“The most boring champion who forced the playoffs on the world of NASCAR”- Twitter reacts to Matt Kenseth’s Hall of Fame Induction

Matt Kenseth has scored wins in Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coco-Cola 600, and the All-Star Race.


“The most boring champion who forced the playoffs on the world of NASCAR”- Twitter reacts to Matt Kenseth’s Hall of Fame Induction

Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth has done it all in NASCAR; he won the Cup championship, the Daytona 500, the Crown Jewel, and so on. The Joe Gibbs Racing and RFK Racing legend was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2023 alongside legendary driver Hershel McGriff and Dale Sr.’s Crew-chief Kirk Shelmerdine at Charlotte.

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Unlike many others, Kenseth is a champion who prompted drastic changes in NASCAR. He is credited for introducing the playoff system buy fans after winning his maiden and only Cup title in 2003 for Roush Racing. He won the Championship on points with just a solo win. He finished outside the Top 15 just four times in the 36-race season, and his worst finish came in the season finale.  NASCAR was forced to scrap the point system and introduce the playoff system.

But the sole championship win doesn’t define Matt Kenseth’s 18-year Cup career. He ranks 21st in the all-time winners list with 39 Cup race victories and has finished half of his races inside the Top 10. Kenseth also has won 29 Xfinity series races. He has finished P2 to the championship twice and was one of the top challengers of Jimmie Johnson in his dominating years.

I always looked at my career as a ladder – you always start at the bottom, and you hope to climb to the top. My ladder has hundreds and hundreds of rungs on it. And without any of them, bottom, middle or top – no matter how you fit in my life – I wouldn’t be here without any of you. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all,” Matt Kenseth said about his induction.

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Matt Kenseth, two NASCAR elite inducted into the HOF along with him. Hershel McGriff, the oldest GHOF inductee, had the longest career a driver could hope for in NASCAR. He ran in the ARCA series at the age of 90. “Matt the brat” is also joined by legendary crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine, who won 4 championships managing the No:3 RCR team.

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Twitter reacts to Matt Kenseth’s HOF induction

Matt Kenseth Hershel McGriff and, Kirk Shelmerdine at Charlotte.
Matt Kenseth Hershel McGriff and Kirk Shelmerdine at Charlotte.

Fans were excited to see the veteran being recognized as one of the sport’s trailblazers. Some even labeled him as the last real NASCAR champion, as since 2004, the winner has been decided based on the playoff system. A few also commented that Kenseth ruined the Championship system for them.

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