Driver
Kenseth was so smooth and steady that it’s easy to overlook he was one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, tied for 19th all-time in wins at the time of his retirement. Over 18 full seasons, the Cambridge, WI native captured 20 poles and 39 races on his way to becoming the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, 2003 Cup Series champion and a two-time DAYTONA 500 winner (2009, 2012). Kenseth was also Cup Series runner-up twice (2006, 2013) and won several of the sport’s other highest honors, including the Coca-Cola 600 (2000), Southern 500 (2013) and Sprint All-Star Race (2004). Kenseth was similarly successful in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, scoring 17 poles and 29 victories in 288 starts. He seemed to do well in every series he sampled, winning the 2004 International Race of Champions (IROC) Series and never finishing out of the top three in the three years he competed, and collecting gold at the Slinger Nationals super late-model short track race three times (2012, 2015, 2019).