Does Matt Kenseth still race in NASCAR? Exploring his transition to a new role

2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth no longer races in the sport. He last raced in NASCAR in 2020 at the season finale event at Phoenix Raceway. Following that season, he stepped away from full-time NASCAR racing and opted to race occasionally in late models and sports cars.

Since retiring, Matt Kenseth has been busy exploring other ventures. In 2023, he joined Jimmie Johnson's co-owned Legacy Motor Club (LMC) as the team's competition advisor in the Cup Series. It’s a new role for him after spending over two decades as a driver. As a competition advisor, Kenseth consults with the LMC on strategy and mentors the team’s drivers, Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek.

LMC currently fields three Toyota Camry teams: the #42 full-time Toyota Camry for Nemechek, the #43 full-time Toyota Camry for Jones, and the #84 part-time for team co-owner Johnson.

Since retiring from full-time racing, Matt Kenseth has spent time with family. Last year, he took part in some non-NASCAR races, including the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). He also actively races at Slinger Speedway, where he holds the record with eight Slinger Nationals victories.

The 52-year-old Cambridge, Wisconsin, native clinched 39 career wins at 19 different tracks, including crown jewel victories at the Daytona 500, the Southern 500, and the Coca-Cola 600. He also recorded 331 top-10 finishes and 20 poles in 697 starts.

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Matt Kenseth once reflects on his transition to LMC’s competition advisor

Joining as a competition advisor at LMC, was an opportunity for Matt Kenseth to work together with his former competitor and seven-time NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson.

In 2023, Kenseth expressed his excitement to support LMC’s drivers with his vast experience and contribute to the team’s growth on and off the track.

Kenseth said (via Forbes):

“Jimmie and I have so much respect for each other as both competitors and friends – we are alike in many ways and at similar points in our careers. This is a great opportunity for me to be a resource for two extremely talented drivers and help on the racing operations side with this transition to Toyota. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”

Matt Kenseth is one of the most accomplished drivers to race in NASCAR. He was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023 and inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame the same year.