Matt Kenseth is ready to return when NASCAR does
Matt Kenseth thought Jimmie Johnson was lonely representing NASCAR’s old guys. That’s why the 48-year-old decided to rejoin the sport’s top series as a full-time driver this season after taking last year off.
“I thought maybe he just needed a friend,” Kenseth said.
Not really, but Kenseth joked.
In reality, the former Cup champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner was tapped by Chip Ganassi Racing after the team released its No. 42 Chevrolet driver Kyle Larson for using a racial slur a few weeks ago. Now, Kenseth is re-entering the sport when it couldn’t be more different; There’s the new rules package, a new team and the fact that NASCAR is returning in two weeks without allowing any practice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“My learning curve is going to be steep,” Kenseth said.
But after 18 years of Cup racing experience, Kenseth knows a thing or two about adjusting, and he said he’s ready for the what the remainder of the season brings.
Kenseth spoke with The Observer about how he’s getting up to speed, why he’s so excited to work with former teammate Kurt Busch again and how he’ll be representing “old guys” with Jimmie Johnson as two of the most in-shape drivers on the track.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Alex Andrejev: So have you missed talking to reporters all the time?
Matt Kenseth: Well it always depended who they were. *Laughs*
AA: *Also laughs* I should probably introduce myself then. *Introductions* How did the deal with Chip Ganassi come together and what was that process like? Did it develop quickly?
MK: Yeah, I’d say it did since it was made with some uncertainty about when we’re going to race again. They called and we started talking, and I just wanted to try to get it worked out as soon as possible, to get it done one way or another. Either you’re going to do it and get the little details worked out quickly, or you’re not going to do it.
AA: What brought you back? Why did this feel like a good opportunity?
MK: I think there’s a whole list of things. It was a very unexpected opportunity, and honestly, I’ve been home for over a year without being to the racetrack. I think with it being such a good car and good equipment, and getting another shot after being out of the sport for a while with (my) age and with everything else going on, to get another opportunity to drive a good, competitive car for a well put together team was the most enticing part. Obviously there are other circumstances. The schedule’s going to be a little shorter than what it might have been, so there’s a little less time away from home, but I’d say the biggest thing is just to get another shot and get in a really good car.
AA: Is your contract just through the 2020 season or does it extend beyond that?
MK: I don’t really ever talk about contract details, but for now we’re just concentrating on 2020. I think it’s tough to predict what’s going to happen. We’re just trying to look ahead to getting started. I haven’t looked a lot farther than that to be honest with you. I just feel like there’s so much work to do and the learning curve is going to be very steep not being in a car for a while and never having driven for that organization. I haven’t driven with the new rules package and there’s going to be limited or no practice, so there’s definitely a lot of work to be done to try to be as prepared as possible. Really I’m looking more short-term right now to get in there, get up to speed and hopefully start contributing as quick as I can.
AA: How are you getting up to speed? Are you using iRacing at all?
MK: I haven’t played video games yet. I think there’s probably good and bad things to the simulator work. I feel like physically I’m in good shape. I think “race shape” is sometimes a little bit different because you’re stationary for so long and it’s hot and loud, and you’re concentrating. I feel like I’m in pretty good physical shape, but I certainly changed that routine a little bit in the last week. I’m doing some different things in the next couple of weeks to try to be as prepared as I can physically. The mental preparation part is just working with your crew chief and your engineers. I’m starting to have more conversations with my spotter. I’ve never worked with Tony (Raines) before. (I’m) looking through data and old race notes, watching old race film.
AA: Any tracks you’re particularly excited to get back to this season or that you’re nervous about?
MK: I haven’t looked much past Darlington and Charlotte. There aren’t really a lot of tracks I don’t necessarily like or I’m concerned about. I like most of the race tracks. Darlington’s always been a favorite. I always loved going to Charlotte and Bristol. If I had to pick one, Bristol is probably the one I look forward to going to the most, but there are a lot of great tracks.
AA: When it comes to the new rules package, how are you preparing for that? Is there anything you can really do at this point or you just have to go try it out?
