By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
In no time, Matt Kenseth has racked 12 starts in the 2018 season for Roush Fenway Racing.
Following his leave from Joe Gibbs Racing last year, Kenseth made his return over the summer with Roush, the very team his won his championship with in 2003.
Now, in seemingly quick order, the 46-year-old has raced a dozen times in the No. 6 Ford, recently finishing 20th last weekend at Dover International Speedway.
The Gander Outdoors 400 was a quiet day, making it a tough one for those who struggled with speed from the start.
Lining up 28th, Kenseth never truly advanced through the top 20, finishing 23rd and 20th in the caution-free stages and lining up 21st for the final 160-lap run to the end.
A couple accidents, including a multi-car wreck down the backstretch with three laps to go, gave Kenseth a couple more positions to cross the finish line 20th. The result was his seventh top 20 in 12 starts and only his second in his last five races. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day for RFR, who placed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the top 10 on Sunday.
Though Kenseth hasn’t brought order to Roush’s atrophying state since his return, he has brought stability for the No. 6 car. Only one DNF has kept their side of the garage clean, which is worth noting.
Kenseth will not race this weekend at Talladega, as Trevor Bayne returns for his 19th start of 2018.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Dover: Matt Kenseth
Mid-Pack With Zach: Matt Kenseth, Roush Fenway Racing
By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
In no time, Matt Kenseth has racked 12 starts in the 2018 season for Roush Fenway Racing.
Following his leave from Joe Gibbs Racing last year, Kenseth made his return over the summer with Roush, the very team his won his championship with in 2003.
Now, in seemingly quick order, the 46-year-old has raced a dozen times in the No. 6 Ford, recently finishing 20th last weekend at Dover International Speedway.
The Gander Outdoors 400 was a quiet day, making it a tough one for those who struggled with speed from the start.
Lining up 28th, Kenseth never truly advanced through the top 20, finishing 23rd and 20th in the caution-free stages and lining up 21st for the final 160-lap run to the end.
A couple accidents, including a multi-car wreck down the backstretch with three laps to go, gave Kenseth a couple more positions to cross the finish line 20th. The result was his seventh top 20 in 12 starts and only his second in his last five races. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day for RFR, who placed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the top 10 on Sunday.
Though Kenseth hasn’t brought order to Roush’s atrophying state since his return, he has brought stability for the No. 6 car. Only one DNF has kept their side of the garage clean, which is worth noting.
Kenseth will not race this weekend at Talladega, as Trevor Bayne returns for his 19th start of 2018.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Dover: Matt Kenseth