Matt Kenseth to return to NASCAR with Roush Fenway Racing

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Matt Kenseth will return to NASCAR this season in a reunion with Roush Fenway Racing, the team that gave him his Cup start in 1998.

Kenseth will split the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne, who has been the full-time driver of that car since 2015. Kenseth has sponsorship from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and his return will come next month at Kansas Speedway. Roush did not announce Wednesday how many races Kenseth will drive.

Kenseth won a Cup championship and two Daytona 500s driving for Roush Fenway. He moved to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013 and won 15 of his 39 career victories driving for Gibbs.

Kenseth lost his ride last season when Gibbs had to let a veteran go to make room for Erik Jones and a wave of younger NASCAR drivers.

Kenseth, who turned 46 in March, is still considered among the top talents in the Cup garage but his salary made him too expensive for any of the open rides. It put him on the sidelines for the start of this season.

Bayne, also a former Daytona 500 winner, is 26th in the Cup standings through nine races. His highest finish this year was 12th at Texas, and he hasn’t led a lap yet this season.

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More AP Auto Racing: https://racing.ap.org/

FILE – In this Feb. 28, 2012, file photo, driver Matt Kenseth, left, and car owner Jack Roush celebrate in victory lane after Kenseth won the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kenseth will return to NASCAR this season in a reunion with Roush Fenway Racing, the team that gave him his Cup start in 1998. Kenseth will split the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne, who has been the full-time driver of that car since 2015. Kenseth has sponsorship from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and his return will come next month at Kansas Speedway. Roush did not announce Wednesday, April 25, 2018, how many races Kenseth will drive. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/04/web1_120378878-d71c04b2abb54de3a21c7243067ff781.jpgFILE – In this Feb. 28, 2012, file photo, driver Matt Kenseth, left, and car owner Jack Roush celebrate in victory lane after Kenseth won the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kenseth will return to NASCAR this season in a reunion with Roush Fenway Racing, the team that gave him his Cup start in 1998. Kenseth will split the No. 6 Ford with Trevor Bayne, who has been the full-time driver of that car since 2015. Kenseth has sponsorship from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and his return will come next month at Kansas Speedway. Roush did not announce Wednesday, April 25, 2018, how many races Kenseth will drive. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)

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