Matt Kenseth, who drove 18 full seasons on the NASCAR circuit before retiring in 2020 with 39 Cup victories and 20 poles, highlights a class that also includes longtime driver Hershel McGriff and crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine.
“The internal drive is what put Matt on this stage tonight,” Katie Kenseth said.
Kenseth talked about learning to love NASCAR by watching his family race at Jefferson Speedway where he grew up in Wisconsin and begging his father to take him to his uncle Gary's house so he could help him work on his race cars.Kenseth earned the respect of his contemporaries, including Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
“There was always just a deep level of trust that we’re going to give 100 percent, not step over the line, not clean each other out,” Johnson said. “As a competitor, he was one of the few that I knew we’d race hard but we wouldn’t cross the line.”“I absolutely call him a friend,” Johnson said. “His family, his kids are close to my kids, our wives are close, like we’ve really become friends and I am so thankful for it.
“If you did him wrong, he was going to give back exactly what he got,” Harvick said. “As you look back at Matt, he was one of the rare few that would always just figure it out and find his way to the front by the time that the race was over. He’s a great hardcore good racer and I always respected him.”
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