UPDATE: NASCAR Champion Matt Kenseth will make his return to Roush Fenway Racing this weekend at Kansas Speedway in an event that also marks the debut of Roush Fenway’s new partnership with Wyndham Rewards.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to the track this weekend,” Kenseth said. “Kansas is one of my favorite race tracks, and I’m really excited to get in the No. 6 car for Jack. It’s great to have Wyndham Rewards on the car, an incredible brand with hotels that serve NASCAR fans across the country.”
Kenseth will also be back behind the wheel of the Wyndham Rewards Ford for the famed Coca-Cola 600 on May 27th and at Jack Roush’s ‘home track’ of Michigan International Speedway on June 10. Wyndham Rewards will again serve as the primary on Kenseth’s Ford at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Sept. 9) and the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway (Oct. 7), before rounding out the 2018 schedule at Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 11) and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 18).
Kenseth has a combined 13 wins at the seven tracks, having led 3,663 laps and earning nine poles. Kenseth’s first career Cup win came at the 600 at Charlotte in 2001. His last win with Roush Fenway came at Kansas in 2012 and his last Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win came just last season in Nov. at Phoenix. He has three wins at both Michigan and Dover, and boasts multiple wins at Kansas, Charlotte, Dover and Phoenix.
2018 Wyndham Rewards Schedule
Kansas Speedway May 12
Charlotte Motor Speedway May 27
Michigan International Speedway June 10
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sept. 9
Dover International Speedway Oct. 7
Phoenix Raceway Nov. 11
Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 18
Original post 5-7-2018 Matt Kenseth will return to NASCAR this weekend at Kansas Speedway, and the driver he is at least temporarily replacing in the No. 6 Ford will be there, too.
In a Tuesday morning interview at Roush Fenway Racing, Kenseth told NBC Sports that he expects Trevor Bayne will be at Saturday night’s Cup race.
The two met in person Tuesday at the team’s shop for the weekly debrief, which Bayne commutes to from his home in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“I talked to Trevor on the phone the other day for half-hour or hour; had a good conversation with him,” Kenseth said. “Look forward to seeing him today.
The 2003 champion, who also had lunch with Roush teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. last week, has been confirmed in Bayne’s car for Kansas and the next week at the All-Star Race, but Roush hasn’t announced the No. 6 driver lineup for the rest of 2018.
According to two people with direct knowledge of the schedule but who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, Kenseth will drive in at least the next five race weekends – Kansas, the All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Michigan International Speedway.
There is a one-week break in the schedule after Michigan before the circuit returns June 24 race at Sonoma Raceway. In February, Roush announced the No. 6 would be sponsored by AdvoCare at Sonoma and in the July 1 race at Chicagoland Speedway. Because of his tight relationship with AdvoCare, it’s expected Bayne will be in the car for those races.
Asked about his upcoming schedule, Kenseth said, “I’m running a good chunk right in a row, then it’s sporadic after that.”
— NBC Sports —