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Why did Kenseth leave Roush? Probably a bigger payday at Gibbs
One thing is crystal clear at Roush Fenway Racing next year; Matt Kenseth is leaving.
That means lots of changes at the organization via dominoes falling. The projected Cup series lineup includes Biffle in his 16 car; Edwards in his 99 car and Ricky Stenhouse (likely in the 6 car). The 17 car would be available as a fourth ride for possible occasional runs by Trevor Bayne if sponsorship was found.
Bayne, meanwhile, will inherit the full-time Nationwide ride of Stenhouse. This is good news for Bayne, who has had dirt luck trying to find any sort of ride this season. It’s really amazing to me that a kid this talented and media friendly does not have a ride.
Crew chief details still need to be sorted out, too.
Meanwhile, Kenseth is speaking out about the decision to leave, though he did confirm he is going to Gibbs, as has been widely reported.
He said the decision to leave was made last week after meeting with Jack Roush. "There's a lot of stuff through the season that's probably led us to this point," Kenseth said. "There isn't really a smoking gun, there really isn't an inside story about a firing or an argument or really any of that. At the end of the day, I had an opportunity to go try something else. The timing all worked out. I think everything happens for a reason. Things just kind of lined up to maybe try something else in 2013 and beyond that I'm kind of excited about.”
My guess. Joe Gibbs offered him a bigger paycheck than Roush could afford — Stenhouse will cost considerably less, and that will ease Jack’s pocketbook a bit as he searches for sponsors. I hate to say it, but money talks even after 15 years with the same team.
Roush team notes
— Kenseth leads the Sprint Cup standings over second-place Greg Biffle. Carl Edwards is 11th. Ricky Stenhouse is third in the NNS point standings trailing by 23 points.
— Carl Edwards will return to the ESPN booth commentating for the Nationwide race Friday evening.
— Roush Fenway Racing announced this week that Ricky Stenhouse will compete in the Sprint Cup Series full time in 2013.
— Roush Fenway Racing has started 48 NASCAR races at Kentucky Speedway, earning 21 top-10 finishes,11 top fives, three wins and two poles. Roush Fenway has led 523 laps of NASCAR action at Kentucky, while averaging a 13.4 finish in both the truck and NNS.
TOYOTA NOTES, QUOTES & NUMBERS
After 16 races in 2012, Clint Bowyer is seventh in the series point standings, trailing leader Matt Kenseth by 67 points … Denny Hamlin (eighth) and Martin Truex Jr. (ninth) also rank in the top-10 in the standings … With his start in the NSCS race at Sonoma last Sunday, Kyle Busch now has the most combined NASCAR starts for a Toyota driver across all three national touring series (345) … Through Oct. 1, the Kyle Busch Foundation will be raffling a custom motorcycle in conjunction with Deadwood Choppers at www.KBFChopperRaffle.com.
— MWR team co-owner and driver Michael Waltrip returns to his home state of Kentucky for this weekend's NSCS race and will drive a Camry honoring the University of Kentucky's (UK) national championship-winning basketball team. The Owensboro, Ky.-native attended the NCAA championship game won by the Wildcats, and will drive the UK-themed No. 55 Camry in Saturday night's NSCS race at Kentucky Speedway. The race will mark the second start of the 2012 season for the team co-owner while running a part-time schedule.
Become a fan of the Facebook page NASCARBeyond
That means lots of changes at the organization via dominoes falling. The projected Cup series lineup includes Biffle in his 16 car; Edwards in his 99 car and Ricky Stenhouse (likely in the 6 car). The 17 car would be available as a fourth ride for possible occasional runs by Trevor Bayne if sponsorship was found.
Bayne, meanwhile, will inherit the full-time Nationwide ride of Stenhouse. This is good news for Bayne, who has had dirt luck trying to find any sort of ride this season. It’s really amazing to me that a kid this talented and media friendly does not have a ride.
Crew chief details still need to be sorted out, too.
Meanwhile, Kenseth is speaking out about the decision to leave, though he did confirm he is going to Gibbs, as has been widely reported.
He said the decision to leave was made last week after meeting with Jack Roush. "There's a lot of stuff through the season that's probably led us to this point," Kenseth said. "There isn't really a smoking gun, there really isn't an inside story about a firing or an argument or really any of that. At the end of the day, I had an opportunity to go try something else. The timing all worked out. I think everything happens for a reason. Things just kind of lined up to maybe try something else in 2013 and beyond that I'm kind of excited about.”
My guess. Joe Gibbs offered him a bigger paycheck than Roush could afford — Stenhouse will cost considerably less, and that will ease Jack’s pocketbook a bit as he searches for sponsors. I hate to say it, but money talks even after 15 years with the same team.
Roush team notes
— Kenseth leads the Sprint Cup standings over second-place Greg Biffle. Carl Edwards is 11th. Ricky Stenhouse is third in the NNS point standings trailing by 23 points.
— Carl Edwards will return to the ESPN booth commentating for the Nationwide race Friday evening.
— Roush Fenway Racing announced this week that Ricky Stenhouse will compete in the Sprint Cup Series full time in 2013.
— Roush Fenway Racing has started 48 NASCAR races at Kentucky Speedway, earning 21 top-10 finishes,11 top fives, three wins and two poles. Roush Fenway has led 523 laps of NASCAR action at Kentucky, while averaging a 13.4 finish in both the truck and NNS.
TOYOTA NOTES, QUOTES & NUMBERS
After 16 races in 2012, Clint Bowyer is seventh in the series point standings, trailing leader Matt Kenseth by 67 points … Denny Hamlin (eighth) and Martin Truex Jr. (ninth) also rank in the top-10 in the standings … With his start in the NSCS race at Sonoma last Sunday, Kyle Busch now has the most combined NASCAR starts for a Toyota driver across all three national touring series (345) … Through Oct. 1, the Kyle Busch Foundation will be raffling a custom motorcycle in conjunction with Deadwood Choppers at www.KBFChopperRaffle.com.
— MWR team co-owner and driver Michael Waltrip returns to his home state of Kentucky for this weekend's NSCS race and will drive a Camry honoring the University of Kentucky's (UK) national championship-winning basketball team. The Owensboro, Ky.-native attended the NCAA championship game won by the Wildcats, and will drive the UK-themed No. 55 Camry in Saturday night's NSCS race at Kentucky Speedway. The race will mark the second start of the 2012 season for the team co-owner while running a part-time schedule.
Become a fan of the Facebook page NASCARBeyond
posted by Matt Myftiu at
9:52 PM
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