YouTube download / Matt Kenseth wins the 2012 Daytona 500, making him a two-time winner of the Great American Race, having won it for the first time in 2009. Kenseth is shown above and below from that 2012 Daytona 500 win.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Chip Ganassi Racing has turned to veteran driver Matt Kenseth to take over the No. 42 Chevrolet when the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the track for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Kenseth, who has been out of racing for the past three years, is no slouch when it comes to winning big races: He's a two-time winner of the Daytona 500 and a former series cup champion.
Most recently, Kenseth competed full-time at NASCAR’s highest level in 2017, where he finished seventh in the points and won the second to last race of the season at Phoenix Raceway.
The Wisconsin native is a 39-time Cup Series winner and will join a talented group on the No. 42 team, which entered the 2020 season following a best-ever sixth place finish in the 2019 point standings, a fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs, and a playoff race win at Dover International Speedway.
With a newly designed Chevrolet Camaro for the 2020 season, the team started the year strong, with three top-10 finishes in the first four races with Kyle Larson behind the wheel. But Larson used the N-word during a virtual race earlier this month, which led to NASCAR suspending him and Chip Ganassi Racing outright firing him.
No driver is irreplaceable, but finding a replacement as good, if not better, is a rare situation.
"I have always said that when we have to fill a driver spot, that I owe it to our team, our partners and our fans to put the best available driver in the car," said Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing.
"We are doing exactly that with Matt," Ganassi continued. "Throughout my time in NASCAR, I have always admired the way Matt Kenseth raced. 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."
Kenseth sees this situation as too good to pass up, considering the reputation Chip Ganassi Racing has as a winner in NASCAR and IndyCar Racing. "This was an unexpected opportunity for sure. I can’t say racing was even on my radar two weeks ago," Kenseth said. "After spending some time thinking about it and all the unique circumstances surrounding all of us right now, it just seemed the timing and the opportunity was perfect to come back."
Kenseth sees this situation as too good to pass up, considering the reputation Chip Ganassi Racing has as a winner in NASCAR and IndyCar Racing.
"This was an unexpected opportunity for sure. I can’t say racing was even on my radar two weeks ago," Kenseth said. "After spending some time thinking about it and all the unique circumstances surrounding all of us right now, it just seemed the timing and the opportunity was perfect to come back."
Even with his racing champion pedigree, Kenseth said he knows he has a lot of work ahead of him to get up to speed in a relatively short period of time, but he's looking forward to the challenge.
"I’m really looking forward to getting back in a Chevrolet," Kenseth said, adding, "In 1988, I started my career in a Camaro and I can’t wait to finally race a Chevy in the Cup Series. I also need to thank Chip and all his partners for this opportunity. Hopefully, we will be on the track soon."
Here are three key reasons why this driver-ownership partnership should translate to success on the track:
• Running Up Front – With 18 years of experience in the Cup Series, Kenseth has consistently run near the front, averaging 10 top-five and just over 18 top-10 finishes a year in his 18 full-time seasons behind the wheel.
During his career, Kenseth posted at least one win in all but four seasons and made the playoffs in all but one season in which he was eligible, finishing his full-time career with eight consecutive appearances.
• Winning Attitude -- Overall, the former Cup Champion, has 39 Cup wins including the Daytona 500 twice, the Coke 600, the Southern 500 and the All-Star race. He has 181 top-5s and has finished in the top-10 in points in 13 of his 18 seasons.
When Kenseth scored his first Daytona 500 victory in 2009, he became only the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win a Cup Series Championship, the Rookie of the Year Award and the Daytona 500 — joining Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, David Pearson, and Richard Petty.
• Return to Team Chevy -- While this marks the first time Kenseth will race with Team Chevy in the Cup Series, he is no stranger to the manufacturer.
Kenseth began his racing career in 1988 in a Camaro and made his debut in the NASCAR Southeast Series in 1994 behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, and continued racing Chevrolets in the Xfinity Series through the 2001 season.
