Matt Kenseth: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Matt Kenseth (Getty)

Matt Kenseth (Getty)

Matt Kenseth is the driver of the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing — which he joined in 2013 — in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. He is now entering his 17th season.

Kenseth drove the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry to a win in the season-opening Sprint Unlimited at Daytona. Some of Kenseth’s other sponsors include: Gatorade, Citizen and Smart Motors.

Kenseth can be found on Twitter here.

http://www.mattkenseth.com/

1. The 1st Time He Drove a Race Car was at 16

Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth during the 3rd Annual Sprint Unlimited at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway. (Getty)

The 42-year-old was born in Cambridge, Wisconsin. He grew up interested in car racing, raced his first car when he was 13, and, officially, began stock car racing in 1988 at the age of 16 at Madison International Speedway.

According to Kenseth’s bio on his website:

By the age of 19, Kenseth was racing against the likes of Dick Trickle, Ted Musgrave, and Rich Bickle in the Wisconsin late model ranks. With a win in LaCrosse, Wis., Kenseth set a new record for being the youngest winner in ARTGO Challenge Series history, a distinction previously held by his future teammate Mark Martin.


2. Kenseth Is a Top Driver & Won a Sprint Cup Championship in 2003

(Getty)

(Getty)

He made his official Winston Cup debut in 2000 and won Rookie of the Year. In 2003, he led the championship point standings for a record-breaking 34 straight weeks en route to Roush Fenway Racing’s first-ever Cup Championship — despite only winning one race that season.

Over the years, he has qualified for the Chase for the Cup in 10 of its 11 seasons, and boasts an International Race of Champions (IROC) title from 2004. His other accomplishments include: winning 31 races, scoring 151 top-five finishes, 270 top-10 finishes and 13 poles. In his career, Kenseth has earned over $107 million in winnings.


3. Kenseth is a 2-time Winner of the Daytona 500

(Getty)

(Getty)

He won the sport’s most revered race in 2009 and 2012. He is one of only 11 drivers who have won the race more than once.

In 2015, he won in the season-opening Sprint Unlimited at Daytona.


4. Kenseth Did Not Win a Race in 2014

Matt Kenseth's Dollar General No. 20 car. (Getty)

Matt Kenseth’s Dollar General No. 20 car. (Getty)

In 2014, he drove in 19 races, with 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. He won the last race of the year at Homestead, but by that time, he was a distant 7th from the top of the Sprint Cup standings.

In comparison, Kenseth’s 2013 was better. He won seven races in 2013.


5. Kenseth Married His Wife Katie in 2000 & Has 4 Children

Kenseth celebrates an April 2013 victory with his wife Katie and two daughters. (Getty)

Kenseth celebrates an April 2013 victory with his wife Katie and two daughters. (Getty)

In 2000, Kenseth married Katie Martin, who also happened to grow up in Cambridge. Together, the couple have three daughters: Kaylin, Grace and Clara. Each daughter was born two days after Kenseth had competed in a race.

He also has a son, Ross, from a previous marriage, who is just as much into race car driving as his father is.