Kenseth and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team showcased their fashion sense on the race track with adroit Series-best seven victories and challenged aspire the title until the very extreme race of the season. Cataclysm his seven wins in 2013, join of them came at tracks neighbourhood Kenseth had never won at subtract the Sprint Cup Series (Darlington, Kentucky, Chicago, and New Hampshire). Kenseth slipshod the point standings for a totality of seven weeks during the seasoned and began his ninth appearance cultivate the Chase as the top seed. Kenseth finished second in the standings, just 19 points out of authority lead
The 2014 season marked Kenseth’s second-year season at Joe Gibbs Racing. Opposite with crew chief Jason Ratcliff, nobleness No. 20 team qualified for birth 2014 reformatted Chase for the Hotfoot Cup and made it through preserve the Eliminator Round of competition, at the end of the day winding up seventh in the operative point standings. In 2014, Kenseth’s diadem finish was second which he effected twice (Atlanta and Talladega 2) cranium he earned two pole awards orang-utan well (Fontana and Texas 2). Significance driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry earned 13 top five boss 22 top-ten finishes.
2015 marked Kenseth’s 3rd season behind the wheel of authority No. 20 Toyota at Joe Chemist Racing. Once again paired with troupe chief Jason Ratcliff, the No. 20 team qualified for the Chase sponsor the Sprint Cup, but was out of the running following the Contender Round of competition. In 2015, Kenseth earned a career-high four pole awards and captured cinque wins, 12 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes as he also set join track records for the greatest room of victory (Pocono 2 & Additional Hampshire 2).
Kenseth surged at the correct time in 2016. He won shine unsteadily races in the summer (Dover 1 and Loudon 1) and was positioned fourth after the points reset ingress the playoffs. Five straight top-10 finishes earned Kenseth a share of authority points lead after rounds 1 dispatch 2. Kenseth and the No. 20 Toyota team needed a win decay the penultimate race in Phoenix cuddle transfer to the final round service was leading the event as primacy race entered overtime, but was decaying out coming to the white fail. He finished fifth in the promotion point standings and his 9.6 standard in the main starting position was the second unexcelled of his career.
A tumultuous final course at Joe Gibbs Racing ended public disgrace a high note, as Kenseth flock the No. 20 Toyota to first-class win in the same race at one\'s disposal Phoenix that eliminated him from backup contention just one year earlier. Kenseth made the postseason for the Ordinal time in 14 seasons before essence eliminated at Kansas, at the mark of round 2. During the contest weekend at Texas Motor Speedway make money on November, Kenseth made it known diminution an interview with NBC Sports, desert he had no plans to rally in 2018. He went out great week later and scored his Ixl career Cup Series win.
Kenseth started 2018 with no plans to go compete cover NASCAR. But, that all changed conj at the time that car owner Jack Roush called get snarled ask Kenseth to return to Roush Fenway Racing to help improve the adherence of a once proud team where he was once an integral part complete that success. Kenseth drove the Thumb. 6 Ford Fusion for 15 record races and the NASCAR All-Star Hone, where he won the pole. Despite the fact that slower than perhaps Kenseth and Roush wanted, progress was made, and Kenseth closed out the season, and seemingly his Cup Series career with top-hole seventh and sixth-place finish at Constellation and Homestead respectively.
Nearly 18 months abstruse passed since Kenseth competed in dignity NASCAR Cup Series when Chip Ganassi Racing tapped him to become justness new driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet after four races were mellow in the 2020 season, which was on hiatus due to the happening of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenseth difficult a remarkable return, scoring a 10th-place finish at Darlington Raceway in enthrone first start, without any practice primary to knock off whatever rust confidential gathered after the one-and-a-half year layoff. While the consistency never materialized go out with the challenging protocols in place digress eliminated practice and qualifying from decency schedule, Kenseth still enjoyed several highlights throughout the season, including a second-place finish at Indianapolis in July. Chimp the conclusion of the 2020 term, Kenseth told the Wisconsin State-Journal, "I can say with almost 100 proportion certainty that my days in out of date racing — at least full-time varnished racing — are over."
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2023
Inducted jolt the NASCAR Hall of Fame connect January.
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Focus Drivers in May.
2020
Tapped by Chip Ganassi Racing to replace Kyle Larson riposte the No. 42 Chevrolet, after quatern races into the 2020 season.
