It was announced on Tuesday that 2012 Daytona 500 winner and current points leader, Matt Kenseth, would be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of this season. Reigning Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., also with Roush, would be moving up to Cup full time in 2013, replacing Kenseth in the #17 Ford. It's hard to imagine Matt anywhere else but RFR. He made 452 Sprint Cup starts in his career and won 2 Daytona 500's (2009 and 2012). He also has one championship for the organization in 2003 and currently reaching towards that goal this year as he leads the points standings.
Now, where will Kenseth continue his NASCAR career in 2013? Many are saying he will join Joe Gibbs Racing. Joey Logano, driver of the #20 JGR car, is in a contract year and it is possible Joe Gibbs could replace Logano with Kenseth. Another option would be adding a 4th team. Joe Gibbs Racing has the room and has wanted to expand for some time now. The possiblity of Kenseth going to Penske is slim because they are switching to Ford in 2013. Ford Racing boss Jamie Allison already commented that Matt Kenseth would not pilot a Ford in 2013. That opportunity is out, so Kenseth will without a doubt be moving to JGR, and Kenseth already said Tuesday that a deal has already been settled at a team for '13, he just cannot announce it until later in the year.
On the other side of things, this is a huge opportunity for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Coming off a dominant Nationwide Series championship, he has already proved to Jack Roush that he has what it takes to compete at the Cup level. Only a few years ago Stenhouse had his job on the line. He was wrecking cars left and right until eventually he was asked to sit out for a race by Jack Roush. Jack wasn't sure what to do in terms of where to place him. He gave him another shot in Nationwide and Ricky finally got his act together. He won multiple races and was able to win the championship. Roush never gave up on him and now he is offering what most aspiring drivers dream of everyday. This improvement will also help Stenhouse Jr's teammate and good friend Trevor Bayne (2011 Daytona 500 winner) get back on his feet. Roush was forced to cut back on their Nationwide program due to sponsor shortages. Now that Stenhouse will be in Cup full-time, Bayne could come back full-time in Nationwide and race towards another championship for the 6 team.
This is a huge change for RFR and the face of our sport. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will definitely add a new generation of drivers to the Sprint Cup level, and wherever Matt Kenseth decides to go, we know he will continue to do great things in the NASCAR world.
Now, where will Kenseth continue his NASCAR career in 2013? Many are saying he will join Joe Gibbs Racing. Joey Logano, driver of the #20 JGR car, is in a contract year and it is possible Joe Gibbs could replace Logano with Kenseth. Another option would be adding a 4th team. Joe Gibbs Racing has the room and has wanted to expand for some time now. The possiblity of Kenseth going to Penske is slim because they are switching to Ford in 2013. Ford Racing boss Jamie Allison already commented that Matt Kenseth would not pilot a Ford in 2013. That opportunity is out, so Kenseth will without a doubt be moving to JGR, and Kenseth already said Tuesday that a deal has already been settled at a team for '13, he just cannot announce it until later in the year. 
On the other side of things, this is a huge opportunity for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Coming off a dominant Nationwide Series championship, he has already proved to Jack Roush that he has what it takes to compete at the Cup level. Only a few years ago Stenhouse had his job on the line. He was wrecking cars left and right until eventually he was asked to sit out for a race by Jack Roush. Jack wasn't sure what to do in terms of where to place him. He gave him another shot in Nationwide and Ricky finally got his act together. He won multiple races and was able to win the championship. Roush never gave up on him and now he is offering what most aspiring drivers dream of everyday. This improvement will also help Stenhouse Jr's teammate and good friend Trevor Bayne (2011 Daytona 500 winner) get back on his feet. Roush was forced to cut back on their Nationwide program due to sponsor shortages. Now that Stenhouse will be in Cup full-time, Bayne could come back full-time in Nationwide and race towards another championship for the 6 team.This is a huge change for RFR and the face of our sport. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will definitely add a new generation of drivers to the Sprint Cup level, and wherever Matt Kenseth decides to go, we know he will continue to do great things in the NASCAR world.
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