MK: The biggest thing is just try to look at the data, race film and talk to my teammate, Kurt (Busch), as much as I possibly can. I’m looking at race data from other drivers and looking at different positions on the track. And then it’s just going to kind of be trial by fire. You can hope you have a good first part of the race or you can kind of hang out, make some progress, get comfortable in the car, and then make some adjustments. I think the most nerve wracking part is the start. Once I get a little time and some miles under my belt, if we have the car driving well, it should come back rather quickly.
AA: You mainly drove Toyotas and Fords before. Any nerves about the Chevy?
MK: Throughout my late model career we ran Chevrolet stuff and when I started down here — it was called the Busch Series then — I was racing for Robbie Reiser and his dad, we always raced Chevys, so I’m excited to get back into it. The Camaro looks awesome. It looks like they’ve been pretty fast this year, so I’m looking forward to working with everybody over there, getting to meet a lot of people I don’t know and representing that great brand.
AA: How’s it been getting to work with Kurt again?
MK: He’s one of the best teammates I’ve had. I’ve had a lot of great teammates through the years, and Kurt is certainly one of the great ones I’ve had. He works really hard. He’s not selfish. He’s always willing to help, so I’m looking forward to that. That certainly weighed into my decision process as well. I think especially with a two-car team, having a teammate that you can really speak the same language and you can trust and work with, that’s an important piece.
AA: How do you feel about NASCAR’s return schedule having Wednesday races and two races per week? Is that going to be strenuous?
MK: I’m actually really looking forward to that, especially for me not being in the car for so long. I think the more we’re in the car, the better. Certainly everybody should be well rested after staying at home. I’m not really worried about the physical toll at all. I think it’s the hardest on the teams — for the crew chiefs and the mechanics and just everybody keeping the cars running — with only a few days turnaround. But I’m looking forward to that schedule, to get done with the first race and get right into the second one.
AA: You mentioned that your workout routine has adjusted. What does that entail? What is a NASCAR driver workout?
MK: For me, it’s changed a lot through the years. You don’t have to be a very athletic person to be a good race car driver and probably vice versa. You could probably be the most fit, strongest person in the world and not be a good race car driver. For me, the better physical shape I’m in, the better I feel mentally and the more clear everything is. I’ve been doing some interim sports the last couple of years. I ran a couple of marathons last year and this year I was training for a marathon, so I’m really just trying to put just a little bit of weight and muscle back on.
AA: Jimmie Johnson is another guy who does the marathons and is a big fitness nut.
MK: Yeah, he kind of got me hooked. It’s basically his fault. We rode bikes together a lot and used to train running together. I can’t really say it’s his fault or blame him. I kind of give him some credit for getting me more in physical fitness and taking better care of myself.
AA: That’s an interesting parallel with Jimmie since this is supposed to be his last full-time year and you’re re-entering. You guys are kinda representing the old guys, huh?
MK: Yeah, I had seen a few races early in the year and Jimmie looked kinda lonely and sad and I thought maybe he just needed a friend.
AA: *Laughs* So why do you think Chip Ganassi tapped you after taking a season off?
MK: That’d be a great question for him, but I’m thankful he did. It makes me feel good that he has enough faith in me to think that I can get in that car and perform up to his expectations. I know everybody over there is expecting me to do that right away. Like I said, it’s going to be a transition. My learning curve is going to be steep, particularly since we don’t get track time and practice, but I’m really looking forward to it. I’m excited to get this shot in a good car. I kind of feel like I’m starting racing. I’m well-rested. I’ve been away for a little while, but I feel really good.
AA: Do you have a goal for this season? What is it?
MK: It’s a moving target. Your goal is always to win, but for me, I think I need to get in the car, work with those guys and get a couple races under our belt, and then we’ll know what to expect. Everybody’s going to have to be right to do this without getting much track time. I know they’re good at getting those cars right for Kyle, but I’m a different driver. There are just a lot of little things to work through behind-the-scenes that practice time and testing allows you to get acclimated to, but throw that out the window. Certainly working with a new team is going to be a challenge, but it’s one that I’m really looking forward to.
This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
