Matt Kenseth will make his 2018 season debut as the NASCAR Cup Series moves on to Kansas Speedway on Saturday for the KC Masterpiece 400.
Kenseth hasn’t been racing this year after being released by Joe Gibbs Racing following the 2017 NASCAR season. But the 46-year-old driver has gone back to the Roush Fenway Racing team, where he’ll share the duties of driving the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne.
Roush Hoping Kenseth Can Provide Boost
Kenseth is scheduled to race a minimum of eight races for Roush this year, starting with this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway, where he has won twice before.
“I’m anxious to get in the car for sure tomorrow and see where everything’s at,” Kenseth said on The Morning Drive. “I’m looking forward to all that. I just don’t have any idea what to expect until you get there and not only get through this weekend, but also get a couple weeks down the road.”
Kenseth will be looking to add some stability to the Roush Fenway team, which has fallen behind many of its rivals this season. Bayne ranks just 29th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings this year, without a single lap led or a top 10 finish to his credit. Faring only slightly better is team member Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who has ridden two top five finishes to stand 16th in the series rankings.
Roush hasn’t had a NASCAR Cup Series victory since they captured back-to-back titles in 2003 (when Kenseth won the championship) and 2004 (with Kurt Busch). But Kenseth says he sees a team that is back on the rise in recent campaigns.
“I feel good about the direction Roush Fenway Racing has taken the last couple of years,” Kenseth said. “The Fords have been competitive, the 17 (of Stenhouse) has shown a lot of speed on and off. You don’t see it in all the finishes, but certainly they have been better.”
Harvick Poised for Another Victory
While the team is hoping from a solid performance from Kenseth, a top 10 or top 15 finish might be a more realistic expectation than a win for the veteran driver. At Ladbrokes, Kenseth is a 50/1 longshot to win in his season debut, ranking just ahead of fellow Roush Fenway driver Stenhouse (100/1).
Predictably, the favorites are the same drivers that have been dominating the NASCAR Cup Series all season long. Kevin Harvick (9/4) is the man to beat, having already won four times this season, including last weekend at the Dover International Speedway. Harvick set the pace during Friday’s practice, posting the highest top speed at 186.149 mph.
Next on the board is Kyle Busch (7/2), the man who currently leads the overall cup standings with 466 points. Busch has three wins already this season. Martin Truex Jr. (7/2) is also a popular choice to win the race, as he looks to move up from ninth in the cup standings by capturing a second win on the season.