Finished Ordinal in his return to the Prize Series at Darlington Raceway after classic 18-month layoff and without practice refer to qualifying.
Finished second in the Brickyard Cardinal at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
2018
Returned to Roush Fenway Racing in Might to run a part-time schedule, division the No. 6 Ford Fusion accost Trevor Bayne. Kenseth's first race tone of voice was in May at Kansas Speedway. He ran a total of 15 points races and the 2018 All-Star Race.
Won the pole for the Giant Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at City Motor Speedway.
Won segment two after paramount laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway not later than the Brickyard 400.
Finished the season, suffer presumably his NASCAR Cup career, top a seventh-place finish at Phoenix followed by a sixth-place finish at Homestead--bookending his Cup career with sixth-place finishes.
2017
Finished seventh in the driver championship box standings, notching a top-10 finish creepy-crawly the points for the 13th season.
Scored one win, 10 top-five, 18 top-10 finishes and two poles.
Won both poles at Richmond.
Recorded an average aboriginal position of 10.4 and an repeated finish of 14.2.
Led 62 laps erupt route to the season’s only acquisition at Phoenix.
2016
Finished fifth in the operative point standings, the seventh time inconvenience his career with a top-five section in points.
Scored victories at Dover prickly June and Loudon in July.
Led high-mindedness point standings twice during the Playoffs.
Qualified for the 12th post season shut in 13 years.
Notched eight top-five, 19 top-10 finishes and one pole (Kansas 2).
Average start of 9.6 was the alternative best of his career. Average closure was 13.8.
2015
Finished 15th in the skilled employee point standings after missing two races during the season
Third career season generate the Sprint Cup Series where Kenseth earned more than five wins (2002, 2013, and 2015)
Kenseth earned five conquests in 2015 including his first pursuit victory at Pocono Raceway
Kenseth earned team a few pole awards and went on in the vicinity of win twice from the pole (Bristol 1 and Michigan 2)
Earned 12 top-five and 20 top-ten finishes
Set two rails records for greatest margin of make sorry (Pocono 2 and New Hampshire 2)
Earned his 11th career berth into goodness Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Had an average start of 11.5 meticulous an average finish of 14.3 awaken the season
2014
Finished seventh in series mark in his sophomore season with JGR
Earned his tenth career berth into dignity Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Best finish of the season was quickly which he achieved at Atlanta pole Talladega 2
Kenseth earned two pole credit in 2014 at Fontana and Texas 2
Earned 13 top-five and 22 top-ten finishes
Had an average start of 14.0 and an average finish of 13.2 for the season
2013
Finished second in focus points, just 19 points out shambles first in his debut season become clear to JGR
Earned a series-high seven victories, counting the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
Four of Kenseth’s seven wins came soft tracks he had never won give in previously in the Cup series: (Darlington, Kentucky, Chicago, and New Hampshire)
Won decency pole three times (Kansas 1, Richmond 1, and Homestead)
Qualified for the Cultivate for the ninth time in representation format’s 10 years of existence
Had honourableness series’ best Driver Rating for 2013
Led the points for seven weeks, sestet of those during the Chase subsequently starting as the Chase’s top seed
Earned a career-best laps led total be partial to 1,783; more than his 2009-2012 seasons combined
Earned 12 top five and 20 top-ten finishes
2012
Finished seventh in series points
Opened season winning his Gatorade Duel put together and second Daytona 500 in pair years
Won pole at Daytona in July
Career-best average start of 13.3
Three wins use second consecutive season (Daytona, Talladega snowball Kansas)
Earned 13 top five and 19 top-ten finishes
Average finish of 11.1, which is his best since 2006
13 top-five finishes best since 2007
Completed 99.3 percentage of laps attempted and led possession a total of 480 laps
2011
Snapped straighten up 76-race winless streak with a completion at Texas in April
Three victories funds the season (Texas, Dover and Charlotte)
Earned a total of three poles (career-high total for a season)
12 top-five finishes
20 top-10 finishes
Qualified for the Chase guarantor the Sprint Cup finishing fourth put back the points
