Driver Spotlight: Matt Kenseth

Nascar Behind the Wall Driver spotlight: Matt Kenseth. This segment will be a short article about where each driver is right now during the 2013 season. At the end of the season I will review some of the more interesting stories from Driver Spotlight

Who better to spotlight on All-Star weekend then the guy who just moved to first in the Power Rankings and has been on fire in 2013. That guy is obviously Matt Kenseth. Last season at Richard Childress Racing Matt Kenseth had a typical season in his books, 3 wins, 13 top 5's, and 19 top 10's. Kenseth made the Chase in 2012 and ended up finishing 7th overall but by the end of the season

knew he was moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013.

Some thought he may get distracted and fall off some but he still managed two of his three wins on the season during the Chase. But whats new, Kenseth has been one of the most consistant yet quiet drivers since he made full time Sprint Cup.

Starting 2013 Kenseth didn't just have some doubters, but many. Many thought he may have a slow transition to JGR expecially since he has spent most his career at Roush. Once again, everyone was wrong, instead he has matched 2012 in Wins through 11 races, sitting third in the standings, has the best starting position average in his career (9.0), and is arguabley the hottest driver thus far in Nascar.

So when will he get comfortable at Joe Gibbs Racing? The better question is can he keep this going and make a run at the Sprint Cup Title? The 2013 season could not have gone any better for Kenseth and the #20 team but can they get hot (or stay hot) through the Chase when it matters? So the real story to watch while Matt Kenseth is untouchable is how will he do when the pressure is on and can he get his second Sprint Cup Title (first one in 2003)?


                                    2013               2003 Title Season (Season Total)
                                                     (*Through 11 Races*)
                               Top 10:     7                                        9 (25)
                                 Top 5:     3                                        4 (11)
                                  Wins:     3                                        1 (1)
                         Finish Avg:    11.8                                   8.27  (10.3)

So after a look at this season and his title season through 11 races you can tell how hot 2013 has been. In 2012 he was definatly more consistant and that followed through during the 2nd half of the year where he didnt pick up a second win but he has his best career average finish position other then 2006 when he finished second and had averaged 9.8.  It will be intersting to see if at the end of this season we come back to this article and find a season lost, or find where a two-time Champion was born.

**6/2/13 Update: Well since the ASR Kenseth has finished 15th and 40th. This week at Dover (40th) he had a car that looked like it was the one to beat, but his TRD engine blew up on him and finished his day when he went behind the wall. Kenseth is still fine and will get into the Chase no matter what happens, but will the Toyota engines have any factor by the time the Chase comes around or is this just a case of bad luck? It will be interesting to watch play out down the stretch.**