CONCORD, N.C. — To say Matt Kenseth is ready to get back in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car for Roush Fenway Racing would be a gross understatement.

“As excited as a kid in a candy store” might be a better description.

Kenseth will return to the race track this weekend at Kansas Speedway for the first time since the 2017 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, when he drove Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota in what many thought was his final race at NASCAR’s top level.

But after being jettisoned in exchange for young gun Erik Jones at Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth found new life at his original home, after longtime team owner Jack Roush asked him to return to the organization where Kenseth began his Cup Series career.

Kenseth agreed and a deal for the 2003 Cup Series champion to drive the team’s flagship No. 6 Ford on a part-time basis was struck, with an announcement made on April 25.

Speaking this week on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Kenseth said that he’s more than ready to be back in the saddle.

“I can’t wait. I’m anxious to get in the car for sure and see where everything’s at. I’m ready to get acclimated to the team and the car and all the differences compared to what I’ve been used to the last five years,” noted Kenseth. “I’m looking forward to all that. You 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.”

Saturday night’s KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas will mark Kenseth’s 651st start at NASCAR’s highest level. He’ll share the seat of the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne, who has piloted the car full time since 2015, for the remainder of the season.

Kenseth said his working relationship with Bayne is still forming, but that things are stable between them.

“We’ve spent some time together. We’ve talked on the phone. We’ve spent some time together Tuesday at the shop,” Kenseth said. “I think we have to see how it goes really. Obviously, this weekend I’m driving the car and Trevor will be back in it in six weeks or something.

“It’s definitely a unique situation,” Kenseth added. “It’s a little bit different, but I think it’s hard to say exactly how it’s going to go and where are roles are going to lie when we are not in the car until we really get going and see how it goes.”

This weekend will mark Kenseth’s first race back in a Ford since leaving the brand for JGR’s Toyotas prior to the start of the 2013 season.

However, Ford has been on an upswing during the early stages of the Cup Series season, winning six of the first 11 races and holding down six of the top seven spots in the standings.

That has the Wisconsin native looking up, despite the fact that Roush Fenway Racing has struggled somewhat since Kenseth left the organization five years ago.

“Roush Fenway Racing has been on the upswing here the last couple years,” Kenseth said. “The cars have shown some speed. The (No.) 17 (of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) particularly has shown good speed more times than not. They don’t necessarily have all the finishes, but they’ve certainly been showing pretty good speed at a lot of places.

“I’m optimistic for sure,” Kenseth added. “The Fords are all running well, so you know all that is there. Doug Yates has always done a spectacular job building engines and doing all that. All the pieces are there. I feel like they are heading in the right direction in a lot of different ways and I’m looking forward to, hopefully, be a part of that.”

Roush Fenway Racing officials also confirmed Thursday that Kenseth will drive the No. 6 for at least four of the next five weeks, with Wyndham Rewards sponsoring the car at Kansas, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Michigan Int’l Speedway, in addition to Kenseth driving in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race on May 19.

Kenseth isn’t worried about any struggles getting back up to speed, however.

“Rust? What rust?” he joked. “I’m just worried about going around in circles as fast as I can.”