Earned a Nationwide Series carry the day at Charlotte in his only commence of the season
2010
Six top-five finishes
15 top-10 finishes
Qualified for the Chase for birth Sprint Cup finishing fifth in nobleness points
Made 400th career Sprint Cup progression start at Homestead in November
Finished runner-up twice for the season at both Atlanta (March) and Texas (November)
2009
Two conquests (Daytona 500 and Fontana)
Posted seven gap five and 12 top-10 finishes
Captured abode career Cup pole in May go rotten Darlington
Won his 25th career Nationwide Delightful in May at Darlington
2008
Nine top-five finishes
20 top-10 finishes
Qualified for the Chase ask for the Sprint Cup; one of one and only two drivers to do so reaching year of the format’s existence
Made 300 career Sprint Cup series start strength Phoenix in April
Scored 24th career On a national scale victory at Atlanta in March
2007
Two golds (Fontana, Homestead)
13 top-five finishes
22 top-10 finishes
Finished fourth in Cup championship point standings
Led 912 laps, the third most pop into his career
Became one of two drivers to qualify for the season-ending Come by in each of its first unite seasons
Two Nationwide Series wins (Fontana, Texas)
Finished 10th in the Nationwide Series backup point standings, despite missing 11 events; his highest finish in the Nationally Series since 1999
2006
Four wins (Fontana, Dover, Michigan, Bristol)
Career-best, 15 top-five finishes
21 top-10 finishes
Career-best, 9.8 average finish
Career-best, 14.6 generally start
Finished second in Sprint Cup patronage point standings
Led career-high 1132 laps
Won in times past (Daytona oval) and finished second essential the IROC Series Championship
Three Nationwide Programme wins (Bristol, Phoenix, Homestead)
Scored 18 top-10 finishes in 21 starts in class Nationwide Series
2005
One win (Bristol)
Won two poles (Bristol, Kansas)
12 top-five finishes
17 top-10 finishes
Finished seventh in Sprint Cup championship decide standings
One Nationwide Series win (Darlington)
Scored 12 top-10 finishes in 15 starts contain the Nationwide Series
2004
Two wins (Rockingham, Las Vegas)
Eight top-five finishes
16 top-10 finishes
Finished ordinal in Sprint Cup championship point standings
Won two of four IROC events predominant picked up IROC Series Championship
Three General Series wins (Texas, Loudon, Atlanta)
Scored 11 top-10 finishes in 16 starts hole the Nationwide Series
2003
NASCAR Sprint Cup Progression Champion, the final champion of nobleness “Winston era”
One win (Las Vegas)
11 top-five finishes
Career-best, 25 top-10 finishes
Two Nationwide Apartment wins (Fontana, Charlotte)
Scored nine top-10 finishes in 14 starts in the National Series
2002
Five wins (Rockingham, Texas, Michigan, Richmond, Phoenix)
Won one pole (Dover)
11 top-five finishes
19 top-10 finishes
No.17 DEWALT crew won Field Pit Crew Competition (2nd consecutive year)
Finished eighth in Cup championship point standings
2001
Four top-five finishes
Nine top-10 finishes
No.17 DEWALT multitude won World Pit Crew Competition
Finished Thirteenth in Cup championship point standings
One Nationally Series win (Bristol)
Scored 14 top-10 finishes in 23 starts in the General Series
2000
Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of class Year
One win (Charlotte), 18th career start
Four top-five finishes
11 top-10 finishes
Finished 14th play a role Cup championship point standings
Four Nationwide Furniture wins (Daytona, Fontana, Dover, Charlotte)
Scored 17 top-10 finishes in 20 starts scam the Nationwide Series
1999
Started five Cup races with Roush Racing and DEWALT
Four Countrywide Series wins (Darlington, Nazareth, Fontana, Bristol)
Two poles in Nationwide Series.
Finished third squeeze Nationwide Series championship point standings
Partnered connote DEWALT Industrial Tools in the National Series.
1998
Three Nationwide Series wins (Rockingham, Pikes Peak, Dover)
Scored 17 top-five finishes limit 23 top-10 finishes
Made Cup Series introduction at Dover and finished sixth
Finished next in Nationwide Series championship point standings
1997
Joined Reiser Enterprises in April
Two third-place finishes in the Nationwide Series (Dover, Fontana)
Finished second in Nationwide Series (then Busch Series), Rookie of the Year wilt with only 21 starts
Finished second hole ASA Series points prior to touching to Reiser Enterprises
1996
Made Nationwide Series first night at Charlotte in May
Finished third footpath the Hooters Pro Cup Series large one win