Matt Kenseth’s Cup Series championship in 2003 remains one of the most hotly debated title victories in NASCAR history. He secured the title with a season built on consistency rather than trophies. He just had a single race win in the year, and the result triggered debates across the sport. The very next season, the sport responded with a seismic shift.
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NASCAR introduced the Chase format in 2004, and Kurt Busch came out as champion in the new system. Despite the contrasting paths to the pinnacle, both drivers found success driving for Roush Racing. And the secret to their wins was not just the equipment.
Kenseth had joined the organization in 2000, while Busch followed as a full-time driver in 2001. The pair became foundational pieces of Jack Roush’s operation in no time. Their simultaneous advance in the Cup series field was not by accident. Years after that partnership, Busch acknowledged that Kenseth played a big role in shaping his NASCAR career.
That respect became public in 2012, when Jeff Gluck asked Busch which driver consistently raced him clean and which competitor he genuinely enjoyed battling. Busch did not hesitate before naming his former teammate.
“Matt Kenseth. He and I developed a great rapport early in our careers. At Roush Racing, the No. 6 car was the primary car, and the No. 99 was the second car (in one shop), and at the other shop, it was the No. 17 guys and the No. 97 guys,” Busch detailed the relationship.
“In 2002, it was a breakthrough year for me, and I leaned on Matt a lot; he won the championship in ’03, and then ’04 was my championship run,” he added.
That two-year championship-winning period marked a turning point inside the organization. Busch explained how their collective rise reshaped the internal hierarchy.
“We changed the whole landscape at Roush Racing to where the No. 17 and No. 97 were the primary cars. The two of us were just young, hard-nosed Late Model racers, and it was just so easy to be on the same page as Matt. We still have that today,” said Busch.
Busch and Kenseth’s connection extended beyond standard teammate chemistry. It grew owing to their shared Late Model roots, similar work ethics, and a good understanding of what it takes to win at the highest level. Trust and respect allowed both drivers to push each other without crossing lines.
Busch left Roush Racing after the 2005 season, beginning a journey that took him to Penske Racing South and later to Furniture Row Racing in 2012. His career path continued through Stewart-Haas Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing before ending with 23XI Racing in 2022.
Kenseth, on the other hand, remained a Roush Fenway mainstay through 2012. He transitioned to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2013 season, and later returned to Roush Fenway Racing on a part-time basis in 2018, eventually closing his Cup career with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020.
Both drivers finished their Cup tenure with one championship. And as teammages, Kenseth and Busch elevated Roush Fenway Racing into NASCAR’s elite tier during an era dominated by juggernauts such as Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing.
