Matt Kenseth’s son joins father at Joe Gibbs Racing

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Like father, like son. Matt Kenseth’s 21-year-old son, Ross, is going to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), the team announced Friday.

Ross Kenseth will drive No. 20 Dollar General Toyota at the June 20 Chicagoland Speedway race as part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dollar General also sponsors Matt Kenseth on the Sprint Cup circuit.

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“I am really thankful for the opportunity JGR and Dollar General have given me and I am excited to make my first Xfinity Series start,” Ross Kenseth said in a release. “I couldn't have asked to be in a better situation. Having Dollar General support me for my first start means a lot to me. JGR and Dollar General are used to running up front and competing for wins, and hopefully I can catch on quickly.”

“Ross has been working really hard to try to get a good opportunity. Certainly, I don’t think the opportunity could be any better than this,” Matt Kenseth said in a news conference Thursday. “I feel like the 20 is one of the best Nationwide cars out there this year with Wheels (Mike Wheeler, crew chief) running that thing.”

Ross Kenseth will also compete in a limited Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and late-model racing schedule.

“This is an exciting time for us,” Joe Gibbs said. “We’ve got several young, talented drivers in our stable, and now we have the chance to add Ross Kenseth to that list. Ross has been working hard and showing that he is ready for this next step.”

“It will be a great shot for (Ross) and really appreciate Joe (Gibbs) and everybody at JGR giving him that chance and everybody at Dollar General to jump on there and sponsor his first ever NASCAR start,” Matt Kenseth said. “It’s exciting for me and it’s an off-weekend so I’ll be able to be there and be part of that. Looking forward to seeing how he does. It’s a great shot and he’s worked really hard for it.”

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