HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Just like fellow 18-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth will take his presumed bow out of the top level of stock car racing in a car echoing his first on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Joe Gibbs Racing unveiled a throwback look for Kenseth’s No. 20 DeWalt Hurricane Relief Toyota Tuesday morning, paying homage to the yellow-and-black scheme that the 45-year-old Cambridge, Wis. native piloted during his rookie year in 2000.
Driving for Roush Fenway Racing at the time, Kenseth drove the original DeWalt colors to a win at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that year, part of four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 34 races that landed him a 14th-place finish in points, as well as Rookie of the Year honors over Earnhardt.
In total, Kenseth has scored 17 of his 39 career Cup Series wins with DeWalt colors, including his first of two Daytona 500 victories in 2009. He also won his only series championship in 2003 with DeWalt onboard.
Kenseth’s 2009 win in ‘The Great American Race’ was also his last win to-date with DeWalt sponsorship. He has never triumphed in a DeWalt car during his time with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 will mark Kenseth’s 650th start in the premier series, and he’ll be looking to tie his hero Mark Martin with a 40th career win, as well as his second at Homestead and first in a decade’s time.
Earnhardt will be driving a throwback paint scheme to his 2000 season ride as well on Sunday, driving a red No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet reminiscent of the Budweiser colors he competed against Kenseth in for the early stages of his career.
The Ford EcoBoost 400 takes the green flag Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, live on NBC, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network, as well as a periodic contributor to SPEED SPORT Magazine.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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